Summer travel season can easily create power struggles in airport terminals, as the gaggle of geeks seeking to recharge laptops, cell phones, and other gear outstrips the supply of working outlets.
I had first-hand experience of this last week when I was waylaid in Terminal C at Logan International Airport in Boston after a flight was canceled. Over four or so hours, in a terminal choked with travelers, I saw (and, I confess, perpetrated myself) some quasi-military tactics to take and hold functional, well-located outlets.
But I also witnessed some random acts of power-sharing kindness, and had time — plenty of time — to gather the following tips for energy-seeking air travelers:
Gather intelligence. During my delay, I was blessed by the company of many friendly Coloradans (we were all waiting for flights to Denver). They shared their knowledge about where outlets were and which actually worked (only about half, it seemed). There’s also the AirPower Wiki, which details outlet availability airport by airport – even terminal by terminal, in some cases.
Several devices to charge? Bring a multi-outlet wall adapter. Packing an adapter that allows you to plug several devices into a single outlet increases the chance of getting the power you need, and frees up extra outlets for others. A single outlet should have no problem handling the power demands of two portable-electronic devices. If you’re traveling abroad, you’ll likely need another adapter to handle differing voltage, plug design, or both. Sites like the World Electric Guide can be helpful.
Investigate in-flight charging. As seasoned road warriors know, many planes have power outlets under seats. But only certain seats on certain planes are so equipped, and a 12-volt, cigarette-lighter-style adapter may be required to access power. Fortunately, there’s a website, seatguru.com, that details which seats on which planes have a power supply, and of which type.
Share and be nice. I’m partly addressing myself here since, during a bathroom break at Logan, I used the ethically-dubious tactic of holding a coveted outlet by leaving my power adapter plugged in while taking my netbook and bags with me.
My Coloradan neighbors, meanwhile, shamed me with their Western niceness. A woman seated next to a four-plug power supply dubbed herself the “hub coordinator” and cheerfully plugged people in and out of the outlets. One guy offered me time on the outlet he was using. The young woman next to me confessed to guilt at tying up an outlet to play video games on a laptop, when “people like you are working.” (I quickly offered absolution, since she’d been waiting for six mind-numbing hours.)
How do you handle the power requirements of your gear when traveling, by air or otherwise? Share your stories and tips below. —Paul Reynolds.
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