Avis pilots airport Wi-Fi scheme in UK

Avis is piloting mobile Wi-Fi connectivity in the UK at Edinburgh airport.

The service can be booked through Avis’s call centres and ‘portable hotspots’, which are small enough to fit in a pocket or bag, can be collected from the car rental company’s branch at the airport.

Users can connect to up to five devices at once – meaning laptops, smartphones, tablets and even game consoles can access the internet simultaneously, enabling several passengers to use the internet at the same time at no extra charge.

The company is charging £9.50 a day for access to emails, documents and social networking sites.

Users can surf, stream and download content while the capped daily fee ensures no additional costs are incurred.

Avis claims the service provides a benefit for people who don’t want to be confined to Wi-Fi ‘hotspots’ or pay high daily rates and roaming charges associated with smartphones when travelling abroad.

Wi-Fi is also available at German airports including Dusseldorf, Berlin Tegel, Munich, Hanover, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Frankfurt.

Avis Budget UK managing director Kaye Ceille said: “Internet access is becoming essential for business and leisure travellers and an increasing number of people require daily internet access whilst abroad to contact the office, read their emails or simply keep up to date with news and friends and family via social networking sites.

“Avis’ Mobile Wi-Fi product means that Avis customers can benefit from ‘being connected’ without the risk of high charges or the worry of unexpected bills on arrival home. We hope our customers will take the opportunity to try this new product which is a cheap and convenient solution to keeping in touch.”