View Full Version : Powerpack in checked luggage?
Asking you Americans as reportedly you have the strictest flight regulations on earth:
Are there any problems in carrying a 10000mAh powerpack in the checked luggage (or in the handbag, if that's easier)?
Are there any known restrictions or specific regulations, like, it needs to be de-charged or in packed in a special case?
Five Tango
10-07-2018, 06:34
Asking you Americans as reportedly you have the strictest flight regulations on earth:
Are there any problems in carrying a 10000mAh powerpack in the checked luggage (or in the handbag, if that's easier)?
Are there any known restrictions or specific regulations, like, it needs to be de-charged or in packed in a special case?
You might start by checking the TSA web site.
MuddyWaters
10-07-2018, 07:39
Asking you Americans as reportedly you have the strictest flight regulations on earth:
Are there any problems in carrying a 10000mAh powerpack in the checked luggage (or in the handbag, if that's easier)?
Are there any known restrictions or specific regulations, like, it needs to be de-charged or in packed in a special case?
Strictest i see is flights to US from middle east.
All carryon is hand searched at gate.
Ive had loose alkaline batteries conviscated
I had a bent open paper clip conviscated
But, i carry 10,000 anker in carryon no problem ever.
I take li AA batteries or nimh for flashlight. I can get them only thru by installing in my 2 wireless computer mouses. In zebralight flashlight they conviscate them. I lost $20 of rechargeable nimh AA in proper carry case once.
But no isdues with big li cell phone batts. Everyone has them. I dont even take out with electronics, they have small bit of circuit, but screners dont care about them at all.
Last time I checked 20,000 mAh was the limit.
I travel with (2) 10,000 mAh USB Battery packs and never had any problems.
But that being said TSA Agents are unpredictable.
TF
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
colorado_rob
10-07-2018, 08:17
It's pretty simple, NO powerpacks allowed in checked luggage, totally OK in carryons.
Thank you, that was exactly the info I was searching for.
My journey will go to/from Middle East, and there is nobody who can really answer anything beyond the usual (no liquids etc.), but I know that Americans educated the local securities one or two years ago and now the locals are as strict as TSA, but absolutely un-predictable as well.
Traveler
10-07-2018, 10:04
As CO Rob said, power packs (aka power banks) and spare lithium type batteries are not allowed in checked luggage, however they are ok to carry on the plane with you. In case some are not aware Smart Luggage with non-removable power supply/batteries are now banned by most of the major airlines in either checked or carry-on baggage, so it you are getting a bag with a battery for recharging electronics be sure the power pack or battery is removable.
Thanks again, none of us has Smart Luggage, we all will be using backpacks.
capehiker
10-07-2018, 13:59
I just had to look this up the other day to refresh my memory as I am flying soon. Here is a link. On that page is another link to more amplifying information. Basically, there is a power limit of what can be brought on, but as long as you’re below 20,000 mah you’ll be fine.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/power-banks
Thanks, very informative.
Leaving my homecountry doesn't seem to be a big problem, regulations are none for checked-in and OK for normal size (whatever this is) in handluggage.
Coming back through Israel might be a bigger task, but so far I didn't find any online info for flights leaving Israel, regarding powerbanks.
I belive, what OK for US, is OK for the rest of the world too.
AllDownhillFromHere
10-07-2018, 18:08
No lithium batteries in checked luggage.
I carry a powerpack in my carry on luggage all the time. TSA has never given me any trouble with it.
fiddlehead
10-08-2018, 19:29
Thailand took my power bank earlier this year.
10,000 mAh is their limit.
Australia had no problem with the same power bank.
Not easy traveling anymore. I hate losing stuff to them.
THailand also took my small Swiss ARmy Knife after the Swiss Army store in Vienna said it would be fine (and was coming out of Europe)
Never had any problem in the past either, but in 2015 going through Kairo Airport two times, and their security had got educated by some US specialists then, once they let me take out the batteries from my headlamp and took all the lighters from everybody (and the security officer every now and then rummaged through the heap of lighters and took the most beautiful ones for his own) while they luckily overlooked the spare batteries I had in the pack, and another time they insisted I'd put the climbing rope into the checked luggage instead of the handbag.
A bit paranoid, these times.
DuneElliot
10-09-2018, 05:17
Had zero problems flying from the USA to the UK last week with my battery/powerpack in my checked luggage. Of course I also carried two swords without issue
colorado_rob
10-09-2018, 13:46
Had zero problems flying from the USA to the UK last week with my battery/powerpack in my checked luggage. Of course I also carried two swords without issue Nor have I ever had any problems with a battery/powerpack in my checked luggage, nevertheless, it is against the rules. Carry it on. So simple.
I plead guilty to checking mine numerous times simply out of ignorance; I swear I thought they weren't allowed in carry-ons, and were allowed in checked luggage. I had it opposite in my head.
Carry your powerpacks on! And apparently, some places/airlines/TSA agents limit them to 10K mAH, so keep it at or below that and you'll never have a problem. Until, of course, you do.
DuneElliot
10-09-2018, 15:41
Nor have I ever had any problems with a battery/powerpack in my checked luggage, nevertheless, it is against the rules. Carry it on. So simple.
I plead guilty to checking mine numerous times simply out of ignorance; I swear I thought they weren't allowed in carry-ons, and were allowed in checked luggage. I had it opposite in my head.
Carry your powerpacks on! And apparently, some places/airlines/TSA agents limit them to 10K mAH, so keep it at or below that and you'll never have a problem. Until, of course, you do.
I didn't know they couldn't be in checked baggage. Now I know. What is their reasoning?
New Zealand Air took my small powerpack from a checked bag on a short flight in-country.
...
Carry your powerpacks on! And apparently, some places/airlines/TSA agents limit them to 10K mAH, so keep it at or below that and you'll never have a problem. Until, of course, you do.
Any info if it makes a difference, charged vs. empty?
Traveler
10-09-2018, 17:09
I didn't know they couldn't be in checked baggage. Now I know. What is their reasoning?
Lithium battery fire in the cargo hold. Its much safer carrying these batteries in carry on where fire can be detected comparatively quickly and extinguished.
DuneElliot
10-10-2018, 02:57
Lithium battery fire in the cargo hold. Its much safer carrying these batteries in carry on where fire can be detected comparatively quickly and extinguished.
Gotcha. Well now I know.
Not a problem in America, but if you're going through the Beijing airport, they will take it....at least they were confiscating them in April.
Slow John
01-14-2019, 21:16
Just read about this today. It was a very long post on a website that specializes in providing information about rechargeable batteries. The poster got into the construction and chemistry. It was a LONG post. If I had had time I might of read it. (I like that kind of stuff.) For purposes of why there is a concern: If lithium ion batteries get "cold enough" they can be permanently damaged and even become dangerous. Once they warm up they can catch fire, explode, etc. Cargo holds get very cold. So batteries in them may be damaged if not well enough insulated. (If you want more info look up Filter Joe. He's into baseball too.)
4eyedbuzzard
01-14-2019, 22:36
Typically cargo holds on large airplanes are heated/kept somewhere between 7 to 15°C (45°F+) because checked baggage often contains liquids that would otherwise freeze, except the area where bulk items and pets are stowed which can be heated even further anywhere between 16 to 25°C if needed for pets or cold sensitive bulk cargo. And yes, the baggage compartment is pressurized just like the passenger cabin (to approx 8000' ASL equivalent) - the pressure is exactly the same as in the passenger cabin. Worst case cold to warm scenario would be baggage sitting outside for a long time in extremely cold temps before being loaded on the plane, then warming up in the cargo hold. As others noted, the reason rechargeable lithium batteries are required to be in the passenger cabin is that they can be accessed and extinguished if they short circuit internally and catch fire. Most airlines' flight crews are trained in procedures and have containment bags/devices on board in case of battery fires.