Vacations prove to be a great opportunity to use your electronics away from home. But just this year, the US government banned lithium-ion batteries from checked bags. So, just how are you supposed to pack that laptop?
This isn’t just a question of TSA compliance; this is a question of convenience. If you plan to bring a bunch of large electronics on your next vacation, you need to be able to organize them in your carry-on bag. Otherwise, your flight will be an even bigger annoyance.
You Have to Pack Electronics in a Carry-On Bag
Lithium-ion batteries are a relatively stable source of power. But, if you manage to puncture or overheat a Li-ion battery, it will burst into flames. The US DOT knows that this poses a safety risk for airplanes, and has banned lithium-ion batteries from the cargo area of all passenger flights.
This isn’t just a precaution against bombs and premeditated Li-ion fires. Remember when Samsung phones were blowing up in peoples’ pockets? Yeah, turns out that a malfunctioning or damaged Li-ion battery can accidentally ignite. And the dark, messy cargo area of an airplane is probably the last place where you want to start a fire.
What does this mean for you? Well, you’re going to have to bring all of your Li-ion electronics in a carry-on bag (or in your pocket). With phones or tablets, this isn’t a very big deal. But it can be a major inconvenience if you’re trying to bring a laptop, a Bluetooth speaker, portable batteries, or other large Li-ion electronics on your flight.
Generally, you can bring as many lithium-ion batteries in your carry-on bag as you’d like. Some airlines have their own restrictions, but if you’re only bringing a handful of devices, then you probably don’t have too much to worry about.
Respect the Ban, Even if it Isn’t Enforced
Remember how I told you that lithium-ion batteries are banned from the cargo area of passenger flights? I didn’t lie, but the Federal Aviation Administration isn’t heavily enforcing this ban just yet.
According to the FAA, devices containing lithium-ion batteries “should be kept in carry-on baggage.” But if you ignore the ban and pack these electronics in checked baggage, then “they should be turned completely off, protected from accidental activation and packed, so they are protected from damage.”
So, you can technically pack your bags however you’d like. But I’d strongly suggest that you treat the ban as if it’s law. The government is a messy, bureaucratic business. Just because the FAA is treating this ban like it’s a suggestion doesn’t mean your local TSA agents feel the same way. Plus, your electronics are safer in carry-on baggage anyway.
