I Did Not Expect To Take This Out of My Disney World Suitcase, But This TSA Rule Is VERY Strict

ATTENTION TRAVELERS: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently laid down some NEW rules about this vacation essential.

Over the past decade or so, portable phone chargers and “power bricks” have become a travel essential, especially for trips to theme park destinations like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, where smartphones and their apps are essential to the experience. However, given safety concerns about lithium-ion batteries — they’re “capable of overheating and undergoing a process called thermal runaway. Thermal runaway can occur without warning as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, or improperly packed,” which can then lead to fires — the FF has changed the specifications as to how they can be packed.

According to new FAA guidelines, non-housed lithium-ion batteries like phone-charging can NOT be stored in checked luggage, and can only be carried in carry-on bags.

The FAA states, “Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. When a carry-on bag is checked at the gate or at planeside, all spare lithium batteries and power banks must be removed from the bag and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin. The battery terminals must be protected from short circuit. This covers spare lithium metal and spare rechargeable lithium ion batteries for personal electronics such as cameras, cell phones, laptop computers, tablets, watches, calculators, etc. This also includes external battery chargers (portable rechargers) containing a lithium ion battery.”

If you’re packing for a flight anytime soon, be sure to be up on all the latest FAA guidelines, including the only way you’ll be allowed to bring loose lithium-ion batteries — including external phone chargers — is in your carry-on. Stay tuned to AllEars for more travel updates.

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Do you pack an external battery with you? Let us know in the comments below.