Originally Posted by
docbert
Nothing you said negates anything in my post. Batteries ARE allowed in check baggage if they are installed in a device. A drone with a battery pack installed it in IS allowed in checked bags, with none of the resturctions you've mentioned other than the maximum capaity restriction.
Batteries NOT installed in devices are NOT allowed in check bags, nor are battery recharging devices (aka power banks/etc).
I've travelled multiple times with laptops in check luggage and never had a problem. I advised the staff at check-in who confirmed it was OK. On one occasion my bag was opened by TSA (I suspect for something other than the laptop, but they would have seen it), and it was allowed to fly.
You can find a copy of the IATA factsheet on this at
https://www.iata.org/contentassets/6...um-battery.pdf - as you can see it clearly disagrees with your statements.
From the document on the link you provided:
Spare lithium batteries
Spare batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits by placement in the original
retail packaging or by otherwise insulating terminals, e.g. by taping over exposed terminals or placing
each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch and
carried in carry-on baggage only.
Articles containing lithium cells or batteries, the primary purpose of which is to provide power to
another device, e.g. power banks, are considered as spare batteries and are
restricted to carry-on
baggage only.
Baggage equipped with a lithium battery, other than lithium button cells:
• If the baggage is to be checked in, the
lithium battery must be removed from the baggage
and the lithium battery must be carried in the cabin; or
• The baggage must be carried in the cabin.
• Baggage where the lithium battery is designed to charge other devices and cannot be removed
is forbidden for carriage.
----
The last part about the removing the battery from the smart baggage contradicts with allowing batteries being checked in. Better to be safe than sorry. Too many incidents now with Li-ion catching fire.
I oversee an activity where we ship equipment with integrated Li-ion, and we have a support team that travel with multiple laptops. The shipment ships as DG and declared as such to the airline, and all laptops travel on carry-on with the team (nowadays most laptops do not have batteries that are easily removable).
In all check-in in any airport, check-in agent always asked if there is a Li-ion battery in the luggage about to be checked. I have seen people being asked to remove their battery pack, spare battery, or even the laptop, etc. and to have these being carried on the carry-on.