Calling American Airlines experts!!!!

[ams71]

I am not a frequent flyer of American Airlines, but they had a great deal that I couldn't pass for our upcoming trip. I want to make sure that I am able to use my laptop while on board. When I visited AA's website, they stated that they have cig lighter style power ports, but you need an air adapter. So my question is, will my normal cigarette adapter that I keep in my truck for my laptop and DS's playstation work on the airplane?

I hope so, b/c I priced the air adapter's that are specifically for flying and they are pricey if you are not a frequent flyer.

Thanks in advance for all the helpful assitance that you guys give!!!

 

[Brian Noble]

Check the specific plane on seatguru.com to be sure it has ports in all seats.

In any event, if your battery can't keep your laptop going from Louisiana to Orlando, you need a new battery. I usually travel with two batteries, and that covers me from coast-to-coast with one connection.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

American Airlines has done an excellent job installing powerports for first class and business class seats, and in some rows in economy, on most American Airlines aircraft. There are no powerports on American Eagle flights, and, as far as I know, American still hasn't finished powerport installation on some MD80s and 757s acquired from TWA. Be sure to look up the seating chart for your aircraft type to make sure you get a seat assignment for a seat with a powerport:

http://www.aa.com/content/aboutUs/ourPlanes/ourPlanes.jhtml

For more about American's powerports, see:

http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/duringFlight/onboardTechnology.jhtml

If your DVD player or laptop computer has a cigrarette lighter adapter, you should be all set. Your owner manual or the device itself should indicate that it's for "12-15V." Most laptop computers don't come with cigarette lighter adapters, so their owners have to purchase relatively expensive aircraft adapters for cigarette lighter sockets.

Several other airlines use EmPower sockets instead of cigarette lighter sockets for laptop power.

 

[julfre]

I fly AA out of st Louis about 6 times per year-usually to MCO, phoenix or las vegas in coach. I have never seen cigarette/power inlets on any of the flights. I do know some of these were the MD80s, but not all. I have a portable DVD player i bring so I would have loved to skip carrying the extra battery. I wouldn't count on a power outlet if you sit in coach.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I fly AA out of st Louis about 6 times per year-usually to MCO, phoenix or las vegas in coach. I have never seen cigarette/power inlets on any of the flights. I do know some of these were the MD80s, but not all. I have a portable DVD player i bring so I would have loved to skip carrying the extra battery. I wouldn't count on a power outlet if you sit in coach.

I fly American Airlines regularly out of Chicago O'Hare. Except for a couple of ex-TWA aircraft, I've always had a powerport at my seat for at least four year now. And the last time I was on an American's ex-TWA MD80, even that aircraft had operational powerports.

I'm usually in an exit row or first class, which always have powerports. When I'm in a regular coach seat, I check the seat map at aa.com to make sure I'll have a powerport.

Out of St. Louis, which was TWA's hub, there still may be a high percentage of ex-TWA aircraft. Also, many St. Louis flights are on American Eagle and American Connection, and these don't have powerports either.

Most people won't know a powerport is there unless they look for it. The powerports are between the seats, below the level of the seat cushions.