Don’t Make This Packing MISTAKE When Flying to Disney World

For many folks, going to Disney World means catching a flight from their local airport into Orlando.

Air travel is one of the most popular ways to get to destinations all over the world. It’s also an incredibly safe way to travel. There are laws in place to keep passengers safe, and one of those well-known laws pertains to lithium-ion batteries — for good reason.

Lithium-ion batteries are found in phones, laptop computers, tablets, and e-cigarettes. They are also used in those portable chargers we all take with us to Disney World. However, it is federal law that items with these batteries are not stored in checked luggage under an airplane. These items are supposed to be carried with you onto the plane, and there’s a very good reason for this law.

Lithium batteries are known to overheat in a phenomenon called thermal runaway. While events of this happening on planes are still relatively uncommon, incidents are increasing. According to the Associated Press, a report recently released by UL Standards & Engagement stated that overheating lithium battery incidents on planes have risen 28% from 2019 to 2023.

According to the report, 60% of the incidents occurred near the seat of the passenger who brought the device with the lithium battery on board. One of the biggest concerns with these overheating batteries is that they can, and do, start fires on planes. In July, a passenger on a flight from San Francisco International Airport had a smoking bag that led to the evacuation of the plane as it awaited takeoff. In another incident last year, a battery that had caught fire in an overhead bin led to an emergency landing in Jacksonville, Florida.

The risk of fires due to the overheating of these batteries is why they are prohibited from being loaded as checked luggage. If one were to ignite under the plane while in flight, it may be hard to detect and extinguish. Yet, more than one-quarter of people surveyed for the study by UL Standards & Engagement stated that they put e-cigarettes and portable chargers in checked bags. This risk is why they are only allowed in carry-on luggage, so any issues may be detected and dealt with mid-flight.

According to the FAA, there have been 37 thermal runaway incidents this year up until August 15th. Last year, there were 77 reports which is 71% more cases reported than in 2019. With over 180,000 U.S. flights each week, these numbers are significantly low meaning these events are rare, and lithium batteries may overheat anywhere not just on planes. However, as UL’s David Wroth states, “…one of these thermal-runaway incidents at 40,000 feet does present unique risks.”

When you fly, be sure to follow federal regulations and pack all lithium-ion batteries including your portable chargers in your carry-on luggage. This prevents possible life-threatening issues from occurring under the plane where no one can detect them.

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