Photo by tylermhawkins

Power Outlets in the Sky

Laptop computers have been around for many years but in the past 12 months prices have really plummeted. More and more people now carry a laptop when the travel, especially since the tiny sized netbooks became available. Battery life is still an issue and while shorter flights may not pose a problem, longhaul flights still mean almost everyone will run out of battery before the plane lands. Fortunately many airlines have power socks on board, however these vary dramatically in both their design and availability.

This article will show you how to determine if your flight will have power sockets and how to tell where they are. It will also show you how to use them – did you know there are 3 different kinds of in flight power sockets? Also included are tips on how to save battery life so that if your aircraft doesn’t have power sockets, you can extend your battery life further than normal.

Does my plane have power outlets?

Very few airlines have power sockets in every seat on every aircraft. Most airlines fit their newer aircraft with power sockets, but not always in Economy class. Some newer airlines, such as Virgin America, have power sockets in every seat on all of their planes. Some airlines have power sockets in every seat, but only in First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy – All Nippon Airways (ANA) is a good example of this. American Airlines has power outlets in all First/Business class seats but only in selected Economy seats, usually towards the front. Note that very small aircraft such as Canadair and Embraer jets operated by American Airline’s subsidiary, American Eagle, have no power outlets at all.

As a general rule of thumb, newer aircraft are far more likely to have power outlets than older and smaller aircraft. To highlight this point, every single Airbus A380 has power outlets in every seat of every class. Airline websites can be misleading and vague with regards to describing the exact availability of the flight. I always suggest consulting two sources, Seatguru.com and the airline website.  Check your booking confirmation to find out which type of plane you will be flying on and look it up on Seatguru. Double check through the airline website that Seatguru is correct, as some aircraft have been refitted and are not up to date on Seatguru.

How do I use the power outlets?

There are three types of power sources available: AC power, DC power and EmPower.

AC power works just like a normal wall socket – simply put the plug in the socket and you have power. Note that US and European 2 blade/prong connects typically work whereas UK 3 pin and Australian 2 pin plugs require an universal adaptor. Most modern aircraft use this kind of power socket.

DC power is identical to the cigarette lighter style power that is available in most cars. Adapters are required for most laptops and the same car adapters work in these sockets. Many smaller devices such as portable DVD players come with car adapters so will work fine here.

EmPower ports require BOTH a cigarette lighter style adapter and a special EmPower adapter. The cigarette lighter style plug goes into the EmPower adapter and the EmPower adapter goes into the socket. It means buying extra equipment from electronics stores or online.

Seatguru or the airline website will be able to advise you which type of power socket your aircraft will have. Note that for DC and EmPower ports, it is usually necessary to purchase an adapter though some airlines will let you borrow one – the airline website will usually advise if this is the case.

How can I extend my battery life if there are no power sockets?

There are a few simple tips that will help you get extra hours out of your laptop battery, should your aircraft not have any power outlets on board. Before you travel, make sure you laptop is fully charged and switched off completely. Just closing the lid or placing it in standby mode will draw a slight charge and reduce consumption.

Unless you are using in-flight WIFI then turn the WIFI module off completely. This is usually done through the function keys on most laptops. The WIFI module draws a significant amount of power and a 25% increase in battery life is easily achievable by switching this off. I also recommend turning down the brightness of the screen, this again saves more power. Any USB devices such as hard drives, a mouse or even memory sticks draw power so by keeping use of these to a minimum, you can save considerable energy.

Playing DVDs and watching movies from the hard drive will increase power consumption, but for most people it is a worthwhile trade-off to have some decent entertainment. When you are not using DVDs, take them out of the laptop – the motor which spins the disc uses energy. The less workload that you can put on the laptop the more power saved and the longer the battery will last. Closing applications such as Spotify or Skype that you will not be using in flight can help here.

Most new aircraft are likely to have power sockets from this point onwards. However there are still aircraft flying that are 30-40 years old so don’t expect it to be a universal perk any time soon. A little bit of prior research can go a long way to preparing yourself for a long flight. Choosing an airline that has power outlets can let you catch up on your work or relax and watch your own movies. Either way, it pays to be prepared. Seatguru and airline websites combined should keep you informed about what to expect. Be sure to visit you local Electronics store to find the suitable adapters for DC or EmPower sockets. These vary for every brand of laptop and are not usually available at airport electronics stores.