'You have to plan ahead': Essential item to check you own before your next trip
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Everyone knows that it's a good idea to travel with a phone charger.
But it's no longer just a matter of sticking your cord in your bag to plug in when you get low on power. As I learned on a recent flight, you have to plan ahead.
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You can't travel without your charger. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Many modern planes, trains, and even some buses have in-built USB ports, which make it easy to charge your devices so long as you have a cord with you.
Some hotels even have conveniently placed ports by the bed.
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On a recent flight from Sydney to Adelaide, the man next to me - who'd just come off a long-haul from Tokyo - was desperate to borrow an iPhone charger to juice up his phone.
Thankfully, the seats were equipped with USB ports for charging.
But everyone he asked had a USB-C charger, which aren't compatible with the in-built ports on planes.
USB ports are great - when they're the right size. Getty
He was stuck with nothing but the in-flight magazine to keep him entertained on the two-hour flight.
Pretty much every new phone these days comes with a USB-C to USB-C charger - they're faster and compatible across a lot of devices.
Suddenly, every standard USB cord has become almost irrelevant.
Buy yourself a USB charger that's compatible. Getty Images/iStockphoto
So before your next trip, it is definitely worth investing in a USB charger to keep in your travel bag.
Maybe you won't need it at home, but if you find yourself on a train or plane with a dying phone, you'll be happy to have it tucked away.
Even more important considering the recent crackdown on portable chargers on aircraft.
If you can't use your power bank on board you'll be looking at the USB port as the only option to offer any battery life.
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