Portability of the 15 inch MBA

[jshelton]

Has anyone used the 15 inch MBA comfortably flying coach?

 

[cargobrian]

I will be on Monday morning . Flying JetBlue JFK to ORD and then to LAX and back to JFK.

Brining the MacBook Air 15, iPad Pro 11 and one Anker 65w Charger

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I don’t know how anyone use anything bigger than a tablet on a table tray in coach especially if the seat is reclined.

 

[CalMin]

I've all but given up doing any work on my laptop unless I'm in business. (at least that what I tell my boss!).

In answer to OP's question, it depends on the Airline, but I have had trouble using my 12" iPad Pro in some coach seats.

 

[Surfsalot]

Won't be happening lol, not for long anyway the thing is huge.

 

[kp98077]

yes, i tried, but didnt work well (business class) its too tall!

 

[steve217]

I don’t know how anyone use anything bigger than a tablet on a table tray in coach especially if the seat is reclined.

Flew home coach from Europe in the middle of the row and it was all I could do to lift my arm to stab the in-seat display in front of me.

Thought I was going to get an embolism.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I don’t know how anyone use anything bigger than a tablet on a table tray in coach especially if the seat is reclined.

I was able to use a 15” MBP once when flying coach, but I had to use it on my lap, and was happy when I was done (was importing vacation photos and generating panoramas from them). It wasn’t ergonomic at all.

 

[ascender]

The issue with the 15" Air will, I suspect, be the same as the 16" MBP... it's the large footprint which just makes it impractical for this sort of thing. Even on a decent sized train table for example, they take up so much room that there's little space for anything else.

I guess the advantage the new Air has over the 15/16" Pros is that its a good bit lighter, thinner and so you can lift it with one hand - feels much more "portable".

 

[kp98077]

The issue with the 15" Air will, I suspect, be the same as the 16" MBP... it's the large footprint which just makes it impractical for this sort of thing. Even on a decent sized train table for example, they take up so much room that there's little space for anything else.

I guess the advantage the new Air has over the 15/16" Pros is that its a good bit lighter, thinner and so you can lift it with one hand - feels much more "portable".

It is amazing however, how many people I see on flights with a 15 or 16 and their lap 🥹

 

[ilikewhey]

i barely got the 13inch mba working comfortably i can't imagine the 15inch being any better.

 

[sclough]

Yes I have used it "successfully." So yes you can make it work (at least on the airlines I fly - delta, etc). Obviously the 13" is more comfortable. In my case I want the 15 when I'm not on an airplane so I put up with it when I am on the airplane.

 

[Zest28]

Even the 13" MBA is too big for the plane. The iPad or iPhone is much better.

Unless you are flying business class.

 

[puckhead193]

When I purchased my 13" MBA, I thought it would be a throw away laptop that I hardly ever use. I use it more than my "nicely" spec 16" M1. I only wished when I ordered, I upped the HDD to 1TB instead of 512. Maybe maxed out the ram. The portablity of this thing changed the game for me. I've always had the larger MBPs because of the better specs, but since I'm doing a lot less intense video editing it handles everything and more.
When the M3 version drops definitely upgrading. I'm on this thing constantly! Definitely one of my favorite apple purchases in the last few years including all the iToys and AirPods.

 

[thadoggfather]

how is it portability wise in terms of throwing in your bag and such? Hopping coffee shops?

Haven't put all that to the test yet, it's been a table and couch warrior for the few days I've had mine