Lithium Powerbank Ignites in Qantas Lounge

[05flyer]

This is likely not the lounge-related headline QF execs were hoping for today. Screams, smoke: Man catches fire, forcing Qantas business lounge evacuation

 

[kpc]

Screams, smoke: Man catches fire, forcing Qantas business lounge evacuation

Stunned travellers were forced to evacuate the international Qantas business lounge at Melbourne Airport after a powerbank ignited in a man’s pocket.

www.smh.com.au

Only a matter of time before Powerbanks on board are banned I think....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Screams, smoke: Man catches fire, forcing Qantas business lounge evacuation

Stunned travellers were forced to evacuate the international Qantas business lounge at Melbourne Airport after a powerbank ignited in a man’s pocket.

www.smh.com.au

Only a matter of time I think before Powerbanks on board are banned I think....

It’s ridiculous.

You can’t take a brie cheese in cabin baggage internationally because it contravenes LAG rules.

Yet we can take powerbanks.

 

[moa999]

Think the challenge is what's the difference with a powerbank?
If you ban powerbanks do you also have to ban mobiles, tablets and laptops.

Suspect this is why China went down the CCC path, basically to try and get rid of the super cheap powerbanks that have cheap batteries or non functional BMS.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Think the challenge is what's the difference with a powerbank?
If you ban powerbanks do you also have to ban mobiles, tablets and laptops.

Suspect this is why China went down the CCC path, basically to try and get rid of the super cheap powerbanks that have cheap batteries or non functional BMS.

Phone is essential, powerbank is not?

 

[RSD]

Think the challenge is what's the difference with a powerbank?
If you ban powerbanks do you also have to ban mobiles, tablets and laptops.

Suspect this is why China went down the CCC path, basically to try and get rid of the super cheap powerbanks that have cheap batteries or non functional BMS.

Phones and laptops only seem to be catching fire when charging, whereas powerbanks seem to be prone to catching fire at any time - charging or not.

Anyone looking for a good source of information on these sorts of things should take a look at StacheD - his youtube channel is quite informative.

 

[dajop]

Think the challenge is what's the difference with a powerbank?
If you ban powerbanks do you also have to ban mobiles, tablets and laptops.

I guess what proportion of these sort of battery fires are relate to laptop or phone batteries vs powerbanks ? Given that the former are much more commonly carried than powerbanks would be, I assume

 

[Beano]

It’s ridiculous.

You can’t take a brie cheese in cabin baggage internationally because it contravenes LAG rules.

There is a list which says Brie is OK but Feta isn't. They come under the category of "pastes".

Yet we can take powerbanks.

 

[Himeno]

Phone is essential, powerbank is not?

How is a powerbank not essential? Think about how hard it is to find somewhere to recharge a phone in many airports.

My current phone can last 2-3 days, while at home, without a charge. While travelling, with increased use of GPS, maps etc, it's lucky to get through 8 hours without needing a charge. On holiday, it isn't uncommon to be out and about for 12 hours.
My prior phone couldn't even get through an entire day at home with needing to be plugged in. It was lucky to get 4 hours out of a full charge when overseas.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How is a powerbank not essential? Think about how hard it is to find somewhere to recharge a phone in many airports.

My current phone can last 2-3 days, while at home, without a charge. While travelling, with increased use of GPS, maps etc, it's lucky to get through 8 hours without needing a charge. On holiday, it isn't uncommon to be out and about for 12 hours.
My prior phone couldn't even get through an entire day at home with needing to be plugged in. It was lucky to get 4 hours out of a full charge when overseas.

There are phones that can go all day without needing a charge.

But if there is a ban, no doubt more powerbank lending places will spring up, like they have all across China.

 

[Himeno]

There are phones that can go all day without needing a charge.

Sure, brand new phones that get replaced every 6 months.

 

[offshore171]

You can’t take a brie cheese in cabin baggage internationally because it contravenes LAG rules.

Not because of the cheese itself, but rather certain types of explosive material can be made to look like soft cheese.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Not because of the cheese itself, but rather certain types of explosive material can be made to look like soft cheese.

And when it explodes de brie goes everywhere.

I’ll see myself out.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not because of the cheese itself, but rather certain types of explosive material can be made to look like soft cheese.

I completely get that. But it’s still ridiculous. It’s 2025, we should be able to test whether cheese is cheese, or explosives.

 

[Beano]

Not because of the cheese itself, but rather certain types of explosive material can be made to look like soft cheese.

That applies to any paste like material, e.g. foie gras, tomato paste, etc, baby food excepted.

Powders are in there too! (coffee, tea, drinking chocolate. etc)

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

How is a powerbank not essential? Think about how hard it is to find somewhere to recharge a phone in many airports.

My current phone can last 2-3 days, while at home, without a charge. While travelling, with increased use of GPS, maps etc, it's lucky to get through 8 hours without needing a charge. On holiday, it isn't uncommon to be out and about for 12 hours.
My prior phone couldn't even get through an entire day at home with needing to be plugged in. It was lucky to get 4 hours out of a full charge when overseas.

Likewise my phone battery gives me 2 or 3 days with moderate use .I have a powerbank (it was a freebee) but never take on flights.

 

[Pushka]

Has this been reported elsewhere here?

Exploding battery burns man and forces evacuation at Aussie airport

Other travellers heard screaming as the man tried to remove the burning device from his pocket.

7news.com.au

 

[Beano]

Likewise my phone battery gives me 2 or 3 days with moderate use .I have a powerbank (it was a freebee) but never take on flights.

If your phone lasts 2-3 days I am sure you can recharge at your accommodation. That will give you another 2-3 days, and another, and another, etc etc! No need for a powerbank then.

 

[Pushka]

If your phone lasts 2-3 days I am sure you can recharge at your accommodation. That will give you another 2-3 days, and another, and another, etc etc! No need for a powerbank then.

If I'm on holidays I'm taking photos everywhere. Or using google maps. Uber. And so on. Have used power banks multiple times. Needed to. But think they will get banned.

 

[mviy]

I fly to London and flights to there arrive first thing in the morning well before check-in opens at hotels, and taking lots of photos my phone with a healthy battery it needs recharging from a power bank. Staying outdoors is recommended to acclimatise to the different Timezone during the day and power banks are very handy to keep devices powered up.