Comments on: Airlines Start Getting Smart About Power Outlets Onboard

By: CF

CF — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:21:36 +0000

Dave wrote:

I noticed on the AA site that they have the 110v outlet, but their website indicates “only to 75W.” I’m wondering if those outlets could handle 90W units.

Where do you see that it’s limited to 75W? I looked on this page and didn’t see that:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/duringFlight/onboardTechnology.jsp&anchorEvent=false

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:53:47 +0000

I noticed on the AA site that they have the 110v outlet, but their website indicates “only to 75W.” I’m wondering if those outlets could handle 90W units. Have any of you reading this thread, flown American, and used a 90W in one of those outlets for an extended period of time?

By: Gareth Williams

Gareth Williams — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:29:06 +0000

@ Nicholas Barnard: This is true. Plug shapes may be a bigger problem than voltage for some purposes depending on what the user wants to run. Airlines would have to be careful that sb doesn't try to plug in a hairdryer of something else stupid! Airlines could make a killing by selling travel adapters on the plane. I'm travelling for 13 hours with my 1 year old son next month, and power was one of the things I was researching (which is what led me to this board). I really hope people don't abuse the power sockets too much (and I hope terrorists don't develop electric-powered bombs!). hehe.

By: Nicholas Barnard

Nicholas Barnard — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:13:30 +0000

@ Gareth Williams: The other detail is that most laptop power adapters support between 110V-240V now adays, so it'd work everywhere.. Although there is that pesky thing of different plug shapes..

By: Gareth Williams

Gareth Williams — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:10:06 +0000

Sounds good. I hope they allow switching the “standard” 120V to “standard” 240V – almost every other country follows the latter “standard”. Important for international flights.

By: NileGuide: In Search of the Elusive Power Port

NileGuide: In Search of the Elusive Power Port — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:35:52 +0000

[...] fly between New York and both LA and San Francisco have regular outlets throughout. There is a single 757 that is being tested with power throughout the plane but plans to roll that out elsewhere in the fleet have not been [...]

By: David SF east bay

David SF east bay — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:27:32 +0000

Good point about checking other rows for unused outlets. People will just ask others to switch seats with them if the flight is full. But then there are those people who will say sure for five bucks…..lol

I wonder if to many people are using them at the same time it there will start to be short circuits. You would think it would be tested with something plugged into every outlet before they were even installed, but who knows.

By: Bob Mathews

Bob Mathews — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:39:04 +0000

Continental has had 110V outlets in their newer 737s & 757s for some time.

By: MSP Traveler

MSP Traveler — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:24:39 +0000

I was on a DL IFE-equipped 737 a month or so ago, and every coach seat had a standard USB outlet. It won’t power the macbook, but I thought that was a pretty decent compromise. If you had a wifi-equipped iphone or ipod touch, you could surf without running down the battery. I watch saved tv shows on my bb, it was great because I could watch the whole flight and be charged and ready to go on arrival. Also, the USB is low voltage and less of a safety risk if damaged by less than conscientious customers.

By: The Traveling Optimist

The Traveling Optimist — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:26:59 +0000

CRANKY!!!!

You wanna settle a territory dispute in a crowded cabin with booze?? LOL