New "Smart" bag policy effective 15 Jan 2018
Apr 23, 2018, 7:00 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Please play stupid with your own life, not possibly 200+ others on board the aircraft too.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:13 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
1K here......I was in SFO the other day heading to SEA...I was first in line in Group 1 line and the Gate agent noticed my AWAY suitcase....she asked if I took out the lithium battery....I was playing stupid what she meant......she pulled me aside and told me that I had to remove the battery or my suitcase wouldn't be allowed on the flight at all...even being checked in....I told them that I'm without a Phillips head screwdriver and what they expected me to do at this moment....long story short someone brought over a tiny key chain screwdriver and took 25 min to get it unscrewed so the battery could be removed......the plane by than was already boarded and was allowed to get on the flight......the problem was the Gate agents realized they gave away my 7C seat to someone else.....so they told the passenger that occupied my seat to go to a middle seat....he refused...and I refused to take it because I reserved my aisle seat....I thought he was become a problem where he would refuse to give me my seat...he finally realized he wasn't going to win this fight and moved....and gave me a real dirty look
The agents get paid to board the flight. The other passenger got messed with and you came close to not boarding your flight.
As others note, this isn't a debate about the rule, it's simply about what the rule says.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:53 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 640
Smart bags are a solution to a non-problem, like those talking walkways at DCA. If someone needs a portable cell phone recharger, those things exist and are way tinier than a suitcase, and they practically give them away these days.
Jul 5, 2018, 6:30 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: PDX/HND
Programs: UA GS 4MM
Posts: 554
lion carryon
just pointed to https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/tra...eCarry-On.aspx
"Effective July 9, 2018, lithium batteries that are installed in any checked or carry-on baggage must be removed by the customer. Once removed, these batteries can be transported on board. Smart bags that do not have a removable battery cannot travel on any United or United Express® flights."
how does this apply to laptops, phones, side charger batteries?
"Effective July 9, 2018, lithium batteries that are installed in any checked or carry-on baggage must be removed by the customer. Once removed, these batteries can be transported on board. Smart bags that do not have a removable battery cannot travel on any United or United Express® flights."
how does this apply to laptops, phones, side charger batteries?
Jul 5, 2018, 6:35 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
just pointed to https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/tra...eCarry-On.aspx
"Effective July 9, 2018, lithium batteries that are installed in any checked or carry-on baggage must be removed by the customer. Once removed, these batteries can be transported on board. Smart bags that do not have a removable battery cannot travel on any United or United Express® flights."
how does this apply to laptops, phones, side charger batteries?
"Effective July 9, 2018, lithium batteries that are installed in any checked or carry-on baggage must be removed by the customer. Once removed, these batteries can be transported on board. Smart bags that do not have a removable battery cannot travel on any United or United Express® flights."
how does this apply to laptops, phones, side charger batteries?
Lithium batteries that are installed in any checked or carry-on bags. (Bolded for emphasis).
There have been reports of people having to remove their batteries before allowing to bring their carry-on bag onboard with one poster (it's in this forum somewhere) complaining that they literally made him buy a screwdriver kit and take it out right in front of the gate agents if he wanted to get on the plane. And there was little sympathy as this was a stated policy.
The company Bluesmart has gone out of business because it cannot sell its bags due to the fact that its battery is not meant to be removed. Therefore, no one would purchase this bag since it is effectively banned from being carried on or checked.
Jul 5, 2018, 6:41 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
just pointed to https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/tra...eCarry-On.aspx
"Effective July 9, 2018, lithium batteries that are installed in any checked or carry-on baggage must be removed by the customer. Once removed, these batteries can be transported on board. Smart bags that do not have a removable battery cannot travel on any United or United Express® flights."
how does this apply to laptops, phones, side charger batteries?
"Effective July 9, 2018, lithium batteries that are installed in any checked or carry-on baggage must be removed by the customer. Once removed, these batteries can be transported on board. Smart bags that do not have a removable battery cannot travel on any United or United Express® flights."
how does this apply to laptops, phones, side charger batteries?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 5, 2018 at 7:39 pm Reason: thread title concern moot on merger
Jul 5, 2018, 6:41 pm
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
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Posts: 52,115
Jul 5, 2018, 7:42 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: PDX/HND
Programs: UA GS 4MM
Posts: 554
they're lion
i have never heard of a 'smart bag'. showing my age, i guess. my laptops, phones, ... batteries can not be removed without special tools and voiding the warranty.
no. we check the lion.
Your title was misreading. I thought that you wanted to travel with a lion inside the cabin.
Jul 7, 2018, 1:43 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 3,037
So, just to clarify:
1) Is the ban only for lithium type batteries if used for hold bags (not carry on)?
2) Does this (if above is applicable) mean for ALL airlines?
I have a flight coming up from ZRH via ARN and LHR to SFO in a few weeks time and have a Rimowa E tag bag (2x removable AAA non lithium batteries). Nothing is mentioned on SWISS or Lufthansas websites about the ban...
1) Is the ban only for lithium type batteries if used for hold bags (not carry on)?
2) Does this (if above is applicable) mean for ALL airlines?
I have a flight coming up from ZRH via ARN and LHR to SFO in a few weeks time and have a Rimowa E tag bag (2x removable AAA non lithium batteries). Nothing is mentioned on SWISS or Lufthansas websites about the ban...
Jul 7, 2018, 6:07 am
#26
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Join Date: Jun 2001
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Jul 7, 2018, 6:15 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
So, just to clarify:
1) Is the ban only for lithium type batteries if used for hold bags (not carry on)?
2) Does this (if above is applicable) mean for ALL airlines?
I have a flight coming up from ZRH via ARN and LHR to SFO in a few weeks time and have a Rimowa E tag bag (2x removable AAA non lithium batteries). Nothing is mentioned on SWISS or Lufthansas websites about the ban...
1) Is the ban only for lithium type batteries if used for hold bags (not carry on)?
2) Does this (if above is applicable) mean for ALL airlines?
I have a flight coming up from ZRH via ARN and LHR to SFO in a few weeks time and have a Rimowa E tag bag (2x removable AAA non lithium batteries). Nothing is mentioned on SWISS or Lufthansas websites about the ban...
This only applies to lithium ion batteries, not non-lithium batteries (which have a lower energy density.)
Jan 8, 2019, 10:31 pm
#28
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 150
Smart bag enforcement
I've been on 4 flights this year and on each one the gate agent has been really thorough with making sure lithium batteries are fully removed from carry-on luggage. For some reason, they refuse to make announcements about this prior to boarding, which has lead to quite a few temper tantrums and raised voices. If you have an Away, Raden, etc. be sure to remove your battery before getting to the gate.
