Outlets Still In Demand For Power Hungry Travelers

from the learn-to-share dept

Wed, Nov 29th 2006 8:13am — Mike Masnick

Two years ago we posted a story from the NY Times about how, for all the increase in available WiFi, it was increasingly difficult to find power outlets. Apparently, the situation hasn't improved any, because the NY Times is back again with a very similar article again discussing the severe shortage of power outlets, this time focusing on airports. The article notes that people don't often complain about the situation, because they usually aren't sure if they're allowed to use the outlets (answer: you are, in most cases). However, the problem has continued to grow -- usually noticeable by the crowd of laptop toters huddled around the few outlets available. The growth is caused by a combination of factors, from more people traveling with laptops to people spending more time at airports since many people arrive so early to deal with security hassles to the continued growth of WiFi. It appears most that airports are listening, and are trying to install more outlets, but it's slow going. In the meantime, at the very end of the article there's the suggestion that I follow: carry a splitter with you and offer to share the power. I've used it at a variety of airports and it works great. I can plug six additional laptops (or phone chargers) into a single outlet, and people are more than willing to let me plug the splitter into outlets. The only thing I've worried about is how people deal with it when I have to leave -- but so far I've been lucky that most people plugged in are all leaving at about the same time. Of course, some airports are going in the other direction. Carlo is on the road this week and noticed that at Dallas-Fort Worth airport, they're trying to charge travelers $2 for 30 minutes of power -- though he notes that everyone else was crowded around free outlets about 10 yards away.

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11 Comments

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William C Bonner, 29 Nov 2006 @ 9:37am

Chargers etc...
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that you'll find people charging their cell phone, pda, and laptop.

I don't carry a power splitter, just because I've not thought about it, and I'm trying to reduce the weight that I'm carrying around, not increase it. Every bit of copper is heavy.
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Jaiye, 29 Nov 2006 @ 10:05am

Re: Chargers etc...
whick is why any traveler with electronics should get something like http://www.monstercable.com/power/lineOutlets.asp

I know for sure that the 4 outlet version is quite compact and easy to travel with.
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skaheru, 29 Nov 2006 @ 10:21am

Energy shortage
You know what's interesting for me, coming from Uganda? Here we are suffering an energy shortage that has led to 24-hour load-shedding (i.e. you get power for 24 hours, then it goes for 24 hours) since February this year. What that has done for chaps like me is make us experts in energy conservation - so we always maximise our 'charging time' to that at the exact second the electricity goes, we have the maximum amount of power in our phone and laptop batteries. Now, my airport experience has me holding there for not longer than a couple of hours at most, during which I am happy to read a book or do some non-laptop related activity (at last!). Seriously, I hope we don't get too much laptop access at those points, otherwise my boss will insist on those airport lounge meetings to 'polish up the presentation' that I just loathe!
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Jezsik, 29 Nov 2006 @ 10:34am

Airport design
My home airport (international) just finished building a new wing with a score of departure waiting areas. I've been to nearly half of them in search of outlets. If I'm lucky, there is exactly one outlet. Unfortunately, this is sometimes in a traffic area (plane boarding route) with no chair. How can anyone design an airport in the 21st century without taking into consideration the fact that so many travellers are business travellers who need power? Astonishing!
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Ajax 4Hire, 29 Nov 2006 @ 10:58am

Unless it is weightless..
there is no way I am going to increase my weight load to buy and carry a Power-Strip. Something I must continuously carry, store and manage; no way.

Now I will cheat and AC Power my laptop and then use the USB port to charge my cellphone.

The suggestion to carry more must come from someone who has not had to continuously carry for a week. Weight is king when it comes to travel. People will pay extra for less weight laptop, cellphone, PDA, blah, blah, whatever.

I know I do.
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daywono, 29 Nov 2006 @ 11:16am

Re: Unless it is weightless..
I have a small, three-outlet power strip that has a six-inch cord. While not weightless, it is close to it at about 3 ounces. Also, I got it at a 99-cent store, so for under a buck, the price was right. I actually bought several of them so i have one in each laptop bag and one in each of my vehicles to use with the AC inverters. It is great to be able to plug everything in at the same time in the car, at a remote job site, and even in the airport. Weightless? No, but I won't leave home without it.
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Jezsik, 29 Nov 2006 @ 12:00pm

Airport design
My home airport (international) just finished building a new wing with a score of departure waiting areas. I've been to nearly half of them in search of outlets. If I'm lucky, there is exactly one outlet. Unfortunately, this is sometimes in a traffic area (plane boarding route) with no chair. How can anyone design an airport in the 21st century without taking into consideration the fact that so many travellers are business travellers who need power? Astonishing!
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Gary Potter, 29 Nov 2006 @ 12:09pm

PowerOutlets
Back in January of '05, Stephen O"Grady of Redmonk fame, started a campaign to tag photos of poweroutlets at airports. He's got quite a few. I tagged several myself but I can't seem to find them.

http://flickr.com/photos/sog/tags/poweroutlet/
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DV Henkel-Wallace, 29 Nov 2006 @ 12:57pm

Carry something tiny
C'mon: go to your local hardware store and for about 75 cents you can buy a tiny plastic gadget that plugs into an outlet and turns it into three. Total dimensions approximately 4" x 1.5" x 1" and weighs approximately two ounces. I carry one of these and forget it's there.

And I say this completely agreeing with what Ajax 4Hire is saying. It weighs less than a sandwich. Plus since it's only 75 cents if I rush to the plane because the "final boarding" announcement is being made and I have to leave it behind -- no big deal.
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|333173|3|_||3, 29 Nov 2006 @ 3:20pm

THose continous strip things...
...would be good idea. you can get an adaptor for whatever plug type you like, which means that you don't have to worry about having the right plug for your apapter 9so long a s the voltage is right). Unfortunately, I don't know how much the plugs cost, but if they start to appear in all WiFi hotspots, the rpice will fall.
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Myself, 30 Nov 2006 @ 6:26am

the Power Strip Liberator is close...
The "liberator plus" has a passthrough plug on the end. I have a 6-foot cord with the passthrough on one end and an IEC C8 plug on the other, got it from Radio Shack but they no longer carry it. :(

Anyway, yeah the lack of outlets is stupid. If you ask nicely, the folks at the boarding counter might let you plug in back there, if you've got plenty of time before boarding.

Incidentally, FNT has plenty of outlets next to the at-gate seating. One more reason they're my favorite airport when I have a choice. :)
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