2013Batteries/Power forum
Transporting lithium-ion batteries on international flights
13 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- Spare lithium-ion batteries below 100Wh must be carried on board rather than checked in according to 2013 IATA regulations, with an exception only for batteries installed in devices like cameras or laptops
- Carry-on allowance permits unlimited spare batteries under 100Wh, while batteries between 100Wh and 160Wh are limited to two per person
- Battery terminals should be covered with tape or protected to prevent accidental contact that could cause sparking
- Individual battery compartments or dividers within a case provide protection in case the luggage is lost
- Alternatives to flying with batteries include renting equipment at the destination or using courier services like FedEx
Depends on
- The 2013 IATA regulations cited may have changed in subsequent years
- Airline-specific rules may differ from general IATA guidelines and should be verified before travel
- Penalties for violation are mentioned as potentially reaching six figures but specific jurisdictions are not detailed
- The discussion includes anecdotal accounts of rule violations that succeeded without consequences, which are unreliable for planning