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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 9:11 am
  #1  
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Car battery in checked baggage?
Question: is a 12 V car battery allowed for transportation in checked baggage?
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 9:17 am
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MartinHKDC
 
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No....it's dangerous goods as per IATA.
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 10:31 am
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Car battery allowed, means terrorists would have a vehicle to send unwanted goods.. IATA banning batteries ^
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 11:56 am
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Geez, I'd hate to be the baggage handler who unwittingly picked up that bag.
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 2:45 pm
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Loren Pechtel
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If it has it's acid in it it would almost certainly fall under hazmat rules. A fully charged car battery has some pretty darn strong acid inside.
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 3:19 pm
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Many are sealed, but still really heavy.
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 4:30 pm
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marble
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Originally Posted by Loren Pechtel
If it has it's acid in it it would almost certainly fall under hazmat rules.
I don't really know what hazmat rules are, but don't airlines have an obligation to transport wheelchairs and their batteries (which are often roughly the same as car batteries)?
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 4:35 pm
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Originally Posted by marble
I don't really know what hazmat rules are, but don't airlines have an obligation to transport wheelchairs and their batteries (which are often roughly the same as car batteries)?
Just because they may (and I am not at all certain that they do have this obligation) have to make an exception for wheelchair batteries, it does not follow that they will then allow any battery of a similar size.
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 5:20 pm
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marble
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Originally Posted by You want to go where?
it does not follow that they will then allow any battery of a similar size.
Sorry, I wasn't being very clear. I was interested in whether 'hazmat rules' meant that passenger airlines were not allowed to carry car batteries ... or whether it was 'choice' that they made (that is, they could but it's too much risk/paperwork).

Probably answering my own question, a quick 'Google' has found this page (which probably applies to planes regulated by the FAA only):
Carriers must transport battery-powered wheelchairs, except where cargo compartment size or aircraft airworthiness considerations do not permit doing so.
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 5:25 pm
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Originally Posted by marble
I don't really know what hazmat rules are, but don't airlines have an obligation to transport wheelchairs and their batteries (which are often roughly the same as car batteries)?
Here is BA policy on this matter (since you are from UK): "Please note that you cannot travel with wet-cell batteries for any purpose other than for powering wheelchairs.", BA further requires that the battery be electrically isolated, and the powered wheelchairs are carried in the cabin, not as checked baggage. Most airlines have similar policies, though it does vary; the only airline that I know allows checked batteries is AS (needed for their Alaskan community service, where there is no road/rail access so AS carries all freight into those towns). Probably the same applies to Siberia and Africa for remote services.
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 8:58 pm
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I've never looked at a car battery under an x-ray, but I can imagine it would be an interesting object to come across.
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 9:18 pm
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Not particularly on topic, but why would you ever want to do this?
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 9:55 pm
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Originally Posted by rearview
Not particularly on topic, but why would you ever want to do this?
Excellent question. Perhaps the OP is being dispatched to deal with a cheating game-show contestant?
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 10:07 pm
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Originally Posted by rjw242
Excellent question. Perhaps the OP is being dispatched to deal with a cheating game-show contestant?
Watson doesn't stand a chance.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 10:29 am
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Loren Pechtel
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Originally Posted by marble
I don't really know what hazmat rules are, but don't airlines have an obligation to transport wheelchairs and their batteries (which are often roughly the same as car batteries)?
Same size but not the same internally. They use gel batteries--you can't spill a gel like you can liquid. They're much safer to deal with.
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