Civil Aviation rules in the UK seem to allow a passenger to check luggage with personal electronic items powered by lithium batteries below a certain power limit (high enough not to be an issue for this discussion) provided the battery is integral with the device.
On this basis I have flown recently (with Jet2) with my Di2 and power meter pedals without declaring anything “hazardous” and without any problems though it did occur to me that the Di2 battery is not exactly integral.
Today I was asked to remove my power meter pedals from my bike box and carry them onboard because of their lithium batteries. Jet2 rules will not now allow any lithium powered devices in checked baggage at all - very strict. The Di2 did not occur to me until after my bike had gone through x-ray - which it did without any problem.
For future reference (I fly again in a month) I wonder if anyone knows the definitive position in UK/Europe when it comes to flying with Di2 or power meters (some of which are harder to remove than pedals).
I just disconnect the DI2 battery (it’s in the seatpost so it’s out and disconnected anyway). I don’t say anything about it being there.
Not had an issue with crank based power meter (CR2032 batteries)
Assioma Favero with integral (non removable) rechargeable lithium batteries.
Disconnecting the Di2 battery sounds like a good idea to stop accidental activation and battery draining but on the other hand does emphasise that the battery is a separate component. From my limited understanding that and individual lithium batteries may not be allowed in checked luggage ever even under the CAA rules - but how many people remove their Di2 battery before flying. Also there are rules on carrying isolated lithium batteries in carry on that would need to be navigated.
Whilst it is interesting to hear how people have got on with their own bikes etc, I’m most interested in what the actual position would be if everything was declared. The check in staff today had to consult with security who then scratched their heads a bit as they had never come across power meter pedals (knowingly at least).
well, there is official EU guidance published by EASA:
This guidance is not as strict as interpreted by jet2.com. It’s up to each airline to interprete the guidance more conservative. And reading their “dangerous goods” regulation it seems they don’t allow any lithium batteries in the cargo space. The official EU guidance speaks only of “large” batteries > 100Wh or >2g lithium. I have no idea what the Di2 battery has.
I just returned from a trip to Ireland. Ryanair. No one asked me about batteries. I have a Di2 and a P2M NG. Both were switched off, though.
Stryke is reading the Jet2 rule the way I am it seems - and certainly the way the check-in staff were applying it. In my case I simply forgot about the Di2 and since I watched it go through the X-Ray machine I assume it won’t be a problem and I’ll just keep quiet about it for the return flight if asked. I would like to nail this down for future reference though - don’t fancy removing the Di2 battery at the check in desk - and if rechargeable power meter batteries are an issue that might influence future power meter purchases (or airline choices).
Probably worth mentioning that carrying the Assioma pedals on board is not itself a problem for me, but you do need to be able to turn them off for flying I believe (Ant/Bluetooth issue). This can easily be done from the app, but turning them on again requires the charger so you are a bit stuck if you don’t pack that (which you might not given the battery life).
As I ponder this some more it occurs to me that x-ray and security checks are not done by Jet2 they are done by the airport which presumably follows the more relaxed aviation authority rules - can’t imagine them applying different rules depending on airline (possible I guess but surely impractical/ unlikely).
Yes, it depends on the airport you are flying from and the carrier that you choose. Each airport has different staff, different equipment and different processes and so do the airlines. You are supposed to put lithium batteries into safety bags and hand carry them but many people put them into their checked baggage.
Sometimes, people are called at the gate to remove them from their baggage, sometimes people are not.
It can also happen that the security staff will refuse batteries without documentation when trying to move through security, although that seems to become more and more rare now.
If you can, put batteries in your hand luggage and put them into a safety bag. If impossible or really inconvenient, you can try to check them in but be prepared to be called at the gate.
I’m actually wondering if it would be possible to travel with a crank based power meter. Yes, it could be taken off and put in the carry on luggage. But would I have to remove the chainrings and put them into my checked baggage? I mean a crank with chainring could be used as a weapon. same for a seatpost where a Di2 battery is inserted. Remove the battery from the seatpost?
Awfully complicated. Travelling with your bike is already complex enough.
I have flown probably 20 times in the US with a power meter and DI2. I do disconnect the Di2 from the control unit. On one flight to Mexico, they did pull the battery out of the seat post and I couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t working. Had to use a coat hanger to get the cable back to plug in. I have never had a problem.
A quick search puts the capacity of a Di2 battery at 500 mAh / 3.7Wh. According to FedEx there is 0.3g of lithium per Ah of capacity, so the internal Di2 battery contains 0.15g of lithium.
Glad I have eTap though so in the unlikely event I fly my bike somewhere I’ll just pop the batteries off and into hand luggage.