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.
Related link: AppleInsider | Korean Air bans Apple, Dell notebooks on board.
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”.
Related link: Quantas.
The restrictions came after Dell and Apple recalled the Sony-made lithium ion batteries used in certain notebook models, because of overheating possibility, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
In: Apple Laptops & Tablet PCs, Dell Inspiron Laptops, Dell Latitude, Dell Precision Laptops, Dell XPS Laptops, Laptop Batteries, Laptop News
By Danijel Zivkovic
