One of the best things about modern travel is the ability to take your work with you. Laptop computers mean you can have your office with you wherever you go, from Akron to Zanzibar. It's the travel itself, though, that can often be an issue. Many laptop batteries, especially when new, may well last a couple of hours, or even for a 4 or 5 hour trip across country. But when you get into international travel, you're talking about 13 to 15 hours in the air. No battery can last that long, so what do you do? Being able to charge your laptop on an airplane would solve that problem, and in some cases it's possible.
Instructions
1. Find out if your particular aircraft has in-seat power in your assigned seat, and if so, what kind. There are many varieties of aircraft flying the same route and some may be upgraded to have power adapters, while others are not, and some that do have power adapters in certain seats don't have them in others. After checking with your airline, go to SeatGuru's online guide to in-seat power ports (see Resources below). This is an extensive guide to where you'll find power ports, and what kind.
2. Read carefully about the type of power that will be available at your seat. Finding out you'll have power isn't enough; you'll need to understand the differences between the different types of power ports, as well as the difference between power adapter and charger, before making a purchase. Some of the ports available will not provide enough power to charge a laptop, but merely offer enough for it to run on AC power.
3. Purchase a travel adapter. There are many types available, so you'll want to do your research. If your laptop's manufacturer makes a specific travel adapter for your laptop, this may be the best way to go, as it will be the right power conversion type for your battery. Just make sure it has the right type of tip for the receptacle on your plane. There are many good multi-brand adapters that will work as long as you find one with the appropriate voltage for your battery. These offer the bonus of having adapters to fit many types of laptops, as well as the different types of power ports you may find on an airplane.
4. Find the power supply port on the airplane. Even if you've researched your aircraft carefully, you may need to ask a flight attendant to help.
5. Plug your laptop in, and check the battery power indicator to ensure that it shows charging.
Tips Warnings
Check your reservations online as close to takeoff time as possible. Sometimes aircraft get switched at the last minute--even after you've arrived at the airport.
Always be sure to check with your airline, even if you've confirmed on another site the availability of power ports. Continental Airlines, for example, allows you to plug in your laptop but does not allow charging, and specifically requires the battery to be removed. Even if you've bought an adapter to fit every type of port and asked all the right questions, you may sit down and not find a port--or find that it doesn't work.
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