Upgrade: 10 tips on making your connection

The first of atlarge.com's regular Upgrade columns comes from iPass' Stephen Dane. iPass offers connectivity at almost 400 airports around the world and here his tips explain some of the thinking behind his company's approach…

If you are a frequent flyer like me, getting connected in the terminal as quickly, cheaply and with as little hassle as possible is a top priority.

From my experience I have about 30 to 40 minutes of dead time in an airport lounge before an international flight, provided there are no delays. Travelling within Europe I have much less, say 15-20 minutes before boarding. This is really valuable time for me to synchronise emails, finish off a report or edit a proposal.

Not being able to work in the terminal can have a knock-on effect later in the week. Most of us have found ourselves having to work late or missing out on a Saturday morning lie-in if we can't get connected.

Careful advance planning and preparation can help. Here are some things to consider:

1. Don't leave the house without a fully charged battery. Most airports have power sockets but getting a seat next to one can prove tricky.

2. Get a worldwide adapter so that if you do find a free socket you can make use of it.

3. Take ear plugs with you. They're perfect for blocking out crying babies/holiday makers/public address systems or all the above. Just make sure you keep an eye on your watch or set your alarm on your mobile phone to remind you to get to the gate on time!

4. Treat free wi-fi with caution. Many airports, particularly the smaller ones, offer perfectly acceptable free wireless access. Unfortunately, in many airports, this service can be slow, unreliable and unsecured.

5. Check in advance what airport provisions you might expect. Jiwire offers a good online hotspot directory and you can search for wi-fi enabled airports ahead of your travel at www.jiwire.com. Knowing the network operators, which terminals or concourse are wi-fi enabled and what the costs are can help save time in looking for a connection.

6. Of course directories aren't always up to date and don't tell you the secrets that other travellers - people just like you - might have discovered. That's why the launch of www.atlarge.com is exciting - get the low-down on the best places to connect, for wi-fi, 3G and other things such as power sockets or fixed terminals.

7. Consider a monthly subscription. If you travel regularly, it may be cheaper and more convenient to take out a subscription with a network provider or network aggregator.

8. Avoid reliance on one network provider. Many travellers who rely on one network find they end up paying day rates on top of their monthly subscription if the network is down, slow or if their provider has no infrastructure in their destination airport.

9. Have a back-up option. While wi-fi offers the fastest speeds, many airports have good 3G coverage so a mobile datacard is helpful should the wireless network be down.

10. Take a book and order a latte. After all, sometimes you just need a break!

Stephen Dane is the managing director for iPass in the UK and Ireland.

Upgrade is atlarge.com's soapbox for all users. Got more to say than would fit in a regular Rating? Fancy yourself as a travel or tech writer? Pitch your ideas to enquiries@atlarge.com.