The lithium battery problem has hit Australia - fire on Domestic Flight

[Pushka]

Given how security staff at airports are currently completely unable to correctly follow existing ban requirements and incorrectly claim things that are allowed are banned, any ban on any given type of battery is going to result in any type of battery being "banned" by security staff who are completely inept and unable to understand basic differences.

They could put in a ban on "Lithium batteries with more than 200Wh." and security staff will claim the ban applies to AAA alkaline batteries, Lithium batteries under 200Wh and any other battery they may come across. Which will then lead into them claiming phones, tablets and laptops are banned because they have batteries, in the same way that TSA bans things that don't have liquids because they think they have liquids.

Yep. Good point. And which means every airport even just in Australia will be different. In SA, it was umbrellas. Always had to show them. Always tempted to ask security why but that's never going to end well.

 

[Himeno]

Yep. Good point. And which means every airport even just in Australia will be different. In SA, it was umbrellas. Always had to show them. Always tempted to ask security why but that's never going to end well.

Even to the point of having different made up "rules" at different checkpoints in the same terminal.
Only to have the rules at a given checkpoint change again when the staff change shifts.

 

[elanshin]

I regularly carry spare camera batteries on board and when I am challenged, which is rare, the only thing they are interested in is if the batteries have a cap. This is for Australia, but travelling recently to Dubai and Europe I experienced no problems.

Yes thats currently how it is.

But once any bans come in this might be different. Interestingly my dad just went through China and he gave away his power bank (no CCC) but they did let his nikon batteries on after scrutinising them for ages and eventually saying the mAh was low enough (2250 from memory for those).

 

[RSD]

Even to the point of having different made up "rules" at different checkpoints in the same terminal.
Only to have the rules at a given checkpoint change again when the staff change shifts.

Sounds more like Egypt than Australia!

 

[Beano]

Even to the point of having different made up "rules" at different checkpoints in the same terminal.
Only to have the rules at a given checkpoint change again when the staff change shifts.

In Australia I carry stuff which is often subject to scrutiny. It is unusual so they always ask a supervisor. never been rejected. You can always ask for a second opinion!

 

[RSD]

In Australia I carry stuff which is often subject to scrutiny. It is unusual so they always ask a supervisor. never been rejected. You can always ask for a second opinion!

I'm in a similar position but not just in Australia - when you travel with anywhere between 60kg and 130kg of closed circuit diving rebreathers, underwater camera equipment etc - some of which has to go in hand luggage then you expect questions - in a way if I wasn't asked questions then I might be a concerned about how well they are doing their jobs.

Often times the real issues occur when you land and are clearing customs - sometimes you just have to BS your way through, other times it is important to have a local 'fixer' who can sort things out with them in their own language.