Not being able to connect to the_cloud

Hi,

This is a very basic question.

I took my Macbook Pro to Costa coffee and even to McDonald's and tried to connect to their wifi and I got connected but I opened up Chrome and Safari and I never did get the 'Get Online' page thus making be offline. I know it's as simply as connecting to their wifi, open safari and off you go. Why am I able to do it on my Iphone but not on my Macbook?