Lost in Space:
Travelers share tricks on how to find electric outlets in airports
Waiting for a flight at the airport can be a bore,
but if you can whip out your laptop, at least you can get some work done.
But those with a long flight or a long wait ahead may hesitate
to run down laptop batteries all at once.
The best solution, of course, is to find an electric
outlet in the airport where you can plug in and work or play solitaire
without running down your battery. Unfortunately such outlets can
be hard to find.
To help, we asked some frequent travelers to share
some of the insight theyve developed over the years. Heres
what they recommend:
Terry Shannon:
First try the obvious: Look on the support
columns throughout the passenger waiting areas.
Look near the gate agents desk.
Keep an eye on the custodial staff: "They
have to plug those vacuum cleaners in SOMEWHERE."
Go to the airport bar: "Chat up the
bartender and ask to use one of the outlets that is INVARIABLY behind
the bar."
Dont be proud: "Ive almost
always found an outlet...but I dont mind sitting on the floor
up against a column. Probably looks strange, but you see plenty of strange
stuff in an airport."
Terry also offers this bit of advice that
runs quite counter to advisories posted in most aircraft:
"Once on board, if the juice on my THREE batteries runs out, Ill
just set the computer up in a bathroom and let it recharge in there.
As long as the computers in a plastic bag, it should be safe from
water spillage. And theres little chance that the thing will walk
away at 35,000 feet."
Chris Smith:
Look under banks of payphone where electric
outlets are often out-of-sight.
Look around the backs of pillars
Look in the middle of nowhere, in large expanses
such as departure areas and along corridors. Outlets probably located
there for convenience of the cleaning staff.
Make sure you carry a long electric cord
to make inaccessible outlets more accessible.
Make sure you always have a coin handy to
remove the little, round brass covers that screw over outlets in the
floor, although this last technique "may get you stern looks from
airport staff." (May'02)
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