Free airport WiFi courtsey of Google

Google is now offering free Wi-Fi at 47 airports across the United States for the holiday season this year.

The airports that will be participating in the program are:

* Austin (AUS)  * Baltimore (BWI)  * Billings (BIL) * Boston (BOS) * Bozeman (BZN) * Buffalo (BUF) * Burbank (BUR) * Central Wisconsin (CWA) * Charlotte (CLT) * Des Moines (DSM) * El Paso (ELP) * Fort Lauderdale (FLL) * Fort Myers/SW (RSW) * Greensboro (GSO) * Houston (HOU) * Houston Bush (IAH) * Indianapolis (IND) * Jacksonville (JAX) * Kalamazoo (AZO) * Las Vegas (LAS) * Louisville (SDF) * Madison (MSN) * Memphis (MEM) * Miami (MIA) * Milwaukee (MKE) * Monterey (MRY) * Nashville (BNA) * Newport News (PHF) * Norfolk (ORF) * Oklahoma City (OKC) * Omaha (OMA) * Orlando (MCO) * Panama City (PFN) * Pittsburgh (PIT) * Portland (PWM) * Sacramento (SMF) * San Antonio (SAT) * San Diego (SAN) * San Jose (SJC) * Seattle (SEA) * South Bend (SBN) * Spokane (GEG) * St. Louis (STL) * State College (SCE) * Toledo (TOL) * Traverse City (TVC) * West Palm Beach (PBI)

The idea behind the program is to get people to donate. When they connect to the network at whatever airport they are in, they will be prompted to donate to any of a list of nonprofit organizations. The donations are not mandatory.

Google will be matching donations to a charity up to $250,000.

Along with the airports that are offering the free Wi-Fi, Google is also putting free internet on Virgin America flights.

The promotion lasts until January 15, 2010.

Something I noticed about this list is that some of these airports already offer free Wi-Fi. I do not fly often, but I was aware that Charlotte’s (CLT) airport offers free Wi-Fi. I know that because while I was waiting on a flight I was in a frenzy  trying to make a post deadline.

Find out more about the program here.