Mobile Computing: Tips for Frequent Flyers

The Best Airplanes for Notebook Users

In a recent newsletter, I bemoaned a recent cross-country trip with my notebook on a Delta Airlines flight. The coach seats on the Boeing 757 were terribly cramped, and I couldn't slide the seatback tray table toward me. So when the woman in front of me reclined, I had to sit the heavy (and increasingly hot) notebook on my lap, which forced me into an awkward typing position.

What's more, the Delta reservations agent had assured me on the phone that there would be power outlets in coach. There weren't; when my batteries expired, all hopes of productivity vanished.

For this week's issue I spoke with Aram Gesar, editor and publisher of Airguide for the Frequent Flyer. This magazine compiles all sorts of useful information for frequent flyers, such as which planes offer the most leg room, power outlets, individual video screens, seatback telephones, and more. Gesar offers guidance on finding the domestic U.S. coach seats most likely to be comfortable for notebook users. After all, in this economy a lot more of us are riding in coach than in business or first class.

I've also included some readers' notebook travel experiences.

Seeking Comfort

Some airline Web sites do a fairly good job of detailing onboard amenities for each aircraft. American Airlines' online aircraft maps show the location of individual power ports, for instance. But frequently, airline Web sites (as well as travel sites such as Expedia.com) don't provide a clear, concise, at-a-glance picture of what to expect regarding leg room, power ports, and so on. You often have to gather the information from several different places.

Also, the amenities available on one aircraft type (such as a Boeing 767) can differ by carrier or between planes destined for international flights or those that travel only domestically, says Gesar.

The solution: Pick out the best flights that match your scheduling needs. Then check the airline's Web site for power port availability on your flights. Exactly where are they located on the plane? Business and first class only? Throughout coach class, or only in certain aisles?

Another important consideration is seat pitch--particularly if you're flying coach. Pitch is the distance from the back of your seat (in blunt terms, where your posterior rests) to the back of the seat before you.

Usually, seat pitch in coach is about 32 inches, Gesar says, though some airlines (such as American Airlines) have stretched that to 35 inches on selected aircraft. By comparison, first-class seat pitch is sometimes as much as 60 inches, Gesar adds.

Seat width--the measurement from side to side--can also make a difference in comfort. A typical coach seat is 17 to 18 inches wide, compared to 19 to 21 in business class.

Rules of Thumb

Here are some of Gesar's suggestions for finding the best domestic coach seats for notebook use.

Power Outlets. Often, your best bets for power plugs are Boeing 777, Boeing 747 400, Boeing 767 300, and Airbus A 330 and Airbus A 340 aircrafts. Again, availability varies by carrier and aircraft type. For instance, American Airlines is among the few domestic carriers offering data ports (via Verizon Airfones), power plugs, and individual video screens on Boeing 777 aircraft in all three passenger cabins.

Not surprisingly, your worst bets for both comfortable seats and power plugs are bargain carriers such as JetBlue and Southwest Airlines.

Leg Room. Delta is among the industry leaders for leg room in domestic-bound coach cabins. Delta's Boeing 767 200, 767 300, and 777 aircraft offer at least 33 inches or more.

American Airlines has made much ado about extra leg room on its aircraft. The extra space on American's Boeing 777 aircraft "makes all the difference," writes newsletter reader Nancy Ferrell of Seattle. "Even when traveling without a notebook, the extra space lets you stretch your legs, cross your legs, and get past your fellow passengers on the way to the aisle with much greater ease. I always look for these jets when booking a flight and am willing to pay more to fly them."

Among smaller regional carriers, Midwest Express gets kudos from Gesar for offering a standard 36 inches of leg room.

Don't Forget the Train

Of course, airplanes aren't the only mode of transportation in which you can use your notebook. For those who are fortunate enough to live or work near an Amtrak station, the train can be a much more pleasant alternative to flying, writes Michael Chaggaris of New Hampshire.

Last fall, Chaggaris booked a business-class seat on Amtrak train no. 166 from the Route 128 station south of Boston to Baltimore. The seat was wide and comfortable, and a power outlet enabled him to run his notebook. "It was an enjoyable and relaxing ride," he writes, and looks forward to riding the rails again.

Resources

Airguide for the Frequent Flyer contains detailed flight information regarding seat pitch, power plugs, meals, entertainment, and more. Subscriptions cost $25 a year for four issues.

Platypus Computing Rental Service provides a list of airlines that offer power plugs and data ports. The list is fairly complete in that it features most airlines, though the info it provides may be somewhat outdated.