Rick Nelson

Feeling powerless in airports
November 28, 2006

For those of us who like to keep moving, standing in endless check-in and security lines at airports can bring about a feeling of true powerlessness. And that powerlessness may persist once we reach the relative comfort of the boarding area—that is, unless we can find a convenient outlet in which to plug our laptops and cell phones. The only solution seems to be signing up for airline-club memberships—an expensive proposition if you frequently fly more than one airline.

Help may be on the way. An article in today’s Times comments that Atlanta’s airport is slowly adding new outlets. “With today’s technology, there’s definitely an increase in demand for outlets,” said Ashraf Demian, chief electrical engineer for Hartsfield-Jackson, as quoted in the Times report.

I’ve often been willing to pump some quarters into a charging station that would dispense an hour or so electricity while I wait for a flight, and the Times notes that Salt Lake City International Airport has installed power outlets in conjunction with Smarte Carte to offer a recharging station for mobile phones and hand-held computers, at $3 a pop.

But if your airport hasn’t upgraded with free or paid outlets, what can you do? The Times quotes Robert Cowen, a frequent traveler who publishes the Web site InternetTravelTips.com: “The easiest way to find a power outlet is to think like the cleaning lady. Where do they plug in the vacuum cleaner?” That approach isn’t trouble-free, however. One person reported having observed a shouting match erupt between a laptop-toting traveler and vacuum-toting maintenance worker, each needing the same outlet.

Posted by Rick Nelson on November 28, 2006 | Comments (0)