Disappearing power points in Airport Lounges

[ethernet]

Not everyone is a lounge member.

I had the misfortune of trying KL's LCC Air Asia lounge on a red eye flight, and there was not a single power point for what would be a huge area.
This was not an accident.

I looked at the Samsung Advert sign, and it was hard wired. I looked everywhere. It must be a deliberate attempt to annoy laptop users.

Singapores, LCC has a few well hidden ones, but they were scarce.
I had my adapter, and within minutes others had plugged in to my 'octopus'.

Melbourne International, had fewer powerpoints than I remember. Everyone, had a super heavy seat that needed 2 people to shift it, and some vending machines have been bolted down, preventing casual unplugging. Even the shaver socket in the Bathroom are going...

This is not a smart move, as it just means I pack another battery pack on my person, which is extra weight - costing the airline fuel.

 

[Febs]

Agreed. Given the percentage of lounge users who have (and use) laptops in the lounge (surely by far the majority), the number of powerpoints at pretty much every airport lounge I've ever visited world-wide is terrible.

 

[Dave Noble]

Agreed. Given the percentage of lounge users who have (and use) laptops in the lounge (surely by far the majority), the number of powerpoints at pretty much every airport lounge I've ever visited world-wide is terrible.

I find that AA's lounges tend to be quite good for being able to plug things in plus had no problems at the UA lounge in ORD recently

Dave

 

[anat0l]

The cheese described by the OP however refers to the lack of power points in airports when not in an airline lounge.

KLIA is not much better than the LCC (I haven't been to the latter but the former has not much to speak of anyway). Last time I was in KLIA the Main Contact Terminal had just got some wireless (or at least someone wasn't smart enough to protect the KLIA-internal wireless). There wasn't much power anywhere, so I ended up sitting down on the floor near a storage closet to get a quick battery recharge.

I hardly rely on there being a plug available at an airport unless you're going into a lounge. If you need your laptop and usually under critical circumstances, you're better off carrying that extra battery anyway.

 

[oz_mark]

I think there are good reasons for making sure vending machines stay plugged in.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well I guess the other side of the story is in this "electronic age" how is much should a venue such as an airport supply free power?? And it is not just the cost of the power either, but the congestion that it can casing with growing demad.


I mean it is not just laptops either but:

• ipods and other music players
• mobile phones
• Nintendo DS's and other mobile gaming machines.

No doubt that in recent years the demand for powerpoints would have been escalating....

For one to be sure of gaining access to a power point if a venue was to supply free access in a public area such as an airport would mean that a lot of powerpoints would need to be provided.

So I can understand why such facilities are consciously taking the tack to not provide any access at all except in areas where people are effectively paying for their provision.

 

[Mal]

KLIA is not much better than the LCC (I haven't been to the latter but the former has not much to speak of anyway). Last time I was in KLIA the Main Contact Terminal had just got some wireless (or at least someone wasn't smart enough to protect the KLIA-internal wireless). There wasn't much power anywhere, so I ended up sitting down on the floor near a storage closet to get a quick battery recharge.

KLIA have a wireless network available for public use. Can't recall it's SSID now - but it exists. Power points are also around in various places. In particular, you'll find some heading out to the observation deck in the hallways.

As I've kinda noted elsewhere, in KUL stay away from the "Traveller's Bar". Truly cough. The Coffee shop just a few shops down and across the passage does know how to serve a Carlesberg - although at 30RMB (at both places) for a 'large' (maybe a pint?), not really cheap at all.

 

[Reggie]

Not everyone is a lounge member.

I had the misfortune of trying KL's LCC Air Asia lounge on a red eye flight, and there was not a single power point for what would be a huge area.
This was not an accident.

I looked at the Samsung Advert sign, and it was hard wired. I looked everywhere. It must be a deliberate attempt to annoy laptop users.

I flew out of the KL LCC terminal on the red eye back in early November. Our flight to Perth was delayed some 2 hours from 2300hrs to 0100hrs. The chemist / general store shut at 2300hrs even though there were 2 delayed flights with many many people waiting around.

My battery started to run flat, and I did the search you also did. I found a powerpoint just outside the Duty Free shop on the RHS. I was able to hook in there with no problems.From memory it was next to a small freestanding desk, that may have been used for an information booth or a sales desk (aka AMEX), but at that time of night no one was around.

 

[JohnK]

As I've kinda noted elsewhere, in KUL stay away from the "Traveller's Bar". Truly cough. The Coffee shop just a few shops down and across the passage does know how to serve a Carlesberg - although at 30RMB (at both places) for a 'large' (maybe a pint?), not really cheap at all.

Which one is the "Traveller's Bar"? Do you mean the Forrestier Bar? Without lounge access I thought it was a nice place to sit down and watch the world go by even though the Carlsberg was a little bit expensive....

 

[Mal]

Which one is the "Traveller's Bar"? Do you mean the Forrestier Bar? Without lounge access I thought it was a nice place to sit down and watch the world go by even though the Carlsberg was a little bit expensive....

It's landside on the departures level. Airside I was in the Cathay Lounge.