How do you travel by air with multiple Lithium Ion battery cells?

Before departing for a vacation visit to a relative down in Florida, I realized my laptop battery was in a bad state. Couldn’t get more than a 30% charge. So I ordered a replacement battery pack and had it shipped to my destination. Got it, battery is excellent. However, there’s the bad pack. I was going to take it back with me as-is, but my curiosity about how many good batteries could be harvested gnawed at me… so I split open the pack and harvested them. Rated at 2600mAh. I tested them, found 3 were at 3.8v with one at 3.6v. I was able to charge them up with my “portable charger,” a Skilhunt H03RC (love it).

So now, I realize, this might be a problem when flying back. My plan is to put each in its own plastic bag and tuck inside clothing for checked carry-on baggage. Now, I know aircraft baggage rules are pretty strict when it comes to lithium batteries. I really don’t want to end up with TSA opening my bag to search and confiscate the batteries and possibly taking other items in the bag.

If anyone here travels by air periodically and takes spare lithium ion cells, what packing tip do you recommend for the safest and most trouble-free transportation?

I recommend putting in hand luggage, as per most civil aviation authorities state (the reason being that if anything went wrong fire fighting would be possible). And would put firstly into plastic bags with tape over the ends and then into a crush proof plastic box like a lunch tub and clearly label it ‘spare batteries’.

https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/more_info/?hazmat=7

That makes a lot of sense. Thank you! :+1:

Yep. Recently when I flew I read the caution that li-ion cells in the hold would experience a rapid air pressure change from sea level to 35-thousand feet and a rapid temperature drop, and that’s the argument for putting them in your carry-on. Less likely to leak due to the fast change of conditions in checked luggage.
And as noted above — you need to know what’s on fire to fight a fire.

I hope to never travel by air ever again, but those who do should bring Tablets, Laptops, Phones, Toys …. in you carry on, correct ?

I’ve never had a problem carrying 18650’s in my carry-on. I’ve had as many as 6 in battery cases, not even counting the ones on the lights themselves.

This is flying domestically and overseas to Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America.

I recently traveled to D.C. from LAX with two EDC size lights. Each light had a battery installed, and I had two spares in a plastic battery case in my carry-on bag. I had zero issues traveling to and from DC. I travel by air at least once a year with zero issues at the airport regarding batteries.

Don’t worry, the hold is fully pressurised the same as the cabin (the external fuselage of the aircraft is the pressure vessel). And normally cabin pressure is only about 4-5psi less than sea level.

Interesting explanation here: https://aerosavvy.com/aircraft-pressurization/

The vent pressure (internal) for most cylindrical li-ion cells is between 300-500psi (various NASA presentations on google), so the cell will not notice the pressure change.

Edit just to add, the temperature in the hold varies by aircraft but normally is maintained above freezing to avoid damage to the aircraft.

Do NOT put batteries in checked baggage, unless they are inside a device.

You can bring batteries in your Carry On bag.

ime they dont cause any issues…

Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries must be carried in carry-on baggage only. When a carry-on bag is checked at the gate or at planeside, all spare lithium batteries must be removed from the bag and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin.

> put each in its own plastic bag

to store the batteries, I suggest you get some proper battery cases, possibly a store that caters to people who use vaporizers in your visit area.

Have a great Trip!

Many airlines allow no more than 100w li-ion batt included in your carry-on bag. I carried my 99.16W power bank (26800mAh, equivalent to almost 9x 30Q capacit) in and out DC and Hong Kong, no problem

I vape, and edc flashlights. Just have to carry on the batteries. They don’t sit there with a calculator tallying mah’s. If you are perchance near me, I can provide you some spare cases I have.

Good to hear it. :+1:

Excellent, thanks for the FAA link info. I have put 18650 flashlights in checked baggage, in lockout position. No problems.

I have a plastic case that’s about the right size to fit 18650 cells, so I’ll be good for my flight back. But I think I’m going to invest in a good quality dedicated case made for holding lithium ion cells.

Safe travels and Happy New Year!