Delta Airlines to install gate-area charging stations in 19 U.S. airports
Delta Airlines is helping to make life a bit easier for travelers that hope to top off their batteries before getting onto a plane. Until now, fliers often had to scour the corners of gate areas to find an available outlet to scrounge some spare electrons. Last week, the world's largest airline began installing charging stations in the gate areas of 19 U.S. airports. Delta plans to install two charging points at each gate, each of which has six 110 volt outlets and two USB ports.
In addition to the charging stations in the public gate areas, Delta is installing charging pads for phones and other smaller devices in Sky Club lounges. The upgrades are part of a $2 billion program to update Delta's airport facilities and the stations should be in place by early 2011. Thankfully, given how Delta and other airlines have been nickel-and-diming passengers for everything from checked bags to food in recent years, the charging stations will be free of charge. Now if we could just do something about the security procedures before we get to the gate, flying would be a lot less painful.
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Delta Airlines is helping to make life a bit easier for travelers that hope to top off their batteries before getting onto a plane....
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Be a hero.... Bring a USB hub in your bag :]
December 12 2010 at 7:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyBut will they charge an iPad? Their airplanes certainly do not.
December 12 2010 at 2:08 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLast year I flew on Emirates Airlines from Dubai to London on a Boeing 777 in economy class. Each row of three seats had two 110 volt AC outlets in the seat back of the window and the isle seat. The last time I flew on Air Canada on an Embraer 170, each seat back had a USB port. Those carriers have a much better solution than Delta. Some airlines might copy Emirates or Air Canada but you would have to insert a credit card and pay for the use of the electricity.
December 11 2010 at 11:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply*yawn* Southwest, Frontier and Alaska/Horizon have had this for a long while.
December 11 2010 at 7:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyRegardless of configuration and availability, always nice to have the option...
December 11 2010 at 4:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHere's a corrected version for all the fanboys out there. Ad agencies just don't understand that we all just love that logo:
http://i54.tinypic.com/mjc01e.jpg
Photoshopped logo?
December 11 2010 at 2:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyTough audience. Jeez.
Thanks Delta. Every new outlet and USB port helps.
To its credit, Delta has also been the most aggressive of the MAJOR US carriers about putting wifi on its planes.
Don't get me wrong, I curse them at least twice a week, but a little positive reinforcement doesn't hurt either.
Guys.. I don't think that's an iPad. Where's the Apple logo?
Joking aside, does anyone know if ad agencies are required to remove logos like that?
If they don't want to pay royalties.
December 11 2010 at 2:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyStrange. Seems like free advertising.
December 11 2010 at 2:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThey've had these in DFW for years now, actually. Well, not Delta--Southwest. And I think it's less the airline and more the Airport. Power plugs and USB plugs built into the seat.
Nothing new under the sun.
I think it's up to the carrier to upgrade their gates, but the nature of airport/carrier cost sharing is way outside of my realm of expertise. From what I understand it is NOT solely up to the airport, however, or every airline gate would be the same.
I fly Delta regularly and have yet to see power plugs (well, aside from proprietary) or USB plugs built into the seat. I've not flown Southwest in years.
Yep - I flew Southwest two weeks ago, and I shared the charging station with three other people while waiting on a flight. Pretty nice!
December 12 2010 at 1:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI love the picture. Can't help but think the placement of an intense, business-looking guy focused on his smartphone (blackberry?) and trendy guy with a douchy smirk on his iPad was intentional.
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