V-Flyer

I will be flying next year with VS from LHR in PE to LAX. As I have always been PE, LGW to MCO and never had in seat power I was wondering about using the seat power.

Am I correct in thinking that you can buy converters to convert the empower socket to a standard car DC style outlet then I can use my existing car power leads for my laptop and MP3 player. I have seen the converters on ebay and magellens at about 10, has anyone used one and do they work ok.

I have checked the VS web site and my Laptop / MP3 player is not listed on the one's they have onboard for you to use in flight.

Many Thanks

Virgin even carry their own auto-style adapter, but my experience with has been hit-and-miss. On a recent trip I had my iPhone car adapter with me, but couldn't get anything out of the Virgin auto socket adapter, but it did work if I had my iPhone plugged into my MacBook, which itself was plugged into the Empower socket. Not that it makes much logical sense why one works and not the other. YMMV.

Which model of laptop / MP3 player are you using?

I have a Asus Eee pc 900 series and a Philips MP4 player, I have got in car chargers for both of them.

If the converters they provide are not great, I think I will buy one befor I fly as they are only about £10 in online shops.

I bought an Empower lead off Ebay for my Archos AV700 MP4 player for about £10.00 and used it in PE on a VS200 flight to Hong Kong earlier this year and it worked a treat.[y]

You will most likely find that the in-seat power packs are identical to the Targus ones that come with a variety of power connectors for laptops. You will just need to know what model and make your laptop is (try the Targus website first), and then ask the c/c for that tip.

I'd buy the adapter ahead of time... makes life simple. Then you just have to ask the crew to switch in-seat power on.

S.