In today’s digital world, you can’t go anywhere without your smartphone. But what if you’re on a plane, flying over the ocean, and your phone dies? What then? Do you have to spend the next four hours searching for Wi-Fi hotspots so that you don’t lose all of your friends? Do you have to put away that new crossword game because there’s no cell signal? It is enough to drive anyone mad. Luckily, airlines are seeing the light and starting to offer passengers charging stations. But how does this work exactly? Can you charge your phone on a plane? Let’s find out.
Can You Charge Your Phone On A Plane?
As frustrating as it may be, you cannot charge your phone on a plane due to regulations that prevent passengers from using electronic devices during take-off and landing. However, there are ways to charge your phone on a plane without using an outlet. You can use a power bank to charge your phone while flying, or you can ask a flight attendant for a plug adaptor that connects to your power bank.
Why Is It So Difficult To Charge Your Phone On A Plane?
1. The FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that all electronic devices be turned off during take-off and landing. This includes cell phones and tablets, as well as laptops and other electronics. The FAA does not allow any electronics to charge while in flight, so it is difficult to charge your phone on a plane.
2. Charging Ports
There are no electricity outlets in the cabin of most planes, so you cannot plug in a charger or power bank. Therefore, there is no way to charge your phone on a plane.
3. Portable Power Banks and Chargers
Some airlines have portable power banks or chargers available for purchase at the airport before boarding the flight. However, these chargers can only be used for 30 minutes at a time before they need to be recharged again. This can become inconvenient if you’re stuck waiting in the terminal for an hour or more before the next flight takes off when you only have five minutes left on your power bank (or less). If you forget to bring your charger with you, then there’s no way to charge your phone on a plane without using up all of your precious minutes!
4. No Charging Ports In The Airplane Cabin
Most airlines do not provide charging ports because they don’t want passengers using their devices during take off and landing because of safety concerns. However, there are some exceptions: American Airlines allows passengers to use their own charging cords in select regions, and United Airlines provides charging ports in first class cabins.
5. Power Banks and Chargers Are Expensive
Power banks and chargers are expensive and hard to find, especially if you want one that’s portable. Most power banks require a cable to be plugged into it, which is inconvenient if you’re trying to charge your phone while on the plane. You can buy a portable charger for $20 or more on Amazon, but it may not be powerful enough to charge your phone at full speed (which is around 2 amps). Depending on your budget, you may choose to bring one of these with you on the plane instead of bringing an adapter so that you can charge your phone from an outlet in the terminal or at the airport before boarding your flight.
6. The Power Bank Is Not Portable Enough
Most power banks are not portable enough for traveling purposes because they are too big for travelers to take with them on planes. It’s also inconvenient because they take up so much room in your luggage and it would be difficult to carry them through security checkpoints at airports or while traveling by train or car. For this reason, most people choose not to bring their own power bank with them when flying because they do not think they will have enough time to use it while flying before they need to re-charge it again once they land. However, there are some exceptions: American Airlines allows passengers to use their own charging cords in select regions, and United Airlines provides charging ports in first class cabins.
Which Airlines Have Charging Stations?
1. Finnair
Finnair is an airline based in Helsinki, Finland. It operates international flights to Europe and Asia. Finnair has a charging station on the first floor of the terminal for passengers to use their own USB-charged devices.
2. Air Canada
Air Canada is an airline based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It operates international flights from its hubs at Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montréal–Trudeau Airport. Air Canada offers charging stations for passengers to use on board its flights from select locations in North America and Europe (see below).
3. Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines is an airline based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It operates domestic and international flights throughout North America and to Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand through various hubs throughout the world including Amsterdam, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport among others (see below).
Pros Of Plane Charging Stations
1. Charging Time
Most plane charging stations provide you with a full charge in about an hour. This is often long enough to allow you to use your phone while on the plane.
2. Safety Concerns
Because they are powered by USB, they are safer than plugging your phone into the wall or a power outlet in the terminal. You do not have to worry about a fire or electrical shock from connecting your device to a power source that could damage it. If you lose your phone, there is no risk of it catching fire because it has been disconnected from a power source. You do not have to worry about leaving it plugged in too long because there will be no risk of overheating if it’s allowed to fully charge before being unplugged and placed back into its case or bag. It also means that little children cannot accidentally turn the chargers on and get burned or electrocuted by them and can therefore stay safely nearby while unplugging their devices once their phones are fully charged.
3. Cost Concerns
Many airlines charge passengers for using their own USB-charged devices, but some airlines like Finnair offer free airport charging stations for passengers who purchase certain types of tickets, such as business class tickets (see below). Most people find these charging stations much more convenient than bringing their own charger with them on trips because they eliminate the need for carrying around an extra piece of luggage just for carrying around an adapter that you would only use once during your trip.
Cons Of Plane Charging Stations
1. Price
The cost of plane charging stations varies greatly, with some charging stations costing over $100, and others costing as little as $20. The average cost is about $40.
2. Size
Most plane charging stations are smaller than the average smartphone charger and won’t fit in most cases or bags. They can be awkward to store in a suitcase or a bag while traveling because they don’t have many pockets or compartments to fit into and they often take up a lot of space. This can be an issue if you have a very small suitcase that doesn’t have much room for storing items and you are traveling on an airline that doesn’t offer free charging stations for passengers who purchase certain types of tickets, such as business class tickets (see below).
3. Time Required
Most plane chargers require you to sit down with your phone plugged into the charger while it charges, which can sometimes take more than an hour depending on how quickly your device charges. This can be annoying when you need to get up from your seat at any point during the flight because it means having to unplug your phone from the charger and then re-plugging it back in again once you are ready to leave your seat again once the flight’s landing is announced so that it will charge before landing (see below).
Bottom Line
If you travel a lot, it is worth your time to look into the charging stations on each airline that you frequently fly. You will definitely appreciate not having to worry about your device dying halfway through a long flight. Charging stations are definitely the way of the future.
