Airline rules on batteries

jryans10

jryans10

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Hi all,

So I know this has been discussed a lot, but I wanted to check if there was anything different with rules on Lithium batteries now?

Basically, I asked my travel agent if it was okay me carrying my camera with a lithium battery in the camera and 2 spares (with the little plastic case to protect the contacts). And he literally emailed me back saying:

Lithium batteries are not allowed on airplaines.
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Can I just confirm that you are still allowed them as long as you don't check them in (ie. have your camera and spare batteries in carry on luggage)? I don't think my travel agent knows anything to be honest... been a nightmare booking with them.

Also, is it okay to check in AA batteries (non-rechargeable)?

Thanks all!
 
You can download the IATA guidelines on lithium batteries (easy to find with Google), it's down to the capacity of the battery. But the only people worth confirming the interpretation/application with are the airline(s) you intend travelling with.
 
The CAA advice as to what 'what you can take on board'

Portable electronic devices containing lithium batteries such as lap top computers and mp3 players. Such devices should be carried in hand baggage; spare batteries MUST be protected against short circuit and carried in hand baggage

Taken from here: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/3/PAS_travelsafely.pdf
 
Thanks guys.

So by "protected against short circuit" - if I have the battery protected with the plastic casing is this okay?

Thanks.
 
jryans10 said:
Thanks guys.

So by "protected against short circuit" - if I have the battery protected with the plastic casing is this okay?

Thanks.
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That's absolutely fine. Even if the batteries are just in a separate compartment in your bag and can't come into contact with anything else they'll be fine. :)
 
I am in the States just now, camera complete with 2 spare batteries and no protective covers.

I never had any problems on any previous holidays either.
 
I'm a frequent flyer, currently travelling to Scandinavia and back every week and carry an external battery for my iPhone in my rucksack which gets scanned at security, and have never been questioned about it.

If I ever have to take extra batteries for anything else, I tend to stick a bit of electrician's tape over the contacts, just to be on the safe side. It's obviously in my interests that there's not a fire on the plane. ;)
 
Like many issues, sometimes, when asked, like the aforementioned Travel Agent (and some Post Office staff in other threads), they opt for the path of least resistance and just say no.

To add a small comment, the shielding of contacts is really important and commonsense, and the opposite would be the risks by taking damaged or cracked and leaking batteries which, in the case of Li-on batteries are are fire risk. Fire in any part of an aircraft puts all on board at risk and, as I understand it, was the reason the new rules were introduced by IATA and implemented worldwide.

Steve
 
I can also recomend a better travel agency to you try Thorntons Travel in Bristol
 
Little John said:
I can also recomend a better travel agency to you try Thorntons Travel in Bristol
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Thanks from me on that too.

Am looking at sorting a break for my mother in the spring

S
 
Earlier this year I sold my Canon 1Ds Mk2 to a man in Russia. Knowing their was problems about lithium batteries I sent the camera with one battery installed by courier and agreed with the buyer to send the two spare batteries by overland mail.

When I went to post the batteries the Post Office counter staff checked with the manager who said it would be okay to send the two spare batteries by airmail. Two weeks later I got a letter from Glasgow saying the batteries had been destroyed as they were prohibited and dangerous goods. I wrote and complained and tried to claim for the destroyed batteries but to no avail.

So beware and check very carefully it seems that in airports and post offices the left hand is not sure what the right hand is doing!!
 
jennyandernie said:
Earlier this year I sold my Canon 1Ds Mk2 to a man in Russia. Knowing their was problems about lithium batteries I sent the camera with one battery installed by courier and agreed with the buyer to send the two spare batteries by overland mail.

When I went to post the batteries the Post Office counter staff checked with the manager who said it would be okay to send the two spare batteries by airmail. Two weeks later I got a letter from Glasgow saying the batteries had been destroyed as they were prohibited and dangerous goods. I wrote and complained and tried to claim for the destroyed batteries but to no avail.

So beware and check very carefully it seems that in airports and post offices the left hand is not sure what the right hand is doing!!
Click to expand...

I have tried to work through this and my reading (and I stand to be challenged on this) is that batteries may be posted within the UK but NOT internationally (assuming airmail). Therefore the Post Office staff were correct in not flying the batteries but as to destroying them, that seems inappropriate. Why could they not have been returned to the sender?

Steve
 
I was aware that the batteries could not be posted by airmail internationally and that is why I went to post them surface mail, however the post office themselves said that it was better to send them airmail; and as i said the counter staff checked with the manager. That is why the destruction of the batteries was so annoying.
 
I've flown BA, Virgin and United in the past few weeks with 4 Fuji batteries in my hand luggage (and one in the camera). I asked at check-in, no problems, and they all sailed through the security checks as well. They were loose in my bag but separated by internal pockets so we're not touching anything else.
 
I've never had a problem, never asked permission, never even thought to ask. Only thing I had was having my camera bag swabbed for explosives before a flight to New York. I've flown Thomas Cook, Thomson, BA & United and never had an issue.
 
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