Can I put laptop in checked luggage?

The TSA (Transport Security Agency) and most other airline regulators around the world allow you to pack laptops in hand and checked luggage. They're treated as Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs), which are considered harmless on planes.



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Most consumer personal electronic devices containing batteries are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage, including but not limited to cell phones, smart phones, data loggers, PDAs, electronic games, tablets, laptop computers, cameras, camcorders, watches, calculators, etc.

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Explosives and flammable items, such as fireworks, gas, and aerosols. Poisonous and toxic substances, including pesticides and certain chemicals. Lithium batteries and other hazardous materials, as these can pose a safety risk if not handled properly.

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For example, TSA guidance is very clear: If prohibited items are found during security checks, they won't be returned to their owners. That may vary in other countries, but the general rule is that confiscations are permanent.

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Lithium batteries can catch fire
While not all batteries are prohibited in checked luggage, lithium batteries are considered hazardous and should not be packed in checked bags. If a lithium battery overheats and catches fire inside the cargo hold, the fire can quickly spread and become difficult to control.

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Checked Bags: No Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only.

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Laptops with batteries below 160 watt-hours are allowed in hand and checked luggage, but batteries over 100 watt-hours require airline approval. Batteries over 160 watt-hours are banned. Spare batteries below 160 watt-hours are allowed only in hand luggage. Read Next: Can You Bring External Monitors on Planes?

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It's recommended to put your laptop in a padded laptop bag that fits within the personal carry-on bag. This way, you can place your laptop in an easily accessible location and keep an eye on it.

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Electronics
Any item of value should never be checked into the belly of a plane. Small digital cameras, DSLR cameras, video cameras, laptops, Kindles, iPads, cell phones and even portable hard drives are all included in this category.

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Yes, you should plan to remove personal electronic devices larger than a cell phone from your carry-on bag and put them in a separate bin with nothing placed on or under them for security screening.

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Laptops, tablets and iPads are not considered threats; hence passengers can take them onto planes without worry. You can either pack your iPad in a carry-on bag or checked baggage – don't forget that loose lithium batteries cannot be put into the latter though.

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They are not allowed in checked baggage, reason being that if for some reason they overheat and catch fire, it is not as easy to control in the cargo area as on board. Flight attendants are trained how to control an overheating lithium ion battery in the passenger compartment.

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The reason behind this is that power banks contain lithium-ion batteries, which are considered dangerous goods by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density and, if not handled correctly, they can pose a risk of fire or explosion.

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Checked Bags: No Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only.

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Checked Bags: No Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only.

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Why did TSA scan my laptop? A laptop inside a bag can also shield other items from view that may be dangerous. Scanning it separately reveals its internal components on the screen. In some cases you might be asked to turn it on to prove it's an actual working computer.

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What happens to items confiscated by the TSA? The government has strict rules it must follow for disposing of confiscated property, according to the TSA. Guns, weapons, hazardous materials or anything deemed illegal are turned over to local law enforcement, and all forbidden liquids are immediately disposed of.

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Lithium batteries, which power everyday devices, can catch fire if damaged or if battery terminals are short-circuited. Devices containing lithium metal batteries or lithium ion batteries, including – but not limited to – smartphones, tablets, cameras and laptops, should be kept in carry-on baggage.

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