The limited amenities on planes are not always available to passengers. Passengers may use the vent above the seat to dry their underwear or plug a sewing machine into the power socket to make curtains.
What if there aren't enough outlets? You may find that there are two outlets on some planes, particularly in coach, which can be shared by three passengers. On a regional jet, however, there might only one outlet. A laptop, a phone and tablet may all be required to charge.
One photo I found on my social media shows a passenger plugging in a power strip to the seat outlet. This is likely to be a attempt by a passenger to draw more current than what is available.
America West purchased US Airways and took away the seat power from narrowbody Airbus aircraft. They didn't intend to invest in it for more aircraft. It was removed to provide a consistent experience, and fuel savings by reducing the weight of the aircraft.
However, passengers had other ideas. Many planes had the most popular seats, which were located near the only outlets that allow cleaners to plug their vacuums in.
The 400Hz power output of the electrical outlets is not ideal, as a standard laptop can only use 60Hz. Because aircraft weigh less, they use 400Hz systems. Laptop chargers are usually equipped with a DC converter that is self-contained and will not be affected by power fluctuations or noise. A surge protector power strip may have been a good idea.
