Spare Lithium Batteries Banned from Checked Baggage

The Transportation Security Agency is at it again. Here's the latest rule that makes no sense: If you are flying today, you are allowed to have a spare lithium battery or two in your checked baggage. Starting tomorrow (January 1, 2008), you won't be. Cameras, DVD players or laptop computers containing lithium batteries will continue to be permitted in checked luggage, though I can't imagine who in their right mind would place such items in their checked bags, which not only official TSA meddlers but random baggage handlers can riffle through.

Additionally, you still will be permitted to have carry up to two spare extended-life rechargeable lithium batteries in your carry-on bag, but (and there's always a but) they must be either in their original packaging or in a plastic zipper bag. As far as I know, there is no requirement as to the size of the zipper bag, though most travelers probably have a supply of the one-quart version in which they display their small quantities of toothpaste, contact lens solution, lip balm, moisturizing lotion and other liquids or gels.

Why the new rule? The potential of fire in the cargo hold, claims the ever-on-the-ball STA. Here's the backstory: In February 2006, a fire of still-unknown origin (as far as I can tell) damaged a UPS DC-8 cargo plane that made an emergency landing. The crew evacuated. The National Transportation Safety Board investigating conducted hearings about the incident that focused on a container holding lithium batteries but reportedly did not find any proof that the fire was caused by lithium batteries in the cargo. However, perhaps to justify that there was some legitimate concern, concluded batteries, common in high-tech devices, leave cargo crews "at risk from in-flight fires."

So now, nearly two years after an inflight fire on a cargo plane that was not traced to lithium batteries, passengers may longer have spare batteries in their checked luggage. Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it!