I understand this grump might be misunderstood. How can I complain about airlines making power outlets difficult to access when many airlines don’t even provide power outlets? However, if you promote onboard power, it should be accessible, without having to perform several yoga maneuvers to reach it.
I will call out Delta because they’re the ones where I’ve experienced this the most. Since we have no airline status and I rarely pay for upgraded seating, we’re usually in the cheap seats. While I have a co-brand Delta credit card which gives us preferred boarding, we don’t get settled in because there will undoubtedly be someone sitting in our row if the plane if full (and what plane isn’t full nowadays?).
Before getting situated, one thing I’ve started to do is look for the power outlet. If there isn’t a USB outlet on the IFE system, I’ll need to use a plug or USB connector near my feet. And there’s no rhyme or reason where it will be located.
I’m sure the nearby passengers wonder why I’m snapping pictures by my feet during the boarding process. It’s because I want to find the outlet and what type of plug I’ll need for my phone and/or computer for the flight.
On a recent trip with Delta, we were on an A321.
The A321-200 is the most common plane Delta uses for domestic flights. I needed to check around my feet to find where the power outlet was. I couldn’t find it but fortunately, it was easier for Sharon to take a picture of the power plug near our feet.
For the three seats, there were two power plugs. Fortunately, my MacBook has a long enough battery to last for a flight to Singapore, so a trip from JFK-MCO was no challenge. However, my iPhone isn’t new, and if I wanted to connect to the free Wi-Fi for the flight, I’d like to plug it into a power source.
I challenge anyone to find that USB power outlet located by your feet when you are seated three across with your carry-on bag under the seat.
Not to mention that the power outlets removed some of the space under the seat. Fortunately, I was traveling with my Bento Bag, which easily fit in the reduced under-seat space.
Of course, I’d rather have a power plug to charge my computer, tablet or phone than not. However, if it’s impossible to plug in a charger while crammed into a seat, how useful is an outlet that you can’t reach?
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
3 comments
A travel blogger who hasn’t learned the lesson of bringing your own power pack? Too cheap to spend the $20 for one? Too lazy to buy one?
We do bring a power pack. However, many travelers don’t and why should I use a battery when there are power outlets?
A few years ago I noticed that the power sockets were very worn and sometimes my power adapter would constantly fall out. So I started putting a EU power adapter in my laptop case (theory being that those sockets would be used less often on domestic flights) and it works! I have both a EU adapter for my laptop as well as a EU usb adapter for my phone and tablet.