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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Flying with Batteries Issue

Brian F Kobylarz said:
Steve,

I have a collection of documents, but all are too large for REDUser (A bit over 20MB worth of info - most are PDF's).
Could share those via Dropbox. I'll set it up pending a PM with an email to share the folder...
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Brian,
Thanks agin, I'm printing out some of the applicable docs.
 
Tom Hamilton said:
I agree, love the PAGs. Only issue is it takes a very long time to charge with the micro chargers, plan accordingly.
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Exactly! That's why I decided to grab two Micro Chargers. Stacking 6 batteries on one would take a really long time to charge.

I don't know how important this feature actually is, but it's kind of nice that all the PAG batteries are UN certified and have a little flight certified sticker on every battery saying they are approved for flying without a quantity restriction. So if anyone starts to wonder about all the batteries, I point at the sticker. Not sure if the sticker is really that important, but it's comforting.
 
For what its worth I just got done with a 45 day shoot that took me to AK, CA, CO, DC, HI, NB, and TX

I had 2x IDX E-7 batterys, 3 helix batterys, 12 cannon batteries, 7 red volts, 8x sony a7s batts, and 6x large sony batts for led lights... all in the same pelican. Put it under the plane every flight, never had any problems. I have also flow all over with Red Bricks and the Kessler ION under the plane a bunch as well.

I do try to tape up my connections with gaft tape. Perhaps I am just lucky, but just thought I would throw that out there.
 
Daniel Kelly Brown said:
For what its worth I just got done with a 45 day shoot that took me to AK, CA, CO, DC, HI, NB, and TX

I had 2x IDX E-7 batterys, 3 helix batterys, 12 cannon batteries, 7 red volts, 8x sony a7s batts, and 6x large sony batts for led lights... all in the same pelican. Put it under the plane every flight, never had any problems. I have also flow all over with Red Bricks and the Kessler ION under the plane a bunch as well.

I do try to tape up my connections with gaft tape. Perhaps I am just lucky, but just thought I would throw that out there.
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James,
When your "luck" runs out, it will endanger every single passenger on that plane.
If caught, the fines are more than significant.
Please get up to speed on the dangers - they are real. Even if the batteries are not damaged when you pack them, consider the luggage handlers.
 
I have flown all over the US and the world this year. All batteries in a carry on. Never, ever check them in. I have had all sort of sizes with me, and as long as I'm caring them on, I've had no issues.
 
If you can make friends at an airline, do it. I've done some work in the air with Southwest and got to know the manager at my local airport. The TSA is a lot easier to handle with when the airline walks you through security.
 
Nick Gardner said:
Check the regs, you can put batteries in the hold as long as they are "attached to a device". A battery charger fits that bill. Configure a case to take chargers with batteries on them (under the limit watt hours wise obviously). Then you should be fine.

Nick
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I think I read on another battery thread somewhere recently that this is no longer accepted, at least by some airlines. A battery has to be entirely enclosed within the equipment now. So a V-Lock on a charger or on the back of a camera is not universally accepted.

I had a quick search, but can't find it, so can't confirm unfortunately.
 
About to fly out for a job (domestic flight in the US) and I have a couple of 190wh batteries. They are not labelled as such (they just have the different sizes on the back, and a check on the 190wh box....which has since rubbed off).

Think I would have any problem just marking these as 150wh and carrying them both on in my case?

I'll also be carrying my camera on in a portabrace COOB, which is a little big by the carry on dimensions...but hopefully I can make it work.
 
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RobMNeilson said:
About to fly out for a job (domestic flight in the US) and I have a couple of 190wh batteries. They are not labelled as such (they just have the different sizes on the back, and a check on the 190wh box....which has since rubbed off).

Think I would have any problem just marking these as 150wh and carrying them both on in my case?

I'll also be carrying my camera on in a portabrace COOB, which is a little big by the carry on dimensions...but hopefully I can make it work.
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Rob, the whole flying with batteries thing seems to be a Russian Roulette based on who you come in contact with at the terminal. Sometimes no issues at all and sometimes you get the "you can't fly with those". Kinda frustrating you can't count on any consistency.
 
I have been on many international and domestic flights since I bought my Pag batteries at the last IBC. I check in at the counter first putting two large rollers of gear and clothes in the hold. I then ask to have a supervisor join us and show them the batteries, Dragon(s) and lenses in a 21 inch roller and Gura gear Chobe in it's extended form, both without any padding, stuffed to the gills. I show them a Pag close up with the airline safety sticker and hand them the Pag literature on airline safety and explain that these two bags have to go on board for safety reasons, and then hand them a dollar amount insurance manifest of what is in the bags, and explain that though the bags are way over weight, they are close to the size restrictions, and my first concern is airline safety and minimizing any risk of damage to delicate gear. They give me "carry on approved" stickers. It has made my life a lot easier at the gate, which used to be a crap shoot. I swear somehow those little Pag stickers are just the right mojo to grease the wheels.

https://www.paguk.com/content/air-transportation-li-ion-batteries-0

https://www.paguk.com/sites/default/files/pdf/AirTransLiIon.pdf
 
steve green said:
Well played, Scott.......Have you ever been denied with this procedure?
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No. I have been on maybe 20 flights. There has been some discussion, or they have asked to see what is in my 2 checked bags which are 34" high rollers to see why I can't put the cameras or lenses in them- they are also stuffed with gear and the only padding is clothing, So I again show them the insurance manifest, take the caps off the 30-105 CN E showing the now very exposed glass, hand it to them and then point out that it is listed at replacement value of $23,000, is one of 7 lenses I carry and ask if it was theirs would they put it in the hold? They hand it right back and say be careful with that thing! But the real argument is the batteries, stressing the safety issue gives them a reason to tolerate the weight issue, the bags are very heavy, but again not too oversized.

This has all worked well so far, but who knows, I do know that in the past, at the gate if they say it is not going on, if you don't check it, I have wasted time and incurred change fees by not boarding, which brings up the other issue- at security everything has to come out and go through their chemical swabs, I was always a last minute guy relying on luck and charm, but no more, since I basically travel alone with expensive stuff I allow time, to make sure there is never any opening for an argument. Security being what it is, raise your voice, or show irritation and it is going to cost you.

Also a word of warning- I flew through Munich on the way to Eurasia. Going over all smooth, but coming back, at the Munich airport, if you are boarding a flight to the USA, you go through security twice- once at the main entrance to the gates and another at the gates where the US bound flights are. There had been no warning that this would happen from the airline. I was late for the flight because all the gear got the once over again. I had hung in a restaurant to the last minute and big surprise, all my precautions were for not. But, I ran to the gate. The agents were leaving and pissed at me because they said they held the plane for ten minutes but finally had to close it up. A guy comes running up with a briefcase shouting in German to the gate agents. One of them grabs the brief case another grabs my roller and says let's go! We run down the gangway, the door opens and then there is a five minute discussion about what is going on. Turns out that they didn't hold the plane for ten minutes for me but for that brief case etc. But, I got on and the steward explained to me that Germany is not happy about the second inspection, but the US demands it. I don't know if this applies to all German airports.

Sometimes I just want to shoot 4k on my Iphone.
 
Scott - With proper Media / Film Production credentials, you can exceed the traditional weight limitations.
Allows you up to 75 lbs. per case.
 
scott devitte said:
For carry on? Good to know. Is it stated somewhere as a government rule? Thx.
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Oops - my bad. I was thinking of the checked baggage. My mind had just jumped to my last excursion...
It's not government, it's by airline. Some will let you check up to 25 cases per organization. Weight limits vary too.
 
Brian F Kobylarz said:
Oops - my bad. I was thinking of the checked baggage. My mind had just jumped to my last excursion...
It's not government, it's by airline. Some will let you check up to 25 cases per organization. Weight limits vary too.
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For checked baggage I follow the 62" HWD and under 50 lbs rule. Pretty much works on all airlines. Good to know about the weight thing. It is hard to keep it at under 50lbs.
 
Steve, I just came across your reply, seems they are no longer allowing you to stack batteries on your camera and to an external device like chargers. This slipped my attention somewhere along the way. I saved the document in my e-mail but the link is expired and the TSA page is no longer valid.

I'm sure you found this on the TSA website:

Search Results For:

lithium batteries

Carry On Only

You may travel with dry batteries (AA, AAA, C, and D) in your carry-on or checked baggage.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibits loose lithium batteries from being transported in checked baggage. Car batteries, wet batteries, or spillable batteries are prohibited from both carry-on and checked baggage unless being used to power a scooter or wheelchair. If a battery is used to power a scooter or wheelchair, you must advise the aircraft operator so that the battery can be properly packaged.

Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.
 
Brian F Kobylarz said:
Scott - With proper Media / Film Production credentials, you can exceed the traditional weight limitations.
Allows you up to 75 lbs. per case.
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Brian, what are you using for "proper media credentials"? I usually hand over my union card with a credit card and that works. Although I have had agents tell me "this isn't what their looking for......Next time you need real media credentials".........having something official would be nice. Of course this just get you around the excess bags capping at 50.00 or 75.00, does nothing for the battery issue.
 
steve green said:
Brian, what are you using for "proper media credentials"? I usually hand over my union card with a credit card and that works. Although I have had agents tell me "this isn't what their looking for......Next time you need real media credentials".........having something official would be nice. Of course this just get you around the excess bags capping at 50.00 or 75.00, does nothing for the battery issue.
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Steve,

A lot of my work is for corporate and government agencies. Both have issued me photo badges that list my company name and associated camera permits. Having more than one - especially with instantly recognizable logos and names is helpful. Combined with other documents, it has been easy to establish my position as a production company - which fits into the "media" definition the airlines use.

Although I have never experienced a glitch at any domestic airport, one of my New Year resolutions is to design my own photo / media badge specifically to address airline procedures. Including my CAGE Code will give them a means of verification.
May very well incorporate additional info to cover local law enforcement encounters. The more legitimate documentation you have, the better.

I can see where the union card alone could give them pause - the rules are designed more around organizations than individuals. If you do not have a company name, you might consider ordering a photo badge that includes a descriptor such as "Motion Picture Production Services".

There is an additional benefit to the media credentials - besides weight, the number of cases you can check is increased.

Recently on a fully booked flight to LA, hand carrying batteries with the camera prevented it from being reassigned to the hold. They found room in the cabin.
 
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