Why I Favor Cellular Over Wi-Fi at Airports (And Why You Might, Too)

Picture this: You're sitting at an airport about to board your flight and decide to go online, possibly to stream some entertainment, engage in gaming, or download an app or two. Your immediate reflex might be to connect to the airport's Wi-Fi network. However, opting for your mobile data could be a more effective choice.

Cellular vs. Wi-Fi: Evidence from Recent Tests

A study by Ookla using Speedtest app data revealed that mobile networks could outperform airport Wi-Fi in terms of speed. By analyzing median download speeds at the 50 busiest U.S. airports, they uncovered that cellular networks from major carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon often provided superior performance.

On average, mobile data speeds reached 219.24 Mbps, while Wi-Fi lagged at an average of 101.39 Mbps.

Top Performers Among Carriers

Verizon led the pack at 34 airports where its cellular speeds surpassed those of Wi-Fi; it tied in two additional locations. T-Mobile showed better results than Wi-Fi in 32 airports, while AT&T managed to do so in 28, including one tie.

Highs and Lows: A Detailed View

Some notable highlights include striking cellular speeds like AT&T's 944.01 Mbps at Chicago's Midway, versus the airport's Wi-Fi at 122.53 Mbps. Sacramento International showed T-Mobile with 726.19 Mbps against 107.84 Mbps from Wi-Fi, and Verizon reached 1,267.05 Mbps at Indianapolis International, outpacing Wi-Fi's 51.35 Mbps.

Nonetheless, there were instances where Wi-Fi came out ahead. For instance, Houston's George Bush International showed Wi-Fi at 21.36 Mbps, overshadowing AT&T's mere 4.77 Mbps. Similarly, Oakland International saw Wi-Fi outperform T-Mobile with median speeds of 194.23 Mbps vs. 28.58 Mbps.

Why Is Airport Wi-Fi Sometimes Sluggish?

Delving deeper into why Wi-Fi isn't always superior reveals several reasons. Most airports haven't upgraded to the latest Wi-Fi tech; 70% of those reviewed still operate on Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), a standard launched in 2013. Due to cost and complexity, many airports hesitate to enhance their systems.

Airports may prioritize steady connections for multiple users over raw speed, contributing to slower Wi-Fi experiences. With millions of travelers passing through, considering cellular solutions could be more practical.

The conclusion, as per Ookla's analysis, encourages travelers not to default to Wi-Fi based on assumptions of superior speed. While Wi-Fi is generally reliable and free, those with unlimited mobile data plans face no added costs when utilizing cellular.

To decide whether Wi-Fi or cellular is more efficient, performing a Speedtest upon arrival could provide clarity, allowing users to make informed choices.