http://www.atlarge.com en-gb © Copyright 2008 CNET Networks http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:08:41 +0100 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:08:41 +0100 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60328309p,00.htm LHR T5 - nice to work from if you can get through security in time (i only just made it to my flight becuase it was so slow. Plenty of nice places to eat as well, not that i got to check them out. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60328309 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60304972p,00.htm I was at Terminal 2 for the first time in a while and the area it has improved most in is comfort. There are actually seats that encourage travellers to stretch out! But I score wi-fi poorly not because of availability - there are the by now standard T-Mobile recharging/access points and networks from others - but because they could all be free. Major airports like LHR will lose out in a world where the likes of Singapore Changi, Hong Kong and others lead the way. Free, good quality wi-fi, like comfy seating, will be a winner with passengers who have too many bad things to say about London's airports, and not even cost that much to provide. Who agrees with me?! Add your voice by giving this post a thumbs up. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60304972 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60301762p,00.htm I'd fly through lagos to avoid Heathrow... () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60301762 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60301757p,00.htm T3: As seems to be the case with most of the Heathrow terminals, T-Mobile has the monopoly on the wi-fi networks. The T-Mobile price is average but not the most comfortable as I had to perch on one of their bar-stoolesque booth areas to get connectivity. I also had trouble hunting down a powerpoint outside of the T-Mobile stand. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60301757 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60301755p,00.htm I was in the BA business lounge. There are around 20 or so workstation desks with a mix of fixed and wireless points. There are powerpoints everywhere in both three-pin and two-pin formats. It's a big area so it should be relatively easy to find a quiet place to work. Food, drink and papers are freely available, so it's a comfortable place to relax and the service is excellent. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60301755 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60299546p,00.htm Terminal 1: Choice of around four wi-fi networks with BT Openzone having the strongest signal and no free wi-fi on offer. Excellent mobile phone coverage, powerpoints available and a T-Mobile hotspot area for laptop users to set up on a more comfortable desk and chair with a powerpoint. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60299546 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60298547p,00.htm Heathrow terminal four. Wifi? So much wireless around I can hear my brain fizzing. If you don’t fancy wifi there’s wired connections as well. Few plugs around the place but you have to hunt for them. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60298547 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60296089p,00.htm () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60296089 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60295061p,00.htm I always find Terminal 2 a little bit pokey - not enough room and nowhere very nice to eat. But as far as wireless is concerned it was fine - several of those T-Mobile stands around. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60295061 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60294511p,00.htm The T-Mobile hotspot areas were something of a lifeline- they were the only places with available powerpoints (four at my count). Could not connect via the wi-fi network - although the Cloud and T-Mobile hotspots came up as available, I could not connect to them, whether this is a fault with the airport or my laptop, I am not sure. Not entirely work-friendly seats (again, expect at the T-Mobile spots), I found myself balancing my laptop on one of the few chairs available which was very uncomfortable. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60294511 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60292253p,00.htm Seems to have had a bit of a smarten up since I was last here at terminal one. Very strong signal for the cloud, and lots of places to sit in relative comfort and check email. Bit short on plug sockets, though, at least where I was sitting... () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60292253 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60291859p,00.htm Didn't completely agree with Joey's comments here http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60291644p,00.htm . T4 might lack some things but I've seen much worse shopping around the world. That apart, I like the idea that T-Mobile has for the wi-fi 'hot spots' ie somewhere to sit and charge as well as connect wirelessly, though I must say that even next to one I couldn't find the signal. Generally T4 wi-fi was a bit patchy. BT Openzone got uniformly good recpetion. The T-M spots aside, you have to duck and dive to find a spare power outlet. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60291859 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60291858p,00.htm Didn't completely agree with Joey's comments here http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60291644p,00.htm . T4 might lack some things but I've seen much worse shopping around the world. That apart, I like the idea that T-Mobile has for the wi-fi 'hot spots' ie somewhere to sit and charge as well as connect wirelessly, though I must say that even next to one I couldn't find the signal. Generally T4 wi-fi was a bit patchy. BT Openzone got uniformly good recpetion. The T-M spots aside, you have to duck and dive to find a spare power outlet. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60291858 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,60291644p,00.htm Terminal 4 is a bit of an embarassment compared to the rest of Heathrow. The shops and other facilities are minimal in number, diversity and utility. Comms is also fairly rubbish - despite sitting under a sign that said 'wi-fi hotspot here' i couldn't get any connectivity. For those with more perserverance, there's apparently a T-Mobile and a BT hotspot. Both offer powerpoints and seats accordingly for the wi-fi minded in their respective areas. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/60291644 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39022667p,00.htm There is a T-mobile hotspot and a BT Openzone hotspot in Terminal 1 by all the shops. The BT Openzone one has six big comfy red chairs with powerpoints to plug laptops in and its just outside Dixons. The T-mobile one over the other side by the Hugo Boss shop has less comfortable stools and charges a whopping 8.90 Euros for a paltry one hour of wi-fi access. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39022667 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39022550p,00.htm Terminal 3 departures:, The cloud, surf and sip, open zone, t-mobile, Plenty of choice if you don't mind paying. Nice comfy seats though. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39022550 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39022406p,00.htm Servisair Executive Lounge by gate 12 Terminal 3. This is a general lounge for all those who don't have enough points on their various frequent flyer cards to get into the main airline lounges. I qualify through my IOD membership and it's a reasonable retreat from the main terminal. Free tea, nibbles and drinks are available, there's a T-Mobile hotspot in the lounge which works perfectly for me as I'm using Web n Walk. Managed to find a power point behind the sofa so I was set up for an hour while I waited for my flight. Couldn't ask for more. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39022406 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39022072p,00.htm T3 - Singapore Airlines Silver Kris First Class Lounge. Fantastic array of food and drinks...you could almost have a full meal prior to boarding. Dedicated area for laptop users, tables are of the appropriate height. Or you could chill out at the lounge area while working, though the tables are rather low., Although i did encounter a couple of disconnects from my VPN service, i am not able to ascertain whether this was due to instability of wi-fi connectivity. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39022072 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021946p,00.htm Travelling from heathrow T3 about 3 times a year, I have had experience of using the T-Mobile Hotspot. This is always good speed and reliable connection all over the place, from departure lounge and gates. Bit pricey, but always good. most recelty I used the SAS/EVA lounge which was very comfortable and included drinks nibbles. Had about 3 wifi points, all of which you had to pay for or use the Free internet PC's. I used my T-Mobile 3G data card and got excellent speed and no drop in signal., All in all a very positive experience - especially when using the EVA Lounge () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021946 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021912p,00.htm Heathrow terminal 4 British Airways Concorde lounge was at best pathetic. being a T mobile user I couldnt connect to the Tmobile access so had to go through BT and God was it a task. the desks/tables are not right, power points right beside your arm means no space for anything else and....if were paying those costs for a plane ticket the least BA could do would be to give comfy seats!!!! () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021912 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021827p,00.htm () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021827 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021773p,00.htm In Terminal One, there are five wi-fi networks to choose from - BT's and T-Mobile's get an honorable mention for providing power points and comfy seats for lap-top users. There are also stand-up terminals where you can surf on the desktop terminals provided., A range of shops and bars, although oddly only the Burger King had a queue. Massive seating area by Caffe Nero with comfy sofas - better to sit and work than those uncomfortable metal numbers. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021773 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021768p,00.htm () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021768 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021747p,00.htm T3 - Korean Airlines lounge:, Small, comfortable, but with very limited facilities. Drinks and nibbles - no food. Very few power points. Very sporadic - weak signal commercial WiFi service. Mobile phone signal also weak. Poor facilities for working - only 2 PC equipped tables. Low coffee tables only means LapTops are LapTops! () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021747 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021725p,00.htm () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021725 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021675p,00.htm Whilst waiting for a long haul flight I found the Starbucks in Terminal One (Lower level, where the shops are) to be really useful. They were giving away free access cards to customers who bought a coffee which was a really useful touch. free is always good. The connection was quick and smooth. They also have some nice sofa and lounge seating so I found the experience useful. I am sure this offer won't last long and I am nt a Starbucks employee, but it helped me :) The only downside was the lack of powerpoints. I didnt see any. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021675 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021672p,00.htm Heathrow gates 11/15/16, Spotted three different networks - Tmobile, Wifi zone the cloud and BT openzone but couldn't connect to any!, Comfy seats as long as you can get one and there's a few power sockets around () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021672 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021667p,00.htm () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021667 http://www.atlarge.com/comment/0,3800012705,39021646p,00.htm At Terminal 3 last time I was there, it was best to sit right by the Vodafone stand. 3G was very good there, unsurprisingly, but is generally good across the airport. Fixed line was surprisingly good, including some stand-up terminals that you pay for by the pound, though these don't allow you to plug anything in - more for just a quick email over webmail. Horrible seats and over-crowded, as usual, but no one seemed to care about me recharging my laptop while surfing. () Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 LHR atlarge/comments/39021646