Customer Reviews and Ratings

Had an earlier MagSafe adapter with a 2007 MacBook Pro 17". It worked great. I could use the MacBook Pro 17" for 9 hours straight on a plane. However, I lost the plug and had to buyba new model since Apple does not sell just the plug. I also got a 2009 MacBook Pro 17".

Last week on a 4 hour flight, the green light was on, the battery indicator showed not charging, yet after 3 hours the computer shut down. I did not even get a notice that the battery was low. The MacBook Pro acted like it was on running out of the battery and not extra power was supplied.

Worthless.

17 of 51 people found this useful

The power cord uses a separate adapter to plug into the 20mm (cigarette) adapters commonly found on airplanes. It is very easy when pulling the power cord out of the 20mm socket to leave the adapter in the socket. Apple does not sell replacement adapters separately so you have to re-buy the entire cable and adapter.

38 of 123 people found this useful

Works great on a plane that supports either the EmPower receptacle or 'cigarette' style adapter. However, anyone that flies American much will be out of luck if on a 737 with a typical 'wall' style receptacle. So far, I haven't found any Mac compatible adapter for this type receptacle.

The good news is even though the Mac won't charge while using MagSafe adapter, you won't run our of power and it will charge your iPhone or iPad when its connected to the USB port of your Mac.

35 of 39 people found this useful

A separate adapter isn't a design flaw, it's an end-user flaw, entirely related to personal accountability. There are 2 types of power supplies used by airlines (EM Power & DC cigarette outlet) so you can't have a 1-piece design. The inability to charge the battery isn't a design flaw, it's a requirement by the airlines (selectively enforced, but universal policy non-the-less, and some airlines even require you to physically remove the battery while in use), which is why it's called a power cord & not a power/charging cord.

24 of 29 people found this useful

This product is great! I've used it a bunch of times with no problems whatsoever. $50 is a lot, I agree. But since you spent how much money on your device? Possibly over $1500? You should take better care of your belongings and stop blaming Apple for your own shortcomings. It is not Apple's fault it's customers are lazy, inattentive, careless, and quite possibly illiterate when they're on an airplane.

55 of 82 people found this useful

I've gone non-stop EWR to HKG maybe a dozen times and am very familiar with the "in-cabin" power problem... Without question Apple has again developed a very elegant (and happily small) solution.

Heres' the deal:
There are two power-socket standards in planes - (the weird one is supposedly safer for the airplane and you've GOT to align the plug exactly) - the other is simply the same as a car's cigarette lighter socket. This fits both - essentially there is a standard 12-v car charger "cap" which covers/converts for the smaller style.

This device unfortunately DOES NOT indicate when it is powered (so, if you have a dead socket on the plane, you'll have to figure it out by the Magsafe socket not illuminating or our Mac telling you it's not an "A/C" power).

THIS DEVICE CAN ONLY POWER BUT NOT CHARGE YOUR MAC. Powering a Mac takes less "juice" than charging (seriously, how can you get a 7 hour battery charge with only about 90 minutes on a charger...? You simply cannot do this with the power supplied on a plane) - THIS IS A COMPLICATION YOU NEED TO CONSIDER. My general rule is, if you have a line-power source - start using it right away - don't run on battery until you get low...

Yes, the Magsafe plug will illuminate once the Mac is POWERED, but will only stay GREEN (even though you are not fully charged.)

97 of 101 people found this useful

This is a fine product that I dutifully tote around in my bag. I have never, even once, found an airline seat that has a socket to power my toys, though. Maybe it 'cause I always am stuck in coach with the rest of the riff-raff. If my company had their way, they would put me in the cargo hold with the )(^%% dogs and cats.

89 of 117 people found this useful

Okay, first off, let's get the little stuff out of the way. Yes, It works. It works just fine. No it doesn't charge, but I'd rather have the aircraft generators powering the Main and Essential DC busses of the aircraft, not charging my silly laptop. (I'm a USAF aircraft mechanic.) It really bothers me when people think that aircraft are just being flown with pixie dust. Deal with the constant power/no charge. It's far worth it.

Now, the glaring problem. The design. I do not see it as a problem, since the plug is actually TWO DIFFERENT PLUGS, not just a wire with a connector on the end of it. Most airlines seem to use the larger cig-lighter type plugs, so I can see where the confusion might lie. However, the simple fact that someone forgets to pull out the large round thing they plugged in baffles me. Look at the cable. If you don't see a big end on it, I'm sure you've misplaced it. NOT a design flaw. It's separable BY design. If it wasn't supposed to be separated, and it did, THAT would be a design flaw. Don't blame the company for your absent-mindedness.

56 of 70 people found this useful

I fly American which usually has charge plugs to use the 20 mm adapter in. It usually works fine although sometimes there are issues with the contact so I have to jiggle the adapter in the plug.

I flew Delta once and they don't have ANY capacity to accept either of the adapters (EmPower or 20 mm).

HOWEVER, the idea of making the 20 mm adapter a separate piece is a TERRIBLE idea. The other day, in the confusion of exiting the plane, I pulled my adapter out of the plug but I left the 20 mm tip in the plug and did not notice this until I got to my home. I called American's lost and found, but of course they're never going to go look on the plane for this tip and mail it to me. So I went to the SF Apple store and they said THEY HEAR THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME (ARE YOU LISTENING, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT?) I asked if I could just buy the replacement tip, but of course they only sell the entire unit. So I had to spend another $50 (already a ludicrous price) to get an entire new MagSafe Adapter. This is really not cool at all. Fix this product so that the 20 mm isn't separate - the risk of losing it is too big and I'm not the only one for whom this has happened.

I'm going to try to get Apple to reimburse the $53.66 I had to spend to compensate for this poor product design.

43 of 113 people found this useful