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Virgin Atlantic Bans All Apple & Dell Laptop Battery Use

TMO Reports - Virgin Atlantic Bans All Apple & Dell Laptop Battery Use

by , 6:25 PM EDT, September 15th, 2006

Virgin Atlantic announced new restrictions on all Apple and Dell laptops Friday, forbidding all laptop battery use in-flight. The carrier will allow Apple and Dell laptops to be used in seats where the computers can be plugged into "In Seat Power Supplies," but batteries must be taken out of the laptops and stowed in carry-on luggage.

"As a result of the current problems being experienced by the Apple and Dell Corporations with some of the batteries fitted to some of their laptops," the company said on its Latest News Web page, "as a safety precaution and with immediate effect, customers wanting to use an Apple or Dell laptop on board can only do so if the battery is removed. Any removed or spare batteries must be individually wrapped/protected and placed in your Carry On Baggage. This is limited to two batteries per passenger."

The company will provide power leads and adapters to passengers, "in cabins where the seats are fitted with In Seat Power Supplies. [...] Where no ISPS is provided or no laptop leads/adapters are available, the use of Apple and Dell laptops is prohibited."

The limitation comes in response to a battery recall by both Apple and Dell of several million laptop batteries manufactured by Sony. Apple itself recalled some 1.1 million batteries, while Dell recalled more than 4 million.

It should be noted that though the recall affected only a very small percentage of all the Macintosh and Dell laptops on the market, Virgin Atlantic's ban is across the board, whether or not the Apple or Dell model was included in the recall.

In the statement, Virgin said it is in communication with both Apple and Dell. "As soon as this safety issue is resolved these restrictions will be lifted," the company said.

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Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:JimWCB Posts: 301 Joined: 29 Aug 2002
Subject:

What's that sound?


That's the sound of a lot of business travelers going to other airlines.

Stupid orverreaction. Has there even been a case of these batteries overheating on an airplane?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Quick!

Hurry up and do something. Save us from the this grave risk to our lives!

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Time to SUE Sony.

Sony needs to pay for ALL the work that will be lost.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Very interesting

This is pretty weird stuff, I am scared to use my laptop now.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: But I did think of Sony ...

when we had a news story this week of a Fed Ex truck 'mysteriously' catching fire as it was rolling down the interstate.

Close Name:Edison Carter Posts: 228 Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Subject: Battery fires

Quote
Guest wrote:
when we had a news story this week of a Fed Ex truck 'mysteriously' catching fire as it was rolling down the interstate.


I am not sure if the batteries use the same technology or not, but a few weeks ago here in San Diego an UPS (uninterrupted power supply) being delivered exploded. Read about it http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060726-1354-bn26explode3.html

Close Name:Actual Reality Posts: 44 Joined: 16 Aug 2005
Subject: heh

i really hope the media will, at some point, make sony the headline of these exploding battery stories. i kinda feel bad for apple and dell. oh well, hopefully this will blow over soon.

Close Name:Bosco Posts: 1002 Joined: 03 Jun 2002
Subject: Easy solution.

I saw this on TV a few times. Just put a square piece of tape over the Apple logo. Nobody will know it's a Mac.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: "In Seat Power Supplies"

I don't suppose the "In Seat Power Supply" seats maybe cost just a tiny little bit more than the rest..? Maybe just a teeny tiny bit maybe?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Sony?

Doesn't Sony make Apple's batteries? Who makes the ones in a Sony laptop?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: yeah

yeah what's up with Sony?

Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 3149 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Subject: Re: "In Seat Power Supplies"

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
I don't suppose the "In Seat Power Supply" seats maybe cost just a tiny little bit more than the rest..? Maybe just a teeny tiny bit maybe?


Nope.

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

As I read this I start think, what if the battery shorted out in the cargo area? Hum, who can get to it? Will it cause a fire that will take the plane down?

If the airlines are so worried about this I have a much better way to take care of the problem.

They should carry a fireproof case one could put the notebook into if it started to smoke. These notebooks just don't burst into flames, they smoke for a while first. There would be plenty of time to either remove the battery and put in into the fireproof case or put the entire notebook into it. That's a lot better than leaving in the cargo area and have it short out there.

IMHO

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Interesting that: my iBook and I are booked LHR-EWR in ten days time.

What's more interesting, for me, is that last Friday I emailed the Apple Support site with my iBook and battery numbers. The replacement battery arrived this Monday morning. I make that barely one working day.[/b]

Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: Re: "In Seat Power Supplies"

Quote
Intruder wrote:
Quote
Anonymous wrote:
I don't suppose the "In Seat Power Supply" seats maybe cost just a tiny little bit more than the rest..? Maybe just a teeny tiny bit maybe?


Nope.


Oh, yes, they do. Most of those seats are in "business class." There aren't many in the "tourist class" seating on most airlines.

Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 3149 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Subject: Re: "In Seat Power Supplies"

Quote
gslusher wrote:
Quote
Intruder wrote:
Quote
Anonymous wrote:
I don't suppose the "In Seat Power Supply" seats maybe cost just a tiny little bit more than the rest..? Maybe just a teeny tiny bit maybe?


Nope.


Oh, yes, they do. Most of those seats are in "business class." There aren't many in the "tourist class" seating on most airlines.


On American Airlines, they are in every other row in coach on the MD-80 (which is their workhorse equipment). They do not charge extra for them in either class.

For the airlines that do have them in coach (for some airlines, it depends on the equipment they fly), there is no extra charge. You just have to know what rows to pick.

Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: Re: "In Seat Power Supplies"

Quote
Intruder wrote:


On American Airlines, they are in every other row in coach on the MD-80 (which is their workhorse equipment). They do not charge extra for them in either class.

For the airlines that do have them in coach (for some airlines, it depends on the equipment they fly), there is no extra charge. You just have to know what rows to pick.


It's good to know that. I've not been on an AA MD-80 in a long, long time. I'm more often on United. The last time I was on one, the only seats with laptop power outlets were in business and first class, not in economy, so I would have to pay more. AA doesn't deign to stop in my city (Eugene, OR)--I'd have to drive 2+ hours to Portland. Making a connection to AA will usually cost more than staying on United or Delta.

I just did a comparison on United's site for a round-trip flight from Eugene to Dulles. The actual prices depend upon the dates and times, of course, but, here's what I found:

Economy $529.80

Business $1794.20

According to the site, laptop power is available only in First, Business, and Economy Plus. I don't know what the Economy Plus would cost, but it's more than Economy. So, it does cost more to get laptop power capability--not specifically for it, but because it's available only for more expensive seats. I have to pay for my own travel and my pension as a retired Air Force officer isn't that high (about the national median family income), so I go the cheapest way I can. Business class is a luxury I cannot afford. (FWIW, when I was in the Air Force, we had to travel at the lowest possible fare. Even generals traveled in coach.)

An interesting point: according to the United site, one doesn't need a "power adaptor" for the seat power. I'm not precisely sure what that means. I have an auto/air adaptor for my 12-in PowerBook G4 that uses the special outlet. However, they may mean that normal AC is available at the seats. I've not had the opportunity to find out for sure.

Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 3149 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Subject:

Again, depending on the equipment. Many Airbuses allow for standard AC plugs.

But, to guest's original question, you do not pay more for the power plug. More for the class of service, yes (on some airlines where only specific classes of service have the power ports), but seat 3A in business class doesn't cost more than seat 4C in business class just because it has seat power (just an example, folks).

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