I may be wrong but I think that there is now a recommendation that all batteries not be put in checked luggage.
Correct, at least with regard to TSA, as has been posted: They like them in carry-on. There are additional requirements for Lithium batteries, and never leave batteries in a dive light for a number of reasons.
Now if Stoo were leaving out of Canada he may have different restrictions. Airline sites and your national airline security admin should have info. If flying from Canada to the US first tho, you may actually be screened by US TSA; that happened to me once, but it's been years. But he did say he was leaving out of Buffalo NY.
I have found that the more you smile and act friendly, the smoother it goes....
Yep, well - I may not smile, a grin perhaps, depends, don't want to look fishy, but being cordial helps. A woman smiling probly does work better.
I flew to Roatan Honduras a couple of weeks ago, and leaving out of a small, remote airport checked luggage being screened in front of the check-in counter - I standby and explain that I like to be there in case they have questions. She did question the white granule
Damp Rid that I pack my Moisture Munchers in and I just explained it recharges the blue moisture removers that go inside my scuba camera. I did forget and pack some batteries in checked luggage but it went ok.
At passenger screening, sometimes they ask about scuba, sometimes they want to see - ok fine, no problem. Just allow plenty of time and make sure all of your stuff gets back to you. They wait on you to watch them search a bag so grab your other things first.
I always pack cameras and other delicates in my backpack, not roll-on and certainly not checked luggage, as roll-ons are often gate-checked, cameras broken with no airline liability.
I carry 2 quart zip-locks: one as my 3-1-1 bag for any 3 oz liquid containers I want on the plane, the other for anything in my pockets I don't want lose in my backpack, but I never use open trays for pocket stuff.
My passport, money, etc stay in my backpack all the way and does not leave my body in transit other than when it goes thru the Xray with me watching closely. I don't let it go until it's my turn to go thru either.
On return from Roatan, I checked my roll-on too as I am allowed a lot of free checked and didn't want to mess with it on return. All of my batteries were in it, but no problem. I hear about more batteries being confiscated at passenger screening actually and really suspect petty theft with no recourse possible.
