Flying with drill batteries and headtorch batteries and spare headtorch batteries and power banks...

[andrewmcleod]

I am flying to Munich with Easyjet soon for a caving trip. Me and a friend are sharing a 32kg hold bag and only have the included small cabin bags (because apparently it is cheaper to upgrade the weight on a hold bag than to get two, or get large cabin bags).

Between us, we will have:
At least one power bank
A DistoX and survey phone
Fenix headtorch and battery
Another Fenix headtorch and battery
Probably 4 x spare 18650 batteries
Probably 4 x home-made battery packs for my Roy Fellows light
Potentially 4 x 5Ahr 18V Makita drill batteries

Now, I think the DistoX and survey phone can go in the hold baggage? I think the Fenix headtorches and one battery each (in the light) can as well (possibly with a bit of tape over the end of the batteries)?

Leaving the power bank or two, four 18650 batteries, 4 headlamp battery packs, and 4 Makita drill batteries. Which is quite a lot of batteries.
Now I know the security people probably won't care about it too much because the power bank, my headlamp battery packs, and the spare 18650s will all look like standard 18650-containing items on the scanner. The drill batteries conveniently come in at just under 100Ahr so in theory I can have an unlimited number (as far as security are concerned. I can split these between two of us so we'd have two of each kind of battery each. I tend to put batteries in my jacket/hoodie pockets so they are spread out on the scanner as you were supposed to do with electronic devices at least at some points (also splits them across multiple trays generally).

So does anybody have any experience of flying with Easyjet out of Manchester/Munich, or generally, carrying drill batteries or large numbers of batteries generally or headlamp batteries with various degrees of markings? I probably don't _need_ the drill batteries (or might not need all four for three days caving), but it would be nice not to risk running out of battery power...

What I really don't want to do end up with the headlamp batteries confiscated (which would be a pain to rebuild), or worse lose the drill batteries which are £250 in total.

 

[ChrisB]

https://www.easyjet.com/en/help-centre/baggage/dangerous-goods?q=Batteries says (for hold and carry on)​

Battery powered items and miscellaneous dangerous goods items​

Lithium battery powered electronic devices (including portable electronic devices)​

• Wh rating exceeding 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh. For portable medical electronic devices only, lithium metal batteries with a lithium content exceeding 2g but not exceeding 8g.
• batteries contained in portable electronic devices should be carried as carry-on baggage; however, if carried as checked baggage:
  • measures must be taken to prevent unintentional activation and to protect the devices from damage; and
  • the devices must be completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode)
• If a product that contains a lithium battery is subject to a safety recall related to the battery, it must not be carried aboard an aircraft unless
• Items containing damaged/defective lithium batteries must not be carried
• easyJet gives automatic ‘operator approval’ for lithium ion batteries up to 160Wh
• easyJet has a limit of 15 portable electronic devices per passenger

Portable electronic devices containing non-spillable batteries​

Devices must be 12 V or less and 100Wh or less. A maximum of 2 spare batteries may be carried.

and for carry-on cabin baggage ONLY:

All spare batteries, including lithium metal or lithium-ion cells, power banks or batteries​

Lithium ion batteries for portable (including medical) electronic devices, a Wh rating exceeding 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh. For portable medical electronic devices only, lithium metal batteries with a lithium content exceeding 2g but not exceeding 8g. Maximum of two spare batteries in carry-on baggage only. These batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits.

I think you'll have trouble with spare batteries; I read that as saying two spare batteries, total, per passenger.

 

[badger]

I had issues flying back from the US, they wanted all lithiul batteries in my hand luggage. I did have batteries in devices in my hold luggage, then I didn't, then all in my hand luggage.

 

[huwg]

I have flown from Manchester multiple times with 3 or 4 drill (angle grinder) batteries per person plus batteries for a large LiDAR scanner. Plus laptops, iPad etc.. We also had a laser range finder but can't remember what we did with that. I think we taped the terminals and put in luggage. Didn't have any 18650s. Left a bit more time to get through security and didn't have problems. Might have had a couple of questions but nothing memorable.

This was between 2016 and 2020.

 

[AKuhlmann]

I flew from MAN to VIE this summer with 2x drill batteries, battery banks, 7? x 21700 batteries, personal devices etc and had no issues other than needing two trays at security to scan them. I'm pretty sure it was with RyanAir and I was required to have all electricals in my carry-on luggage. I'm pretty sure I broke a few of RyanAir's rules (too many electricals + certainly overweight & oversize and not charged) but the only place you're really checked is at security so as long as they're clearly labelled batteries then you should be fine - and if they take umbrage then they're with you for you to explain them to the staff.

 

[cap n chris]

I believe it is a cold day in hell when you will be allowed to have batteries in hold luggage.

 

[huwg]

I have flown from Manchester multiple times with 3 or 4 drill (angle grinder) batteries per person plus batteries for a large LiDAR scanner. Plus laptops, iPad etc.. We also had a laser range finder but can't remember what we did with that. I think we taped the terminals and put in luggage. Didn't have any 18650s. Left a bit more time to get through security and didn't have problems. Might have had a couple of questions but nothing memorable.

This was between 2016 and 2020.

This was meant to say hang luggage!

 

[andrewmcleod]

https://www.easyjet.com/en/help-centre/baggage/dangerous-goods?q=Batteries says (for hold and carry on)​

and for carry-on cabin baggage ONLY:



I think you'll have trouble with spare batteries; I read that as saying two spare batteries, total, per passenger.

None of my batteries are >100Wh (and 'non-spillable' batteries means not lithium), so I don't think the 'two spare batteries' rule applies (which is the CAA rule for 100-160Wh batteries). In fact, I don't think (depending on how you read it) any of the Easyjet rules restrict lithium batteries/power packs <100Wh (which are still restricted from hold luggage by CAA rules of course).

I've also flown with Roy Fellows batteries before but I did hear about someone having their Scurion batteries taken off them (presumably because they were unhappy that they don't seem 'official' enough or whatever) which was presumably not ideal.

 

[andrewmcleod]

I believe it is a cold day in hell when you will be allowed to have batteries in hold luggage.

You are now, even for lithium batteries, provided those batteries are installed in an electronic device (that isn't primarily designed to supply power i.e. not powerbanks) and it is prevented from accidental activation in some way (which a bit of tape on the batteries, or putting the DistoX in a pelicase, will sort).

I was also surprised when I first learned this.

 

[ChrisB]

In fact, I don't think (depending on how you read it) any of the Easyjet rules restrict lithium batteries/power packs <100Wh

Yes, I think you're right.

I've re-read the easyJet rules and compared them to the CAA rules. easyJet have merged and chopped the CAA rules and that's made them confusing. CAA only apply the two battery limit to very specific types but easyJet list it under the heading of "All spare batteries".

From the CAA rules there's no limit on Li-ion under 100Wh. AK has a good point that Security are not interested in airline rules only CAA (and and rules the airport may apply).

Passengers and public | Civil Aviation Authority

Information for your journey, dealing with travel problems and applying for a display

www.caa.co.uk

 

[cap n chris]

You are now, even for lithium batteries, provided those batteries are installed in an electronic device (that isn't primarily designed to supply power i.e. not powerbanks) and it is prevented from accidental activation in some way (which a bit of tape on the batteries, or putting the DistoX in a pelicase, will sort).

I was also surprised when I first learned this.

Frankly I'm amazed, especially as society generally appears to have become more and more restricted in recent times. Thank you for the education!

 

[pmccarron97]

Andy,

Flying with batteries seems to be my hobby now, both for personal and work reasons . Just a note - Manchester have their own set of specific rules around their security scanners. You are allowed absolutely no tools or items that may look like tools in your hand luggage. I've had micro allen keys taken off me that I used for my Nora & work lamp and other items that looked like tools (even a gosh darn pen). They have also individually at times inspected my batteries - but were just checking to see if the voltage/capacity was noted down. Refer specifically to this - https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/help/passenger-guides/security/ for manchester airport.

Makita 5Ah batteries are less than 100Wh so you'll be fine - if I remember, either Aileen or myself carried 7 Makita batteries through security in Chachapoyas / Lima / Paris CDG & Dublin Airport with no issues, in addition to a range of janky electrical items that were hand made by myself for the expedition in Peru. Surprisingly, the only thing I got pulled on was the Starlink in my backpack, and the fact the security ladies thought I was Paul McCartney???? A story for another time.

In general, keep all your batteries in Hand luggage, ensure Voltage/Capacity are clearly marked in a way that doesn't look hand done (label machine). If you are planning to take batteries into the hold, please double check at the check in desk the method of storage is OK, otherwise once it goes through baggage control, it may get flagged, searched and batteries removed prior to flying (my Dad has experienced this in the past with his line of work).

I recommend getting a cheap plastic foam box and designate it as your battery box for loose batteries, like this, or alternatively a Peli/Knockoff alternative and stick a bit of foam in & tape the end of the batteries to avoid shorting, but even at times this isn't necessary.

Finally, with EasyJet, they are extremely strict with baggage these days if the employee at the gate is an easyjet member of staff - if its a contractor normally no issues. I have seen people fined for having two pieces of hand luggage at the gate, when they were putting the second bag inside of the first bag (small man bag type of thing) - ensure this is done prior to arriving at the gate. Doubt this will be an issue at Munich airport though.

Enjoy, wish I wasn't in Scotland that week for work otherwise I would have been joining you in the Hirlatz.