My extra camera battery (Panasonic Lumix) travels IN its charger, no exposed contacts. Do you think this counts towards the two "spare" batteries that need to be in plastic?

BTW, I remember, flying out of Pakistan right after 9-11, having to take ALL my spare batteries out of my checked luggage.

In the next US presidential election I will vote for the person who does away with all this *&^%$#
stupid travel stuff.

Ouuuu Kathygo!!! You are indeed tempting me w/ your idea!!!!!

Thursdaysd - interesting idea. If it's traveling in the charger, is it truly a "spare" battery? Hmmmmm.

How about you try it and then let me know if it works? :-d

I think this is being overblown. My understanding is as follows:
- Loose batteries cannot be checked which I admit is a hassle at times.
- For carry-ons the rules apply to the larger Li-ion batteries not all of them. Most batteries will not be subject to this restriction. Laptop batteries, DVD players and some of the Pro equipment stuff will be.
- The "two battery limit" applies only to lithium-ion batteries with more than "8 grams of equivalent lithium content [which] is approximately 100 watt-hours." There is no limit to carry-ons for below 100 watt-hours. You can approximate grams of lithium with this formula (.3 x voltage x amp-hours).
- For me my laptop spare is greater than 100 watt hours as it my son's spare for his DVD player. All my digital camera, video, cell phone and iPod spare batteries are under the limit so this may not be that much of a problem after all for most travelers.
- How the screeners will sort all this out may be an issue, however!

toedtoes - thanks! Lol.

lboderm - also thanks. I found the detailed info here: safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html
Talk about making things complicated! Still doesn't tell me whether a charger counts as a "device" though, but I suspect I'll be well under the limit anyway, since I don't travel with a laptop.

So you think the TSA screeners are going to multiply out each battery to see if it is above or below limit? Or weigh 8 grams equivalent of lithium content?

Gail: Excellent point. I really wonder how the TSA will enforce this effectively.

Ok just looked at my cam corder batteries. They are Sony FP50...I have 2 extras of those, w/ the 3rd in the camera. Then I also have a Sony FP90, battery which I take for more backup. So that gives me 1 battery IN the camera and 3 extras (and I have used them all up in one day!)

I cant find where it says grams....they are either 7.2V4.9Wh or 7.2V 17 7Wh

My little canon uses a battery that sez: Li ion 3.6V 790mAh.

Gad I wish this stuff spoke english!!! sigh!!!

But like you say....if you get the wrong TSA Agent...you are fussed!

What makes no sense to me is why are even 2 spare batteries allowed if they're a fire hazard?

See also:

http://p099.ezboard.com/feuropetogof...icID=248.topic

AJPeabody,
OMG that's hilarious!

*sigh*

It's this stuff that has turned me back into someone who DOES check a bag.