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Why shouldn t you put lithium batteries in checked luggage?

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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If you need assistance with screening, you may ask for a Passenger Support Specialist or a Supervisory TSA Officer. Devices containing lithium metal or lithium ion batteries must be carried in carry-on baggage. Most other consumer electronic devices containing batteries are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage.

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How Does TSA Detect Lithium Batteries? The answer lies in the power of X-rays! Through a process called X-ray absorption, TSA agents are able to identify lithium-ion batteries and remove them for further inspection. When X-rays pass through a piece of luggage, they create an image on the other side.

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Methods include: leaving the batteries in their retail packaging, covering battery terminals with tape, using a battery case, using a battery sleeve in a camera bag, or putting them snugly in a plastic bag or protective pouch.

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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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Spare (uninstalled) lithium metal batteries and lithium ion batteries, electronic cigarettes and vaping devices are prohibited in checked baggage. They must be carried with the passenger in carry-on baggage.

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Through a process called X-ray absorption, TSA agents are able to identify lithium-ion batteries and remove them for further inspection. When X-rays pass through a piece of luggage, they create an image on the other side. The TSA agent looks at this image and can tell if there are any suspicious items present.

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Can you see a tampon during an airport body scan? This is a frequently asked question on Google, and if it's something you're worried about, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Airport body scanners can't see inside the body and therefore can't detect a tampon on a TSA female body scan image.

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Incidents of overheated lithium batteries on aircraft are now happening at a rate of more than one per week, on average. In 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration reported at least 62 incidents involving lithium-ion batteries on airplanes and in airports, compared to 54 incidents the previous year.

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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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In spite of the fact that the scanners can see the density and mass of everything that you have packed, they are not always able to establish what the objects are. In this case, if your luggage contains objects that arouse any suspicions then, the security will take a look through the bag.

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If you put a disposable vape in checked luggage, it is likely that it will be confiscated by TSA agents. Disposable vapes are considered to be hazardous materials because they contain lithium-ion batteries, which can cause fires if they come into contact with other items in your luggage.

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Items that are not allowed in checked luggage
  • Aerosols (in most cases) ...
  • Any device containing lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries. ...
  • Bug spray. ...
  • Christmas crackers. ...
  • Compressed gases. ...
  • Corrosive or oxidizing chemicals. ...
  • Cremated remains. ...
  • Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons.


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If carry-on baggage is checked at the gate or planeside, spare lithium batteries, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices must be removed from the baggage and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin. Even in carry-on baggage, these items should be protected from damage, accidental activation and short circuits.

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