Ever travelled with Sealed Lead Acid Battery Pack on Airlines?

I recently purchased the alien bees vagabond portable power system

which is a sealed lead acid battery and weighs close to 30 pounds.

Has anyone else tried to transport this or a similar product on an

international flight? I can't seem to get a clear answer from the

airlines on whether this is allowed. I will be travelling Delta and

South African Airways. Also, were you able to take this on as a

carry-on? Thanks in advance for your insight.

Joi,

 

Delta don't include acid in their dangerous goods inventory:

 

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/special_baggage/dangerous_goods/index.jsp

 

But I'll bet they would get very unhappy if they thought you were taking something harmful onto the plane. I'm sure British Airways is explicit in mentioning acids. I think you ought to get on the phone.

It may be cheaper to buy a battery when you arrive or buy a nicad version before you leave. Look into adapting the vagabond to use car batteries.

 

UPS had a shipment of lawnmowers with batteries installed. They managed to catch the one international flight when they noticed smoke coming from a pallet in their center. The customer who sent the was liable for any damage to UPS. The damages and fines were substantial.

 

https://www.iataonline.com/Store/Products/Product+Detail.htm?cs_id=9065%2D47&cs_catalog=Publications

 

The International Air Transport Association publishes the regulations for the shipment of dangerous goods it includes additional rules for each country and airline. To ship cargo you need to attend a 3 day course and be retrained every 24 months. As a passenger you can carry some items with you. I would call Paul White to get their advise. They ship their items by air and should be able to provide you with a sample Dangerous Goods Declartation or tell you they are exempt.

 

You will be over the ocean flying with your battteries. Many items can only fly on cargo flights. Confirm the batteries are allowed before you fly.

I see wet acid batteries in the DG list for Delta. Sealed acid batteries contain wet acid. It mentions disconnecting and or isolating the terminals. Removing the battery and placing it in your luggage in a couple of plastic bags "should" satisfy Delta.

Can you contact Delta on this? Go to the source, by all means!

JB said "Confirm the batteries are allowed before you fly.".

 

I agree. But I would do so multiple times since you may get different answers from different employees. And I'd have a backup plan (or something in writing) in case a question arises when you check in. Finally, I'd make sure the equipment is very easy to inspect when checked in.

Not only there is a limit on size of carry on laguage but also weight limit. Any airline the 30 pounds will be over the limit. Those old days when a ticket was printed, the limitations were printed of the back of the ticket cover. Electronic tickets do not have that for you, but the limitation is there in place. Contact your airline or your travel agent and ask for the limitation. Perhaps the limit is an International standard and is the same across all airline carriers.

How about just the safety issue? What's going to happen to the batteries in the cargo hold? How much rough handling can it take? What happens in the case of sudden depressurization?

 

You won't have anything worth wearing if it leaks in your luggage.

Thanks everyone for your input. I've called both carriers and it doesn't seem to be a problem as long as I check it in with my normal checked luggage. I have the sneaking suspicion that they had no idea what I was talking about, so better safe than sorry. Also great suggestion of putting it in a plastic bag just in case. I have some heavy duty freezer bags that should do the trick. I'm also planning to label the outside of my luggage that there is a sealed lead acid battery inside, so it's obvious i'm not trying to sneak anything through. i'll also attach the instruction sheets to the battery in case who ever inspects needs to turn it on, etc... I appreciate all your advice. Thanks!

I believe that the only battery of that capacity that is approved by the FAA is the "Gel Cell" type battery. That is because it can be turned upside down without leakage.

 

C Painter

<p>Anyone ever flew within the US with a vagabond.. I heard that you must carry in on in order to take it with you.. Surely someone has flown with a vagabond... I read a blog and someone was talking about carrying it on....</p>