Yes, you can take lithium batteries on a plane 2024, but there are specific rules from TSA you need to follow. There are suggestions on what you can take in your carry-on bag and what is okay or not okay in your checked luggage about lithium batteries:
In Your Carry-On Bag:
Allowed Items:
- Devices with Lithium Batteries (up to 100 Wh):
- Smartphones, tablets, and regular laptops.
- Cameras and smartwatches.
- E-cigarettes or vape pens (but no use on the plane).
- Headphones.
- Spare Lithium Batteries (up to 100 Wh):
- Spare batteries for cameras, portable gaming devices.
- Extra power banks.
Need Airline Approval:
- Larger Lithium Batteries (101–160 Wh) with Airline Approval:
- After-market extended-life laptop batteries.
- Batteries used in professional audio/visual equipment.
In Your Checked Luggage:
- Allowed Items:
- Devices with lithium batteries installed (if not exceeding 100 Wh).
- Not Allowed or Recommended:
- Spare lithium batteries of any kind (must be in carry-on).
General Tips:
- Battery Protection: Protect spare batteries from short circuits by covering their terminals or keeping them in protective cases.
- FAA/TSA Regulations: Always check the latest FAA and TSA regulations as they may have specific guidelines or restrictions.
- Airline Policies: Confirm with your airline for any additional rules, especially for larger lithium batteries.
These suggestions are based on common travel guidelines and the specific TSA and FAA rules about lithium batteries. Remember, airline policies can vary, so it’s always a good idea to check with them directly before you travel.
Related: Why can’t l carry lithium batteries as a checked in baggage in the airplane?
Lithium batteries are generally not allowed in checked baggage on airplanes due to safety concerns. Here are the main reasons:
- Risk of Fire: Lithium batteries can catch fire if they are damaged, have a manufacturing defect, or are improperly packaged. In the cargo hold of an airplane, a fire could go undetected and spread quickly.
- Thermal Runaway: Lithium batteries can experience a reaction known as thermal runaway. This occurs when one cell in a battery overheats and causes the surrounding cells to overheat as well, leading to a chain reaction. This process can lead to a fire or an explosion.
- Pressure and Temperature Variations: The cargo hold of an aircraft experiences significant variations in pressure and temperature during a flight, which can potentially affect the stability of lithium batteries.
- Inaccessibility: In case of any issue with the batteries, such as overheating or fire, it’s more difficult to access and control the situation if the batteries are in the cargo hold rather than in the cabin.
To mitigate these risks, passengers are typically allowed to carry lithium batteries in their carry-on luggage, where any potential problem can be addressed more quickly by the crew. However, there are still restrictions on the size and quantity of lithium batteries that can be carried in the cabin, if batteries exceed the permitted capacity limits, they can be difficult for cabin crew to manage effectively. Therefore, it’s safer to store batteries that exceed these limits in the cargo hold.