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Powerbank confiscated in BKK

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Old Apr 16, 2018, 11:23 pm
  #1  
sam
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Powerbank confiscated in BKK
I had a 50000mAh powerbank confiscated in BKK when flying Qantas to SYD. I think Qantas is liable because their CoC do not prohibit this size of powerbank in hand luggage. I contacted Qantas customer service and they decline to help. Are they liable?
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Old Apr 16, 2018, 11:26 pm
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Who confiscated it?
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Old Apr 16, 2018, 11:49 pm
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According to the QF website they allow batteries in carry-on only up to 160WH. Your 50AH battery is probably well in excess of this.
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 12:08 am
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It is within the limit . See http://r.ebay.com/Xdqjmw
Last edited by sam; Apr 17, 2018 at 12:20 am Reason: Made mistake
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 12:23 am
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It has not changed. Looking at the internet archive this was in place many months ago as well. If you had 50Ah and assuming this was a normal 5V USB Powerbank you had 250Wh with you but only 160Wh are allowed. In addition, even if you had a Powerbank of 30Ah you would have still required written authorization by Qantas to carry it.
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 12:30 am
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Originally Posted by DownUnderFlyer
It has not changed. Looking at the internet archive this was in place many months ago as well. If you had 50Ah and assuming this was a normal 5V USB Powerbank you had 250Wh with you but only 160Wh are allowed. In addition, even if you had a Powerbank of 30Ah you would have still required written authorization by Qantas to carry it.
It hasn't changed. That was my mistake. I've now edited that post. Sorry.

It was within the limit though. 50000mAh doesn't equal 50Ah. I think this is because of the way they quote powerbank capacity. My powerbank had 6-8Ah at 18-20V which is within the limit.
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 12:33 am
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See here
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 12:35 am
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Originally Posted by sam

It hasn't changed. That was my mistake. I've now edited that post. Sorry.

It was within the limit though. 50000mAh doesn't equal 50Ah. I think this is because of the way they quote powerbank capacity. My powerbank had 6-8Ah at 18-20V which is within the limit.
50000 mAH equals 50Ah. But even 6Ah at 18V would have required prior written approval by QF before even checking in.
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 12:35 am
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According to the ebay link provided, it has 50000 mAh = 50 Ah and Voltage: 5v


From the Qantas baggage site. https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlin...ose-powerbanks , it states

Watt hours (Wh) are determined by multiplying the voltage (V) by the amp hours (Ah). ie. 12V x 5Ah = 60Wh (sic)

For your item , the Wh = 5 * 50 = 250Wh

According to dangerous goods list,

◾Lithium ion batteries exceeding 160Wh (not including mobility aid batteries)

are prohibited

The agent in Bangkok was correct and Qantas has no liability
Last edited by Dave Noble; Apr 17, 2018 at 12:42 am
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 12:36 am
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I don't think this is an argument you're going to win with Qantas.
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 1:44 am
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Originally Posted by sam

It hasn't changed. That was my mistake. I've now edited that post. Sorry.

It was within the limit though. 50000mAh doesn't equal 50Ah. I think this is because of the way they quote powerbank capacity. My powerbank had 6-8Ah at 18-20V which is within the limit.
50 , 000 milliampere hours is 50 ampere hours ( see https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/...mah-to-ah.html )

The manufacturer's site ( http://www.maxoak.net/laptop-power-bank/show/11.html ) states

REAL ULTRA HIGH CAPACITY 50000mAh/185Wh

185Wh exceeds Qantas's stated limit of 160Wh

The maufacturer's site also states

Originally Posted by http://www.maxoak.net/laptop-power-bank/show/11.html
Tips/Attention:

Can charge Surface Pro 3(but need buy the cable yourself-DC5.5*2.1mm to surface pro connector)
Can charge surface pro 4 ( if the DC output voltage is 12V)
Cann't charge Surface Pro 4(only if DC voltage is 15V)
Cann’t charge Lenovo Yoga 3 14, yoga 900(20V 3.21A), yoga 3 11 13 milx 4 700s(20v 2a)
Cann’t charge dell xps 12(Type C)
Cann't charge Apple Laptop
Cann't take on airplane (185Wh)
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Last edited by Dave Noble; Apr 17, 2018 at 3:20 am
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 1:49 am
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It was a very quick and easy check of the QF web site to find the requirements relating to this issue: https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlin...ose-powerbanks

I'm very happy that QF enforces these rules for the obvious reasons.
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 2:13 am
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If the manufacturer cann't even spell properly, I'd be a bit concerned about other parts of their operations.
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 11:07 pm
  #14  
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Originally Posted by og
It was a very quick and easy check of the QF web site to find the requirements relating to this issue: https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlin...ose-powerbanks

I'm very happy that QF enforces these rules for the obvious reasons.
I bought from ebay http://r.ebay.com/Xdqjmw where it says Amp Hours: 6-8 hours. Using Qantas calculation ("Note: Watt hours (Wh) are determined by multiplying the voltage (V) by the amp hours (Ah). ie. 12V x 5Ah = 60Wh") this makes it 160Wh so within the limit (just). As explained earlier (with link provided) the 50000mAh is meaningless (and Qantas knows this hence the use of Wh). I had never seen the MaxOak website that puts it at 185Wh

The reality is that Qantas were happy to take it but this particular airport was not. Every other airport is happy to take it (I have flown with it ~50 times). Qantas argument was that the airport was liable not them.

Of course, now I know that it is 185Wh I will not try to fly with it again. However, following Qantas guidelines (to determine Wh by multiplying voltage and Amp Hours) it was reasonable of me to assume it was OK and therefore unreasonable of Qantas not to compensate me for its loss (imho - but I realise I'm not getting much support for this view here ).
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Old Apr 17, 2018, 11:21 pm
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Originally Posted by sam
this makes it 160Wh so within the limit (just). .
At 160Wh, you still require written approval from the airline once it is over 100.
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