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Summer is just around the corner and dreams of holidays, road trips and flights to exciting new places. While you start making your travel plans and pulling out your suitcases, there is an important update of the TSA and FAA that every traveler must be aware of. It is a common item that many of us depend on daily, especially when we are not at home.
Ensuring a smooth journey starts long before you reach the airport. Knowing what you can and cannot pack, especially in your checked luggage, is the key to avoiding delays and surprises at the security control point.
The item you can’t check – Portable Power Banks
Let’s get to the point immediately. Those incredibly useful gadget on which you trust to charge your phone or tablet along the way – your portable power bank or a separate, non-installed lithium-ion battery – Is no longer permitted in your checked luggage.
This means that all reserve batteries for your camera, your drone or that portable charger should be for your smartphone not Go in the grip of the plane. They must absolutely be packed in your hand luggage and travel with you in the cabin.
Why this rule is so important
You may wonder why such a rule exists. The simple answer is safety. Lithium ion batteries, which feed so much of our modern electronics, can form a fire risk.
If these batteries are damaged, short -circuated or exposed to extreme temperatures or pressure, they can overheat, grab fire or in rare cases, even explode.
In the unlikely event that a battery fire appears in the cabin, stewardesses are trained to quickly identify and tackle the situation. However, a fire in the cargo space is much more difficult to detect and control, causing a serious threat to the aircraft and everyone on board. This rule helps to reduce that risk.
What you have to do instead
So what is the solution? It’s simple: make sure that all your portable power sofas and spare lithium batteries in your hand luggage.
When you pack them, it is also crucial to protect the battery terminals to prevent casual short circuit. You can easily do this by:
- Keep them in their original retail package.
- Place each battery in a separate protective cover or bag.
- Taping over the exposed terminals with non-conductive tape (such as electric tape).
This simple step prevents them from coming into contact with metal objects (such as keys or coins) that can cause a short one.
Insight into the battery limits
The most common portable chargers and the batteries in your standard personal electronics (such as telephones and laptops) are well within the permitted size limits. In general, batteries up to 100 watts (WH) are allowed in hand luggage without special approval.
For larger batteries, between 101 and 160 WH, approval from the airline is usually required, and there is often a limit of two such batteries per passenger. Each battery of more than 160 WH is usually prohibited with both checked and hand luggage. You can usually find the WH assessment on the battery itself.
Other smart travel tips for a smooth journey
Beyond the battery rule there are a few tips here to ensure that your summer is as stress -free as possible:
- Check airlines: Always view the website of your specific airline on their luggage size and weight limits. These can vary and you do not want any surprises when checking in.
- Use the TSA online tool: If you are not sure whether an item can be in your hand luggage or checked bag, the TSAs “What can I take with me?” aid There is an excellent source on their website. Simply type the item and you will receive clear guidance. You can also download their mobile app.
- Early arrive: Especially during busy summer months, leave enough time at the airport. This gives you a breathing room for security screening, unexpected lines or gate changes.
- Label your luggage clear: Make sure that all your bags, both checked and hand luggage, have identification tags with your name and contact details. It is also smart to place a copy of your travel schedule or contact details in your checked bag.
By being prepared and following these important guidelines, in particular those about keeping those power banks and reserve lithium batteries in your hand luggage, helps you for a safer and nicer journey for everyone. Nice and safe summer adventure!
You can read the full rules regarding lithium batteries on flights on the Website Federal Aviation Administration.
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This article originally appeared on Traveloffpath.com
Opinions here are only the author, not those of a bank, credit card emitting, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been assessed, approved or otherwise approved by one of the entities that are included in the post.
