Trip in Two Days: Worried about Batteries at Airport

[krukster86]

Hello!

Wife and I are excited to go on a dive trip to Cozumel in two days. We plan to bring our SOLA dive lights and our GoPros in addition to our SCUBA gear. We recently read that upon leaving Cozumel, the airport security is very strict about batteries in your carry-on. I have read mixed advice on the topic, but from what I gather that Li-ion batteries are OK as long as they are installed in the device you are taking with you. However, no spare/loose batteries of ANY SORT are allowed in your carry-on.

1. I take it the spare GoPro batteries (Li-ion) in my travel case would have to stay at home?
2. If the Battery BacPack is installed on the GoPro inside the housing, it should be OK?
3. SOLA dive lights are OK, since the battery is built in?

Thanks!

 

[Lionfish51]

we are going in April, last time was about a year ago. I carry my camera with dual Ikelite strobes on board all the time with batteries installed, never had an issue. However does not mean it has not changed. Please post your results. Thanks, Rick

 

[Basscat]

When I was there at Christmas, that was true, batteries OK if installed, all spares needed to be in checked bag, none in carry-on.

 

[DjDiverDan]

Ditto what Basscat said. Batteries in a device - no problem. Spare batteries - checked luggage only. Stupid, but it's government regulation, so stupid is the norm.

 

[Mossman]

And if you do check in battery operated stuff (strobes, dive lights, etc.), make sure you remove the batteries. Even if there's a locking device so that the light can't turn on by itself if it gets jarred by aggressive baggage handlers, they still freak out. I was called to the Grand Cayman airport security office one time and another time in Quito was stopped at the gate waiting area and had to wait for security to escort me down to the tarmac. Both times, I was ready to pee my pants, thinking they had discovered the kilo of cocaine I was smuggling. Fortunately it was only my strobes and/or dive lights that got their attention and they let me off with a mere caning.

 

[kenny kustom]

I was in cancun at Christmas.
Had 6 spare batteries for my lynx in my carry on.
Gopro, can light. No problems.

 

[Sideways]

I carry on 3 Sola lights, 2 strobes batteries (AA) installed, DSLR and HD vid, batteries installed, all back ups stowed in my checked luggage. I've never had an issue going to the Caribbean or Asia/S. Pacific.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Oops! Had no idea this is an issue, as I always travel with spares.

I'm more curious if anyone has ever run into a problem at the airport.

 

[mstevens]

I carry on 3 Sola lights, 2 strobes batteries (AA) installed, DSLR and HD vid, batteries installed, all back ups stowed in my checked luggage. I've never had an issue going to the Caribbean or Asia/S. Pacific.

From Mexico?

I have stood there and watched people get loose batteries confiscated from their carry-on at CZM.

There are signs up saying you can't have loose batteries of any kind in carry-on luggage.

If I were to travel from Mexico with extra rechargeables, which I no longer do, I'd get a cheapo flashlight and use it as my battery storage and transportation case. It is not at all clear to me what would happen to batteries in a charger, but it seems very possible they might get designated as "loose". For extra camera or other specialized batteries, those would have to go in check-through. If I had any check-through.

 

[Sideways]

From Mexico?

I have stood there and watched people get loose batteries confiscated from their carry-on at CZM.

There are signs up saying you can't have loose batteries of any kind in carry-on luggage.

If I were to travel from Mexico with extra rechargeables, which I no longer do, I'd get a cheapo flashlight and use it as my battery storage and transportation case. It is not at all clear to me what would happen to batteries in a charger, but it seems very possible they might get designated as "loose". For extra camera or other specialized batteries, those would have to go in check-through. If I had any check-through.

No loose batteries in my carry on. All back up batteries are in my checked luggage. My carry on gear, strobes and cams all have batteries installed.