US Airways Club blocks CLT free wi-fi!

[JS]

I have a friend at the CLT US club right now who told me he can't use the airport free wi-fi. He said the signal is there but can't connect because of interference. Of course the T-mobile works fine.

Is this an FCC violation? Or does that only apply to cell phones?

Even if it's not illegal, it's a slap in the face to your so-called "best customers" making use of the club facilities. :down:

 

[jimntx]

Legal or not, it does seem an odd way to treat your best customers.

 

[flybynite]

I don't know if this makes any difference or not but it's raining pigs and elephants here in CLT today and maybe that's causing some problems.

 

[US1YFARE]

maybe it's the jetstream?

 

[SS255]

I have never been able to get a reliable connection in the C-D Club. It's spotty, at best, but mostly not at all. The signal shows "excellent."

I used to be able to get a reliable connection at the B Club, until about a year ago (signal also excellent). Now it's as unreliable as the C-D Club.

US should either do away with T-Mobile, or make it free for their members the way UA does. Having to whip out my corporate card to pay for a day pass at the Club (when I could get it for free in the terminal) is just one more annoyance of flying US. It doesn't hit my pocketbook, but it ticks me off nonetheless.

 

[nycbusdriver]

I have a friend at the CLT US club right now who told me he can't use the airport free wi-fi. He said the signal is there but can't connect because of interference. Of course the T-mobile works fine.

Is this an FCC violation? Or does that only apply to cell phones?

Even if it's not illegal, it's a slap in the face to your so-called "best customers" making use of the club facilities. :down:

I don't think its possible to effectively interfere with one signal without interfering with all of them unless you are willing to spend a lot of money on some really high-tech, illegal gear.

I am fairly certain it is possible for Windows (or an add-on network software) to be set to ignore a particular WiFi router (T-mobile in this case,) and choose the free WiFi router. I've done it on my laptop using Network Magic, and it's usually effective.

 

[N965VJ]

This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of this in CLT. I use a cellular broadband card, so I’m not dependant on trying to find a decent WiFi signal. But I still carry an Orinoco Gold PCMCIA card with an external high gain antenna for instances when I don’t have a good cellular signal. I bought mine on eBay for around $30.

 

[InternationalShannon]

It's a free internet signal...it works fine in some places and not so fine in others. It's not just the clubs. The whole airport is like that. At least it's FREE.

I am so sick of threads like this where the title is so instigating.......you're like those people on the news who "OMG I SAW THE WHOOOOLEE THING!!! *instert extremely exaggerated dramatic version of a not-so-intersting story here*" :down:

 

[JS]

It's a free internet signal...it works fine in some places and not so fine in others. It's not just the clubs. The whole airport is like that. At least it's FREE.

I am so sick of threads like this where the title is so instigating.......you're like those people on the news who "OMG I SAW THE WHOOOOLEE THING!!! *instert extremely exaggerated dramatic version of a not-so-intersting story here*" :down:

You would have a valid point if the US Club were free. It's not. Anyone using the airport is paying for the airport's wi-fi through ticket taxes.

People with attitudes like yours is a reason why my friend chose to fly US on this trip -- only because it was by far the cheapest. US isn't worth paying more, or even the same, as anyone else.

 

[aredeeyou22]

You would have a valid point if the US Club were free. It's not. Anyone using the airport is paying for the airport's wi-fi through ticket taxes.

People with attitudes like yours is a reason why my friend chose to fly US on this trip -- only because it was by far the cheapest. US isn't worth paying more, or even the same, as anyone else.

The thread is about US Club intentionally blocking CLT airport WiFi. The club does not do this. USAir does not do this. The thread has absolutely nothing to do with US not offering WiFi in the club, or US being cheap. We know that.

Just another false, empty thread here (shock), to add to the rest. Next....

 

[InternationalShannon]

You would have a valid point if the US Club were free. It's not. Anyone using the airport is paying for the airport's wi-fi through ticket taxes.

People with attitudes like yours is a reason why my friend chose to fly US on this trip -- only because it was by far the cheapest. US isn't worth paying more, or even the same, as anyone else.

I know, that's a real problem around here.....my awful attitude.
B)

 

[ClueByFour]

The thread is about US Club intentionally blocking CLT airport WiFi. The club does not do this. USAir does not do this.

That's technically correct. T-mobile does it for them.

It's not against the law to have one Wi-Fi access point attempt to run over another. In fact, there is no recourse because wi-fi (among other things) runs in an unlicensed spectrum. As long as you stick to the legal power limits, you can do whatever you want. In the CLT Club case, T-mobile has configured their AP to be on the same channel as the airport's access point closest to the club. That causes the T-mobile signal to "run over" the airport wi-fi for anyone sitting closer to the T-mobile access point (which includes everyone in the club).

It's not illegal. It's underhanded and an attempt to drive "captive" revenue. I could legally go into the club and repeat the free airport signal in such a way that it drowns out the T-mobile if I really wanted (US, of course, could ask me to leave the club, but that's where it would end).

The solution is to get a quality wireless card (orinoco/proxim come to mind) and a non-windows utility to manage it. Get the airport signal in the club and ignore t-mobile (performance will suck due to the RF limitations. It will work, however).

 

[FWAAA]

There's crapping on your good customers and then there's crapping on your good customers. Every time I think that US has made some positive strides, something like this arises to surprise me. US has appeared to outdo itself on this one. An airport offers free wifi to everyone in the airport and what does US do? Runs over the free signal with its own pay-to-surf signal in its membership-only airport club.

What's next? Will US shut off the drinking fountains and sinks in the club and attempt to sell members $2 water? Has US begun charging $2 for soft drinks at the club?

An airline with no clue (no pun intended, Clue).

 

[InternationalShannon]

talent or the will[/b] to somehow block a Wi-Fi signal from a specific area of an airport is a bridge to far for me.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA aAaAAAAAaaa you're funny. Never , ever misses an opportunity, that Pineyhiney

 

[Garfield]

JS fly whoever you and your friend choose but blaming US for the city wi fi's performance is frankly stupid