This Under-$10 Travel Gadget Fixes Wobbly In-Flight Outlets In Seconds Daniloandjus/Getty Images We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. If you've ever spent half of your flight babysitting a charging cable, making sure it won't fall out of the socket, so your laptop doesn't die at 35,000 feet, you're not alone. Airplane outlets are notoriously loose, especially on older aircraft where the socket is often worn out, causing grunts of frustration in cabins everywhere.