Batteries and Planes

[nick nickolas]

Flight NZ123 Auckland -Melbourne,

After going through customs etc I was in the lounge eating the free food and drinking the free coffee my fly points have earnt me.

My flight gets called, I cruise to the gate, then I hear my name called out, I go to the desk and have to follow a woman all the way back to where I started.

"We've been paging you for an hour sir " she says..

"Not in the Lounge" I reply

Hurrying me along as its 10mins before takeoff, I get taken into the little room with the silver table and a box of rubber gloves on the shelf.

I was then told to open my case,,, 2 gel cells are the problem, one for the amp can ( taken out and terminals taped) and one for radio mike...


" Can't leave NZ with these mate " man in cap says

"Why I have been everywhere with these" I reply

"They could spill" he says

"It's a non spillable battery " I say pointing to the writing on its side stating so.

He gets on the phone perplexed, talks to god, hangs up and says they are still not allowed,,

Deciding to let them take my 2 batteries.
I repack my suitcase, put in on rollers and watch it disappear though the rubber curtain

"Will my case be on my plane mate" I ask

" We'll do the best we can sir" he replies

I go back through the metal detector, get escorted rapidly to the gate
and hop on the plane, frustrated passengers eyes staring at me...

My suitcase didn't arrive on landing and was taxied to my house 24hrs later..

Thats the story,,,

Anyone else have a similar one ?

I will be buying batteries in each port now, maybe we can all leave our batteries in different ports and pick them up,, kind of like a battery bank.

Nick

[Lee Nelson]

I know this tale

This has happened to me almost exactly.
My first instinct was to buy batteries in every port but that got old very fast.
I felt very guilty buying and wasting batteries.
So i stopped and just went back to flying with the batteries like I did before the incident happened.
It never happened again...yet.

[nick nickolas]

Hey Lee,

Was your story Leaving NZ ?

It could be just that country ?

Hope all is well

Nick

[Lee Nelson]

In my case this has happened twice.
I coud describe the sequence of events as almost exactly what happened to you except I was drinking free champagne and having a neck rub at the time.
First time happened at Halifax International domestically connecting to Edmonton and my batteries ended up travelling in their own special box surrounded by some highly absorbant fireproof white powder stuff.
Comical.
The second time was Dublin to Newcastle and no option was provided. I had the choice of leaving my amplifier behind or not boarding the plane. I chose not to board the plane, forfeited my ticket, walked outside and caught a bus, a boat and several trains and made my gig.
These people are untrained and unwilling to risk their jobs. It really is luck of the draw in so many ways if you get called up on having a battery.
I think it is best to just assume that it can happen anywhere, just like getting busted for having a tube of toothpaste that is 10ml too big.

[gav]

I always take mine on as carry on. They always look in the case after xray and i explain what kind of battery it is and they always let me go.
I don't fly that often though and the last time was about a year ago.
I used to carry a print out from the panasonic battery site that said those batteries are approved for flight, but it wasn't needed so i stopped carrying it.

just took a look at the panasonic site and now 'sealed lead acid' batteries are 'valave regulated lead acid' batteries. Widely used in planes around the world.
There was a new rule that came in on jan. 1st that no longer allows you to check in loose lithium ion batteries.

[FireNix]

Similar experiences but never had them confiscated

I just checked the 'new' law and it came into effect in Jan 2008
I have certainly carried my amp can to many countries since then. Always in Hand luggage
I have 90% of the time had it inspected through X-Ray and once been told it was down to the inspector whether they let it go. At this time they suggested taking a print out - which I have also never needed to use
Nick I have flown out of NZ 6 or so times in the last year with the amp can and not had a problem
It seems to me the luck (or not) of the draw

[Rachel Peters]

Yeah. I've seen it, too. In Canada.
I was with someone whose inflatable costume battery was being confiscated. Kate Mior and I help act as mother figure to calm down the situation because his frustration was getting hte better of him and making him look suspicious, when suspicion was never the case to begin with. It got sticky. Luckily in the end HE, himself was let on the plane. Funny thing -- he argued that he had traveled the world with his battery for a decade and never had a problem... then he pointed out, "You let my amp go through. They have the same battery."
"Oh, I see." they said, "Then your amp can't go either."
Two batteries in a row -- they let one go through because it looked normal (amp = music. we understand that), and the other not, because it was a weird costume battery.
That was my speculation, anyway.

Then, when I (calmly and curiously) asked how musicians travel the world all the time, with amps, they INSISTED that they NEVER use THOSE kinds of batteries in their amps. ...As if he was carrying some very strange and dangerous kind of amp that no one else EVER, ever uses.

But you can't argue with the airport. I hate that. I like being right.

After the PEI Police dept arrived and we chatted and flirted and calmed everyone down, we all removed the batteries (the police helped - they were very nice) and we left the batteries behind.
Fun times.

It all felt a little ridiculous.
The police agreed (privately) that is was all a little weird.

[Stretch]

Tin god

Just explain to them that it is a tin god detector battery. ;>)

or not.

[Kate Awesome]

ahaha. I remember that, Rachel.
Poor Edward!!

I think they were being extra mean because he was working the scary Eastern European accent...

I've yet to take my own amp on planes (I usually just do without) but Pete mentioned if I bring it as carry-on then I'd be fine. I'mma try it next gig.

[Rachel Peters]

Originally posted by Kate Awesome
if I bring it as carry-on then I'd be fine. I'mma try it next gig.

...which is what I keep hearing, which makes even LESS sense!
What they insisted to Edward was that the battery acid was dangerous and couldn't come on the plane. Why would taking it as a carry on make it any less so??!

...durrrrr.

[harmonicatunes]

Useful discussion. I've always driven with my rig, but have often wondered about flying.

Now I know... I think.

My system uses off the shelf sealed lead acid batteries, about $40 from Dick Smith in Australia. So I could buy one upon arrival in a new place. But discarding it would be a major drag.

[jesus]

Foregive me but...

I am only a half a cup of coffee into my day so I am having a hard time grasping this whole thing.
But, does this seem to imply that my Crate Taxi will no longer be able to be checked in in its flight case?
I haven't flown with it since the new year but need to soon. Could be a bummer.

[Frisbee]

i have always taken my crate taxi as carry on, it fits in both overhead compartments and under seats and it will remove the 19 pounds from your case.

[Rachel Peters]

Re: Foregive me but...

Originally posted by jesus

But, does this seem to imply that my Crate Taxi will no longer be able to be checked in in its flight case?

I think the whole discussion implies that it depends on the awareness, mood and attitude of the security personnel. ...much like the Canada/U.S. border.

[Malvina Cherry]

re

I used to buy batteries in every port still now its horrible for buying new one every time.

MSP airport taxi