Can I travel with this as either a carry-on or checked in my bag?

March 5, 2017 4:39 PM

I travel for work and have a large tool bag I usually check. This weekend I acquired this tool -- Its a screwdriver with a 4-volt Lithium battery that cant be removed. Im not sure if I should put it my tool bag or take it as a carry on. I know they normally ask me when I check my tools if there are any lithium batteries in it. Thanks in advance. *All travel is in the United States - No international
posted by flipmiester99 to Travel & Transportation around United States (8 answers total)

Best answer: I would not try to carry that on for fear they'd reject it as a weapon. You are allowed to check it. You can't check spare/uninstalled lithium ion batteries, but ones installed in something are fine. See the battery rules here
posted by brainmouse at 5:05 PM on March 5, 2017 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Should I tell them when they ask about Lithium batteries in the checked baggage?
posted by flipmiester99 at 5:10 PM on March 5, 2017

Search for "Ask TSA." They have both Twitter and Facebook opportunities for asking questions about, "Can I bring this onboard?" in either checked or carry-on luggage. Ask TSA probably also has a 1-800 number?

The Wall Street Journal did an article on Ask TSA last week and you can find an audio recording of the reporter talking about it. The actual article is probably paywalled but it did have a number of people saying they got a quick response.
posted by ITravelMontana at 5:11 PM on March 5, 2017

Do not lie to them. Tell them that one of your tools has a non-removable integrated lithium-ion battery, and that it is protected from accidentally turning on (and, you know, make sure that it is). Lying about it is a very, very bad idea.
posted by brainmouse at 5:20 PM on March 5, 2017 [1 favorite]

You will have to put it in your checked luggage, you will not be able to carry it on. You should definitely ask TSA. I've had good luck getting responses from them on twitter.
posted by bile and syntax at 5:35 PM on March 5, 2017

From the link brainmouse linked to:

Except for spare (uninstalled) lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries, all the batteries allowed in carry-on baggage are also allowed in checked baggage. The batteries must be protected from damage and short circuit or installed in a device. Battery-powered devices—particularly those with moving parts or those that could heat up—must be protected from accidental activation.

I've never declared checked batteries that size when I handed it over to the check-in agent. There's enough people that fly with minor power tools that I don't think it would raise any eyebrows in your checked bags, but you might make sure it's towards the top if they do decide they want to check it out.
posted by Candleman at 5:43 PM on March 5, 2017

I've never had anyone ask me if there's lithium batteries in my checked luggage.
posted by humboldt32 at 8:49 PM on March 5, 2017

It's not enough to ask TSA. TSA is about security (including placebo security), but they are not the only authority; they're just the most public-facing.

In addition to security measures by the TSA, you need to follow FAA guidelines on what's allowed in checked and carry-on luggage. TSA wants to prevent people from destroying an aircraft on purpose; FAA wants to prevent people from doing it by accident or negligence.

Here's the run-down on hazmats aboard aircraft from the FAA. There's a contact email at the very bottom you might try since your hardware doesn't fit easily into any of the categories listed (not really consumer electronics nor a recreational vehicle), but it seems likely you can carry it on, barring TSA thinking you're going to take over the cockpit with a screwdriver, and definitely can check it.
posted by Sunburnt at 3:09 PM on March 6, 2017