In-Flight Restrictions for Dell and Apple Laptop Batteries

September 18th, 2006

Virgin Atlantic Airplane After Australian’s Qantas and Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic has made restrictions on laptop battery in-flight use.

Virgin Atlantic’s policy forbids bringing onboard any Apple and Dell notebook batteries, unless they are removed from the computer and individually wrapped. Virgin Atlantic doesn’t prevent such laptop owners from operating their notebooks, but it limits them to seat-side power supplies. If you’re not sitting close enough to a seat-side power supply or if you’re not sitting in a premium-class cabin, where the seats are fitted with In Seat Power Supplies, you won’t be able to use your PC during the flight.

Information on the Virgin Atlantic’s site says that the company is in communication with Apple and Dell. “As soon as this safety issue is resolved these restrictions will be lifted”, Virgin says.

Related link: Virgin Atlantic - Latest News.

Earlier this month, Korean Air has forbidden the use of Apple’s PowerBook and iBook batteries, as same as all Dell’s laptop batteries, on its planes. The company says users can bring the computers aboard, as long as they put their batteries in their checked luggage.

After last month’s Dell’s battery recall, the Qantas Airlines didn’t ban the in-flight use of Dell laptop computers powered by batteries affected by the recall, but if you want to connect Dell’s PC to Aircraft main power, you must remove its battery first. Quantas doesn’t say anything about recalled Apple laptop’s batteries yet. But, when asked about it, Qantas USA Internet Desk said that the passengers should keep in mind that “it will be the Aircraft’s crew that will advise if you will be able to use the laptop during flight and they will have the most current information”.