Having had the misfortune of being rudely awakened (Seat 17J) by a noisy party in the galley on a recent HKG-LHR flight, I approached the CSD and asked if I could borrow a power adapter for a UK plug (having packed mine in the hold luggage). Said CSD offered me a multi-adapter for 15 quid, which I declined and ventured that it would be a good idea if there were a couple of UK adapters available for loan for those foolish enough to forget their UK-US plugs.

The response was a gem: "Look mate! you probably don't know this, but Boeing is made in America so you should expect a US fitting".

The rather unkept CSD appeared surprised when I told him that I believed that CX also had Boeings that were made in America, but they somehow had UK plugs fitted (similar to the fittings used in Hong Kong) and that although Dragonair's Airbuses had US fittings, they carried an ample supply of UK-US adapters for the use of their passengers.

Clearly irritated at my abuse of his party time, he ended the discussion abruptly with a "That's just the way it is, mate!"

Apart from wondering about this cretin's suitability for the job, I am slightly bemused that BA doesn't see fit to carry some adapters on board for those miscreants who would like a little bit of power for their laptops when they have forgotten to bring the right tools with them. Surely cannot cost much and it certainly adds to the goodwill one would expect in CW,