The Business Blog at Intuitive.com

Dave Taylor has been involved with the Internet since 1980 and is widely recognized as an expert on both technical and business issues. He has been published over a thousand times, launched four Internet-related startup companies, has written twenty business and technical books and holds both an MBA and MS Ed. Dave maintains three weblogs, The Business Blog at Intuitive.com, focused on business and industry analysis, the eponymous Ask Dave Taylor devoted to tech and business Q&A and The Attachment Parenting Blog, discussing topics of interest to parents. Dave is an award-winning speaker, sought after conference and workshop participant and frequent guest on radio and podcast programs.

Baggage ban on batteries taking effect!

This is a pretty important bit of news for those of you, like me, who travel fully equipped with gadgets:

"To help reduce the risk of fires, air travelers will no longer be able to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage beginning Jan. 1, the Transportation Department said Friday.

Passengers can still check baggage with lithium batteries if they are installed in electronic devices, such as cameras, cell phones and laptop computers. If packed in plastic bags, batteries may be in carryon baggage. The limit is two batteries per passenger.

The ban affects shipments of non-rechargeable lithium batteries, such as those made by Energizer Holdings Inc. and Procter & Gamble Co.'s Duracell brand.

"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," Krista Edwards, deputy administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, said in a release.

That's according to the Associated Press. Note the sentence I highlighted, too: we are limited to only two batteries per passenger, so if you're traveling on an extended trip, this could mean you have a problem and might end up having your expensive spare batteries confiscated. Not good.

Posted by Dave Taylor at December 28, 2007 10:49 PM

Comments

Thankfully, this only applies to non-rechargeable lithium batteries, and not the alkaline batteries that people may be more likely to have in their luggage.

Posted by: K M on December 29, 2007 11:31 AM

This borders on the absurd. Tomorrow, it will be how many times we can flush the toilet on board (Once per visit). The TSA seems to think THEY have Imperial Powers. I thought aircraft safety was an FAA responsibility. At least FAA has a requirement for public comments prior to rule making.

Posted by: Chuck on December 31, 2007 11:39 AM

Is the limit two batteries or two cells?

Posted by: J in MN on December 31, 2007 12:26 PM

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