A warning has been issued to holidaymakers after an airline passenger was refused boarding because of the type of bag they had tried to take on board their flight. Twitter user Pandora Sykes said Easyjet has "quietly changed" its rules on 'smart bags' - and other airlines also have similar rules in place.
Smart bags are a type of luggage that can contain a lithium battery or power bank to charge other devices, supposedly making travel easier if you need to use a mobile phone or a laptop. Some bags on the market can also have other high-tech features like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities.
While many travellers will be thinking this is an ingenious invention when heading on long-haul flights, you need to look carefully at the rules for each airline as actually, many do not allow these on board. Pandora and other travellers on her flight who had similar bags apparently found this out the hard way, the Liverpool Echo reported.
She wrote: "Beware anyone being so foolish to fly Easyjet - captain just refused to let us board our flights because our checked-in suitcases have USB ports (aka “smart bags”). Easyjet quietly changed their Ts&Cs a few weeks ago without telling their customers."
Many airlines will require you to disconnect or remove the lithium battery to be able to bring it on board and it should be in the cabin, not in the hold. This is because, although rare, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries can burst into flames.
Here is what each airline says about their restrictions on the bags.
EasyJet
In all cases, for safety reasons, the lithium battery/power bank needs to be disconnected, so if you are unable to remove it from your luggage, we won’t be able to accept the bag on board.
In the hold
If the smart luggage is to be checked in and put in the hold, you need to disconnect and remove the lithium battery/power bank from the smart luggage at Bag Drop and take it into the cabin with you. Any exposed terminals should be protected from short circuit.
In the cabin
If the smart luggage is to be carried in the cabin, you need to disconnect and remove the lithium battery/power bank from the smart luggage, but it can stay in the bag.
British Airways
If the lithium battery/power bank cannot be readily removed from Smart Baggage by the customer, the Smart Bag will not be accepted on the flight. If you can easily remove the lithium battery/power bank, the Smart Bag is permitted for carriage, subject to the following conditions:
- Lithium battery/Power banks up to and including 100Wh are acceptable for carriage.
- Lithium battery/Power banks of more than 100Wh up to 160Wh, please see the information in the lithium batteries section for approval.
If the Wh rating of the Lithium battery / Power Bank is more than 160 Wh, or the Wh rating cannot be determined (e.g. not marked on the battery/Power Bank case) the lithium battery/power bank will not be accepted on the flight.
- If the Smart Baggage is to be checked in and will travel in the hold, the lithium battery/power bank must be removed and carried in the cabin (terminals protected against short circuit).
- If the Smart Baggage is to be carried in the cabin, you must be able to easily remove the lithium battery/power bank, but it can remain in the bag.
If you are bringing Smart Baggage with you, please ensure that you are aware of our security requirements. If your flight is operated by one of our partner airlines, please contact that airline to ensure you are aware of their Smart Baggage restrictions.
Ryanair
You can take a ‘smart bag’ on the plane as your item of carry-on baggage. However, you must remove the lithium battery before you put the bag in the overhead locker. The battery must stay with you at all times.
A ‘smart bag’ can be carried in the hold as checked-in luggage as long as you remove the lithium battery before handing the bag in at the bag-drop desk or the gate. You must take the battery on the plane with you.
Smart bags which the lithium battery has not been removed from are not allowed in checked-in luggage or carry-on baggage, or go through security with them on you (for example in your pockets).
