Spare Cell Phone Battery ?????

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I am so confused. We are now not allowed to carry spare Lithium batteries, but I have always traveled with a couple of spare cell phone batteries. It is a small battery, one for a simple out dated flip phone. It says "Lithium Ion Battery, 3.7V, 1000mAh. It is in the original plastic packaging.
Can I bring this with me on the plane ????? Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks

 

[Manda]

TSA has a handy widget on their website where you can search for an item to see if you can bring it on the plane or not. For lithium batteries, it says carry-on only. So don't check it, but you can take it on the plane with you.

 

[rwdavis2]

I carry them on planes every time I fly. One in the phone, ipod, and an external battery to charge up either of them.

 

[mikehn]

I've always packed my philips electric toothbrush in my check in luggage without any problems. It has a lithium ion battery. So Im not sure what the issue is. I cant be the only traveler who packs an electric toothbrush.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

You can take your camera, spare camera battery, iPod, laptop, and so on in your carry-on bag or carry-on personal item.

You can pack your rechargeable razor and similar items in your checked bag.

See http://blog.tsa.gov/2013/06/travel-tips-tuesday-safely-packing.html

The key point is that that spare lithium batteries (both lithium metal and lithium ion/polymer) are prohibited in checked baggage.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Thousands of people fly every day which a lithium battery in some sort of electrical devices we carry on to planes daily.

So don't worry.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Thousands of people fly every day which a lithium battery in some sort of electrical devices we carry on to planes daily.

So don't worry.

Yes, if a lithium metal battery or lithium ion/polymer battery is "in some sort of electrical device" that's fine.

The OP is asking about spare batteries.

If a spare battery is in a bag that's carried into the cabin, that's fine.

But if a spare battery is in checked luggage, that's not fine.

The TSA can spot and remove spare batteries in checked luggage because all checked bags are X-rayed.

 

[NotUrsula]

And just to be clear about what the issue is, the problem is that the batteries can sometimes spontaneously combust if stored incorrectly or using a faulty charger. The larger the battery is, the more susceptible it is to this problem.

A small fire in the cabin can be dealt with immediately by flight attendants, but there is no one riding in the cargo hold to put out a fire there mid-flight.

 

[mikehn]

Ive also packed spare rechargable batteries in my checked luggage with no problems. I'd actually like to hear from someone who packed lithium batteries that got confiscated.

 

[mikehn]

Yes, if a lithium metal battery or lithium ion/polymer battery is "in some sort of electrical device" that's fine.

The OP is asking about spare batteries.

If a spare battery is in a bag that's carried into the cabin, that's fine.

But if a spare battery is in checked luggage, that's not fine.

The TSA can spot and remove spare batteries in checked luggage because all checked bags are X-rayed.

Whats the difference between a lithium battery that is 'in some sort of electrical device' and a spare lithium battery? Is one safer than the other? Im confused

 

[kaytieeldr]

Risk of short circuit: http://phmsa.dot.gov/safetravel/batteries

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Whats the difference between a lithium battery that is 'in some sort of electrical device' and a spare lithium battery? Is one safer than the other? Im confused

Spare lithium metal batteries and spare lithium ion/polymer batteries are more likely to be damaged, or shorted out, or up against flammable material than batteries properly installed within the battery compartments of electronic devices.

As NotUrsula correctly pointed out, "A small fire in the cabin can be dealt with immediately by flight attendants, but there is no one riding in the cargo hold to put out a fire there mid-flight."

The consequences of a fire from a battery in an airliner's baggage hold could be catastrophic.

Even if you put your spare batteries in your carry-on bag, you should make sure that the contacts are covered. Ideally, use the snap-on plastic cover that batteries come with, and then put each battery in a zip-lock bag.

 

[BigTigger]

I have a MyCharge 22.2 KWh capacity 5 volt DC external battery to keep my phone and other devices charged on extended trips. It is the same size as my phone in a metal case with charger port and two USB charge plugs for phones, etc. to plug into. It has been in carry on and checked bagds without incident and i get those "TSA has opened your bag" slips all the time with it in the bag. I've had no issues. I have had a spare laptop battery removed from my luggage once for the exact reason noted. I hadn't intended to check it, but forgot to move it to my laptop bag when checking out of the hotel that morning. I think you'd be OK with the powerstick products in either checked or carry on.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The government says yes to spare lithium-ion batteries in carry-ons but no to having them in checked bags.

By putting spare lithium-ion batteries in checked bags, you run the risk of having them removed and confiscated.

And why encourage anyone to put them in checked bags? Lithium-ion batteries, especially if improperly packed, present a tiny -- but potentially catastrophic -- risk of starting a fire in an aircraft's luggage hold and killing 200 people (including yourself if you're on the plane).

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

Thank You very much for all this information. Thanks for those links. I have learned a lot. My WDW trip is now over, and I'm home safe and sound. When I went through security at my home airport, I pulled out my spare lithium cell phone battery in the original packaging. They said "That's fine"
Those links were very interesting !