Lithium Powerbank Ignites in Qantas Lounge

[mrsterryn]

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.

Ditto here
I wonder if it will be , you just buy new power banks at the destination , though painful if doing a long trip. China has powerbanks all over the place that you can hire (?) and return, rather cheaply I believe .

 

[elanshin]

Ditto here
I wonder if it will be , you just buy new power banks at the destination , though painful if doing a long trip. China has powerbanks all over the place that you can hire (?) and return, rather cheaply I believe .

Asia in general.

But i suspect its this exact business that's causing the problem in the first place. You're not going to be building rental portable batteries to the highest quality...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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.

Yes…. but that goes back to what’s essential.

A phone itself is essential… arrivals forms, communication, payment and tickets.

Taking photos, social media, and media in general are not ‘essential’ in the context of aircraft safety.

 

[elanshin]

Yes…. but that goes back to what’s essential.

A phone itself is essential… arrivals forms, communication, payment and tickets.

Taking photos, social media, and media in general are not ‘essential’ in the context of aircraft safety.

I await the day they need to shoot commerical things on a plane and they can't take camera batteries on. Those are Li-on too and highly specific for each camera brand.

 

[Pushka]

I await the day they need to shoot commerical things on a plane and they can't take camera batteries on. Those are Li-on too and highly specific for each camera brand.

But they aren't the things catching fire.

 

[elanshin]

But they aren't the things catching fire.

"Battery" > "lithium" are going to be the key words being used if any ban happens. Both of which this fits.

Realistically I can say that most reputable branded battery banks aren't going up in flames too and haven't for now a decade. Its really just the last few years where all the dodgy ones are making it into the market.

 

[Beano]

Phone batteries are probably OK because they are factory sealed now, and you would know soon enough if there is a problem. The issues have been with batteries and power banks in luggage. Also the quality of the power banks can be variable as well as any damage they may have sustained, which makes power banks suspicious!.

 

[Pushka]

"Battery" > "lithium" are going to be the key words being used if any ban happens. Both of which this fits.

Realistically I can say that most reputable branded battery banks aren't going up in flames too and haven't for now a decade. Its really just the last few years where all the dodgy ones are making it into the market.

I don't think they could ever ban cameras as that would be the implication. Then there's phones.

 

[elanshin]

I don't think they could ever ban cameras as that would be the implication. Then there's phones.

Sorry when i say camera I mean things that are a bit higher (dslrs mirrorless and those class). If you use them at all you have at least 1-2 spare battery minimum with you. But those are "battery" and "lithium" and "spare".

You already can't check those batteries in as it currently is. So photography tours/holidays and commercial photographers flying for work would all be stuck in a rut.

 

[Himeno]

I don't think they could ever ban cameras as that would be the implication. Then there's phones.

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.

 

[Beano]

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.

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.

 

[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.

 

[HMcM]

Yes…. but that goes back to what’s essential.

A phone itself is essential… arrivals forms, communication, payment and tickets.

Taking photos, social media, and media in general are not ‘essential’ in the context of aircraft safety.

And when somebody's phone is dead due to too much photo taking, social media and media, they will not be able to do the necessary thing such as arrival forms, communication, payments and tickets without a source of power, usually a power bank.

 

[SYD]

And when somebody's phone is dead due to too much photo taking, social media and media, they will not be able to do the necessary thing such as arrival forms, communication, payments and tickets without a source of power, usually a power bank.

Only if they’ve arrived in an Amish horse and cart.

Most airlines have some sort of in flight power these days at least suitable for a phone. If not, charge before boarding and have a backup device to watch BYO IFE.

 

[HMcM]

Only if they’ve arrived in an Amish horse and cart.

Most airlines have some sort of in flight power these days at least suitable for a phone. If not, charge before boarding and have a backup device to watch BYO IFE.

Many flights are still pretty shocking when it comes to the power that their USB plugs provide. You're absolutely right as to what the right thing to do is, but if we design a system around everybody being well prepared and not using their phones for non-essential things then we're going to have a bad time.