Some time ago, United Airlines equipped its business-class sets with power plugs from which, with an appropriate adapter, passengers could charge their laptops. That was a great convenience.

However, on most of the smaller aircraft, United never bothered into install the boxes that would actually send power to those plugs. Nor does its reservation system have information about whether the flight you’re about to take does, or does not, have power for your laptop. That is less convenient.

Fortunately, United does not operate in a competitive industry, so there is no risk that its inattention to the convenience of its customers will cause it go go bankrupt.