Travelers, phone home! Free Wi-Fi at major airports from Skype

Internet communications company Skype is offering an hour of free Wi-Fi for travelers at New York’s JFK and La Guardia airports and Chicago O’Hare. Los Angeles and John Wayne airports are not available for free Wi-Fi from Skype (prices start at $6 for the first hour), but Bob Hope Airport in Burbank as well as San Francisco and Sacramento airports will be eligible this holiday season.

The deal: If you aren’t Skype savvy, here’s a quick tutorial that explains how you can talk over the Internet to anyone for free or at a low cost. (Skype-to-Skype calls are free; Skype calls to land lines or cellphones are charged.) It’s a great savings for international and long-distance calling and fun because you can see the person while you talk (if you have a Web cam on your computer).

Some airports already offer free Wi-Fi, but for those that don’t, Skype is filling the gap. The service works on Macs, PCs, iPads and more. Just connect to Skype’s service at participating airports and you’re online.

When: Skype offers free airport Wi-Fi from Wednesday through Dec. 27.

Details: It drives me crazy when I have time to kill at an airport that doesn’t offer free Wi-Fi. With so many business and leisure travelers toting laptops, it seems this should be a no-brainer. Wi-Fi prices at airports usually start about $6.95, depending on how much time you want to buy. Check out the map of airports where you can take advantage of Skype’s free access.

Contact: Skype