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Stay Connected — High-tech airport amenities keep you on task on travel days.
By Kristi Van Aken
If you’re like most people, you can think of a thousand different things to do while waiting at the airport: Check e-mail, surf the Internet, mail a letter, etc. Relax, you’re in Houston.
“The Houston Airport System loves our high-tech travelers, and we’re increasingly upgrading our services to make their experience in Houston more accommodating and comfortable,” says Marlene McClinton, public information officer with the Houston Airport System.
To adapt to the increasing necessity of mobile computing, Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby (HOU) airports offer wireless Internet access, or Wi-Fi. From your laptop, launch your favorite Internet browser, and the Houston Airport System’s portal page will appear. The portal provides real-time flight and other information at no cost, and you can log on to the Internet for a nominal fee. (For those without wireless capabilities, most airport pay phones are equipped with data ports.)
You can also check flight information using your mobile device’s Web browser. Visit http://wap.fly2houston.com, and follow the on-screen instructions. If you run down the battery in your cell phone, the airport has you covered. Charging kiosks for mobile phones and PDAs have been installed at IAH and HOU. Find the plug that fits your device, swipe your credit card, and relax for 30 minutes while your battery is replenished. Of course, if you’ve brought your own plug for your laptop, phone, or MP3 player, feel free to use one of the many conveniently located power outlets. At IAH, there are nine kiosks in Terminal C, five in the South Concourse, and four in the North Concourse. At Hobby, there are two kiosks, both located along the walkway leading to the gates, just as you enter the concourse.
Your PDA is charged and your computer is online.What about that “snail mail” you need to send? For your convenience, U.S. Postal Service mailboxes are in IAH and HOU terminals for that last-minute letter or business proposal.
And if there’s no meal on the flight, grab a bite and a beverage from local restaurant outposts such as Harlon’s Barbecue and Pappasitos Cantina to refresh and recharge your own batteries.
