How to Know If Your Flight Has Electrical Outlets
Draining your phone’s batteries is an inevitable part of life, but for some reason it seems especially inevitable when you’re already in flight. The good news is that more and more airlines are offering electrical outlets. The bad news is that they are definitely not versatile (yet), and even if your flight does technically have them, there is no guarantee that they will work.
On top of all this, it’s entirely possible to plan ahead (at least a little) and find out if your upcoming flight has separate outlets. It’s also worth noting that some airlines have gone beyond traditional outlets and opted to use USB ports instead. Either way, here’s how to find out which planes are overweight.
Of course, to avoid this problem, you should always charge your gadgets before leaving. If you’re using them at the airport, try grabbing an outlet to stay charged – bringing an extension cord with you will help a lot (and befriend you along the way). A good external battery can also come in handy. However, if you are looking for a point of sale, many airlines offer options, so just like Wi-Fi , let’s take a look at some of the most popular US airlines and what they offer.
Which airlines offer sockets and where
If you want to get an idea of which airlines offer electrical outlets before you start booking, here is a list of the most popular US airlines with some details. We are looking at the economy sections here, since the first and business class are more likely to have catering options.
- Air Canada : Most, if not all, Air Canada aircraft have power outlets as well as a USB port for charging small gadgets. You can take a virtual tour of the cabins of different flights to see if yours is on the list.
- Alaska Air : Alaska Air sets the bar high, with separate power outlets and USB ports for every seat on the plane.
- American Airlines : American has power outlets on most of its planes, but like Delta, you need to check individual planes to see where they are. (i.e. in economy class they can be located only in the exit rows).
- JetBlue : JetBlue provides wall outlets and USB ports on some, but not all, aircraft. For example, their recently refurbished A321 jets have retail outlets, while the A320 and E-190 series currently do not have separate outlets, according to Upgraded Points .
- Southwest : According to their website, there are no outlets on Southwest flights.
- United Airlines : All international flights have a power outlet for every seat on the plane. On domestic flights this is not so consistent, so be sure to check the specifications for your particular aircraft.
- Virgin Atlantic : On all Virgin Atlantic flights, passengers in all cabins have USB ports. Some aircraft also offer traditional power outlets for non-Economy Class passengers.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, it includes the most recent information we could find. Airlines are constantly improving their services, so the situation may change. If you have any fixes (with a source to back them up), please let us know and we’ll adjust the list!
Also, don’t be afraid to turn off Wi-Fi and power outlets in flight and unplug them completely. There are so few cases where you have a very good reason to be unavailable, and you might want to use it as well as a separate USB port.
This story was originally published on 10/15/13 and updated on 6/21/19 to provide more complete and up-to-date information.