Hey guys! I’ll be traveling from Brazil to Dominican Republic via Bogota and was wondering what are the rules regarding flashlights on board.
Can I carry one at all? Does it have to be a certain material or battery??
I am very fond of all my lights and it would ruin my trip if I was obligated to throw away a light at security…
I have had no issues traveling with small lithium-powered flashlights such as an FW3A carried on my person or in my personal carryon bag. The info the US FAA publishes states;
"Lithium ion batteries (a.k.a.: rechargeable lithium, lithium polymer, LIPO, secondary lithium). Passengers may carry all consumer-sized lithium ion batteries (up to 100 watt hours per battery). This size covers AA, AAA, cell phone, PDA, camera, camcorder, handheld game, tablet, portable drill, and standard laptop computer batteries. The watt hours (Wh) rating is marked on newer lithium ion batteries and is explained in #3 below. External chargers are also considered to be a battery. "
I also carry a copy of the printed 2-page FAA document “Batteries Carried by Airline Passengers” which is available online at https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/resources/media/Airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf
I mainly fly only in the US and Canada. I must admit that when I have flown to Europe I leave my favorite lights at home and carry a AA light with a disposable alkaline cell. That stems from having a small pair of blunt-nosed scissors confiscated at the Charles de Gaulle airport several years ago. They were perfectly legal in my US travels but the inspector there said “Non”, and I didn’t feel like arguing.
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Have a great Trip!
If the flashlight has a Tactical strike bezel it may be confiscated if you try to bring it in carryon, but would be fine in checked luggage. May also be confiscated if it is too long to be carried onboard…
otoh, LiIon batteries must NOT be in checked luggage, it is fine to bring them thru the carryon scanner, as long as they are in an appropriate case. Or inside a flashlight that is not too long, and has no Attack Teeth on the bezel.
here are the rules in more detail:
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On my last flights I had more issues with my Powerbanks than with the 26800’s, at least in Germany. I had to show every one to check whether they have not too much capacity.
In Argentina no problem at all, I could leave them all in my hand luggage.
is that because they thought you might have had more than the 4 battery limit, with capacity of over 100 watt/hours? I dont fully understand the rules about max watt/hours allowed onboard… I think they say something about 100 watt/hour batteries allowing 4 spares?
Am I doing the math right, does One 26800 mAh battery have 99watt/hourts? (26.8Ah x 3.7V)
I don’t intend to carry anything crazy. Probably a S2+ or a TS22 at most that has on board charging. But I feel much safer now. Should be fine. Thank you all and I’ll definitely print those guidelines and have them with me.
No, they were only interested in the capacity of each powerbank, not the count of the Powerbanks… There were about six or seven Powerbanks and some 26800’s
And, maybe I didn’t write clearly enough… With 26800 I meant li-ion batteries of size 26800 with a capacity of (only) 6800 mAh… Sorry for the confusion…
I’ve travelled to the DR a few times with high power flashlights, never had a problem. The only issue they would have is if the batteries outside the lights are stored loosely. Stored properly it would not be an issue.
On the otherhand, they confiscated a powerbank once a few years back, near christmas time though…
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One 5000mAh 21700 battery is just 18.5 Watt/Hours (5A x 3.7V = 18.5w/h)… not even remotely close to the 100watt/hour rule, that I dont understand
one 18650 w 3500mAh capacity would be 3.5 x 3.7 = 13w/h
even if you take both lights your total watt hours is only 31.5w/h, still not remotely close to the 100w/h rules
thanks for the education ;-), so, one powerbank with one battery is 25 watt hours? and seven of them would be 175 watt hours?.. but they dont care about watt hours, they just dont like powerbanks?
confused I am, but I arrived that way, not your fault…
just trying to understand better… for purely academic reasons…
I only travel with about 15 watt/hours, total, for the two flashlights with batteries inside, and 2 spare batteries… one uses 16340 with 800mAh each, two total, and the other uses 18350 w 1200mAh each, also two total. No powerbanks, and nothing remotely close to going over 100watt/hours total…
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I guess they just wanted a Christmas gift hahah
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In my carry-on, I carry a flashlight with the lithium battery inside in both the USA and Europe. This is an FAA requirement (spares stored properly, no lose batteries) and you cannot check any luggage with a lithium battery.
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a. an 18650 or smaller, has less energy than a phone battery
b. most people do not expect li ion to be in a flashlight
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Off topic, but I believe related . . .
There are other circumstances when your flashlight may come into question: government buildings, secure facilities, places requiring intrinsically safe tools.
Pro tip, if you are ever asked to show the operation of your flashlight, shine a beam onto your own palm and not into the face of the person asking.
The rules vary by country/domestic/international. However in general, I have the light in my hand luggage, set to low mode (if last mode memory), battery at around 40%, and mechanically locked out. This not only complies with rules, but also reduces the chance of an accident if something did go wrong. I don’t travel with lights with attack bezels, and it is annoying that they are fixed on many lights (yes, I’m looking at you Olight).
An SC31P has been my travel companion of late, and has been through the U.S. and Europe on planes and trains.
In general, follow the guidelines mentioned, nothing crazy, or could potentially be seen as threatening, and there should be no problem.
Learning and knowing the rules is wise, but ultimately, the checkpoint personnel have the authority to act as they see fit, regardless.
The chances of successfully explaining Ohm’s law to a TSA agent unfamiliar with it, and how it applies, is not something I’d bank on (pun not intended), if it does come to that.
So I don’t travel with anything that I can’t bear to lose, have stolen, or have confiscated.
As Han Solo said, “fly casual.”
It seems so. I don’t understand either 
Check with the airline that you’re flying with. They have different restrictions.
I was permitted to carry up to 15 personal electronic devices recently but I had to have the devices with batteries in my carry-on bag. They didn’t allow flashlights with batteries to be checked in (ok without a battery).
Another time a different domestic airline wouldn’t allow an 18650 in my carry-on. 
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Worst case, just let them steal your battery and get another at a vape shop at your destination.
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Flying domestically, never hand an issue. In carry on, in pockets no issue.
The funny one is that last Christmas I carried a Olight Arkfeld. A light with a green laser pointer. Walked through the TSA checkpoint with out slowing down. Forgot I was wearing a belt when I walked through and it did not trip the metal detector. So not a lot of faith in the TSA to save us from terrorists.
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My partner got questioned at security before for having a light (random cheap one, maybe 200lm at most), they were mostly wanting to make sure it wasn’t a laser. Even though a laser is more dangerous to aircraft on the ground than in the air… 