Virgin is a third cheaper says Frank. Just checked Frank to JFK 4th Sept and you are right Virgin is cheaper by one five hundreth - BA £300, Virgin £299.60.
I have no idea why BA should charge for an adaptor, but if it is CAA approved that would cost a lot, like the BAA they love to charge plenty.

Wade, London,

BA uses different powerpoints in business class. I checked their website and paid my laptop vendor for a 24v adaptor which worked on a flight within EU, then only to fly to LA and find that it is incompatible with those seats where a US style plug is reqd! Common BA, get your story straight !

Jeff, Oxford, UK

I fly the Middle East routes mostly and Etihad has power sockets in all seats including economy that do not require a special adaptor as they fit US, UK and European plugs.
BA's level of service has nothing to do with health & safety but rather their fleets age and their unwillingness to upgrade it

Robin, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Why has all the(sic) British Airways aircraft have the national flag of Thailand on th tail?

stan, trowbridge, England

Fly Air India or United next time....at least you get a free curry and Cobra beer even in Economy on the former...and they give extra service for the British Raj! Splendid Maharajah style...free adaptors n all...

N Singh, NYC, USA

Fly Virgin they have them all free of charge for you

Graham, Brighton,

What a limp-wristed pathetic response from BA. I hate it when companies hide behind "health and safety" to justify abusing their customers. I always fly Virgin - would pay more to do so although in fact they are usually about 1/3 cheaper.

Frank, George Town, Guyana

You seriously begin to consider if this company can do anything right.
At their flagship Terminal 5 we were told that they do not supply overshoes for your feet when going through security as they do eleswhere. Reason? "Floors are slippery here, people might fall over"
Fly with ANYBODY else

John Wood, Uxbridge, UK

According to their adverts - "British Airways is the worlds favourite airline" UNTIL YOU FLY WITH THEM
BA sell tickets under the 'patriotism' banner not good service.

GJB, Slough, Berkshire

Not as cramped as Virgin who can pack more seats on their planes. One Virgin economy flight, unable to move my elbows or straighten my legs was enough. At least BA's pilots are sober.

Geraldine Leale, Ascot, England

Whatever has Health and Safety got to do with an electrical adaptor for a laptop? The very low voltage used by laptops might tingle your tongue if you put it across the contacts.

Health and Safety is a catch all phrase used to 'scare' people that something is necessary.

Simmonds, Louth, England

I am profoundly deaf ad emailed BA to ask for assistance on 4 recent flights. They acknowlwedged the email but guess what no assistance.

terry, newcastle,

Where diid the Times get that accompanying photo? I last saw the same photo in BA's own Highlife magazine advertising language courses...

Mark, London, UK

I made a vow many years ago to avoid using BA and to tell as many potential travellers what a bad airline it it.

Its business paradigm is lousy and contaminated by 3 corporate systems. There is something mean and rotten in BA. Top that with the English philosophy of taking not giving.

gordon mann, mexico, mexico!

What a pitiful example of penny pinching. Vote with your feet.

David, Stourbridge, UK

Fly Lufthansa. The adaptors are free and for you to keep!

Jayceeehh, Hamburg, Germany

You could always ask to pop back and get one.

You only have to realise once that you need an adaptor to use the power points - then you will always check what connection is needed beforehand and act accordingly. Same with headphones. You can buy those one-to-two plugs for pennies.
Be airline wise.

Paul M, Puerto Cabras, Spain

Elizabeth Griffiths, London

Why do you continue to fly with BA? I used to use them years ago but the last time was four or five years ago and I would only fly with them again in the most desperate of circumstances.

There are plenty of alternatives.

John Savage, Toronto, Canada

I recently cancelled my BA Club World ticket to San Fran in favour of Virgin Upper Class. Cheaper, limo to pick me up, fully flat very long bed ( the club world ones are hopeless if you are over 6') and Superior dining/lounge experience. Not to mention business enablers!

Come on BA, get a grip!!!

lin, bracknell, UK

Well done, BA. That will help you to regain your position as 'the world's favourite airline', especially with the one group of customers who have the most choice ... business travellers.

Can I recommend installing coin-entry systems on your lavatory doors next?

David Garfield, London, UK.

Surely it should be provided free? What astonishing and cynical greed...

Alastair, Alicante, Spain

I fly to Mumbai with Virgin and have been very happy with the service in Upper. After a dreadful experience flying to and from Brazil I will never fly BA again.

Paul, London,

Having flown BA on business for the last 10 years, I recently (last year) cut up and returned my Gold Exec card. And in return exclusivly fly non BA associated ailrlines, there is plenty of carriers out there just need to make an extra effort to find them.

Sam, reading,

Fly Virgin the laptop leads are free in business and premium economy. Check to make sure they have the correct tip for your laptop though before you travel.

Lee Stevens, Sydney, Australia

No they do NOT own the relevant adaptor!

A reasonable rental charge, I could accept, but come on!!

Limey, DUBLIN,

Another example of BA's falling standards. I fly London to New York 15 times a year in economy, or what BA obviously regards as scum class. It's among the most cramped of all major economy products, the IFE often doesn't work, and the frequent flyer programme is a waste of time.

Elizabeth Griffiths, London, UK

In the Tokyo district of Akihabara I bought an adapter kit that does the plane, car and a few other obscure things for about JPY3000, which is around 15 pounds.

len , oxford,

"So how can they justify 3 times the price? "

DCM - I think partly it comes from the fact that passengers' options are limited 38,000 feet above the Atlantic...

Matt, Sydney, Australia

Its why I never fly BA.

Michael Corby, London, United Kingdom

I regularly fly with Virgin Atlantic and they have 'loaned' me their laptop power adapters for no cost regardless if I sit in Premium Economy or Upper! The flight attendants are always happy to help and have a vast array of adapters to fit most devices from Laptops to iPods.

John, Nottingham, UK

Since when does an adaptor cost 75Pounds?
I could get one for a car (!!) for under 20 Pounds at Aldi...
So how can they justify 3 times the price?
Also, if normally your battery lasts long enough (except long haul), you don't need that adaptor - so its not standard equipment as BA says.

D.C.M., Sunderland,