Taking Batteries on Flights?

[fooby]

I'm off to Chamonix next month and will be taking a whole bunch of spare batteries for my 6D. Does anyone have any tips on carrying them with the airlines? I hear some have issues with you carrying them in hold luggage.

 

[CAP]

I all ways carry on my camera bag. Just in case i need to snap some photos in the plane.

But when i take my 600mm or 800mm i check them, I have them in pelican cases though because the baggage handlers are quite rough with things.


One though i set my bag down and my 1dx started shooting at 12fps and making the shutter noise in my bag on the plane an some people started looking at real funny they could not figure out that that weird sound coming from my bag was.

 

[fooby]

One though i set my bag down and my 1dx started shooting at 12fps and making the shutter noise in my bag on the plane an some people started looking at real funny they could not figure out that that weird sound coming from my bag was.

You're not allowed to take machine guns on flights!

 

[tirediron]

Just take them; make sure that they're stored so that the contacts are isolated, but other than that, there should be no issue. I would however contact your local airport security authority to ensure that there isn't a limit on the number/size you're allowed to carry.

 

[WayneF]

Lithium batteries...

US rules are: Not in checked baggage, but OK in carry on if reasonably protected.

See US DOT: Safe Travel

British Airways says the same: Liquids, banned and restricted items | Baggage essentials | British Airways

 

[JoeW28]

I'm off to Chamonix next month and will be taking a whole bunch of spare batteries for my 6D. Does anyone have any tips on carrying them with the airlines? I hear some have issues with you carrying them in hold luggage.

First, I never check camera equipment. Anytime I travel with camera gear, I either ship it ahead and insure it. Or I carry it on. Period. I never check laptops or camera gear or medicine/contact stuff or passports. Anything else is fair game.

Second, I've never had any problem with batteries or spare batteries. I'll usually keep the battery in the bodies, have some spares, take out all AA's from speed lights (usually 2 speed lights) plus a pack of spare AAs. It all goes in to a carry-on bag (with bodies, lens, a traveling tripod, etc.). I've never had any problems

 

[IzzieK]

I'm off to Chamonix next month and will be taking a whole bunch of spare batteries for my 6D. Does anyone have any tips on carrying them with the airlines? I hear some have issues with you carrying them in hold luggage.

First, I never check camera equipment. Anytime I travel with camera gear, I either ship it ahead and insure it. Or I carry it on. Period. I never check laptops or camera gear or medicine/contact stuff or passports. Anything else is fair game.

Second, I've never had any problem with batteries or spare batteries. I'll usually keep the battery in the bodies, have some spares, take out all AA's from speed lights (usually 2 speed lights) plus a pack of spare AAs. It all goes in to a carry-on bag (with bodies, lens, a traveling tripod, etc.). I've never had any problems

I've travelled a lot and I am the same as you...I don't trust the baggage handlers not the TSA people either.

 

[table1349]

My suggestion would be to get a small soft case, put your extra battery in it along with your small travel alarm clock, four white owl cigars in the metal tubes and wrap them all together with some wire. May take you a bit longer to get to your destination but think of the story you will have to tell at your next dinner party.:lmao:

 

[PWhite214]

My suggestion would be to get a small soft case, put your extra battery in it along with your small travel alarm clock, four white owl cigars in the metal tubes and wrap them all together with some wire. May take you a bit longer to get to your destination but think of the story you will have to tell at your next dinner party.:lmao:

And some fine, multicolored wires.

Phil

 

[MSnowy]

I carry on also (Domestic flights). Lowepro Pro Runner 300 for 2 camera bodies, 28-75mm, batteries, flash, cables and Ipad goes under seat. Pelican 1510 case for 500mm, 70-200mm and 14-24mm plus accessories in overhead. I have friends that work for the airlines and the stories they tell are scary.

 

[fooby]

Thanks for all the advice! I was planning on only traveling with my body and lenses in hand luggage but I'll definitely keep all my batteries on my person now. It should be interesting as I need a weeks worth of batteries including speedlites. The joys of adventure camping trips!

 

[table1349]

You might want to consider that less is more and get something like this instead. SUNLINQ 12 Watt Solar

 

[fooby]

Solar power tends to be useless for anything more than mobile devices, I've never found a portable one (at least more portable than just taking lots of batteries) that has enough output to charge anything that needs more power than standard USB chargeable items. Even then, they can be pretty hit and miss - I was with a friend who owned one and kept it on his backpack and attached to the tent for most of the day and he would only ever get about half a charge out of it a day.

 

[EIngerson]

No issues. I bring my camera bag as a carry on all the time.

 

[table1349]

Solar power tends to be useless for anything more than mobile devices, I've never found a portable one (at least more portable than just taking lots of batteries) that has enough output to charge anything that needs more power than standard USB chargeable items. Even then, they can be pretty hit and miss - I was with a friend who owned one and kept it on his backpack and attached to the tent for most of the day and he would only ever get about half a charge out of it a day.

Depends on the solar power unit being used. That is generally true for most off shelf sporting good store solar chargers. However with a quality unit of the proper size such as I posted it works fine. Of course in the UK solar power is a bit of a waste of time except for 3 or 4 days a month.