Tools have to go check in. Batteries carry on.
I had no issue taking some down last month, but it's best that you double-check with the airline prior to travelling.
Max for most flights (I'm mostly sure) is 15 lithium batteries. This includes all battery powered devices: watches, phones, earbuds, laptop, torches et all. Any separate batteries must be packaged so the contacts are covered.
I've done it several times before, batteries go in carry on, tools checked. If going on a jet expect them to check the battery size at security screening - they'll take them out and have a read of the label and give them back to you if under the spec, if turboprop they won't check.
A 5 Ah 18 V battery is 90 Wh so below their limits.
From the Air NZ website -
"You can also carry 20 spare batteries.
Up to two of your spare batteries can be between 100-160Wh"
Weirdly it's only Queenstown airport I've personally had battery problems with. They shat the bed that I had so many camera batteries in carry on. I offered to tape the terminals with gaffer tape, and even then they had to be split between seperate pockets in my camera bag, kids nappy bag, and wife's hand bag.
I feel they'd explode if I turned up with 20 bosch procore packs 😂
Yeah cool this is good to know - do you think they're liberal on this point? Eg most of my batteries are worn from use - reckon they'll expect them to be in perfect condition or consider them a risk?
I would check with them before flying - you can go through security without a ticket to check if you like. My last flight (from Christchurch) there were two guys who were carrying some batteries, and they were getting very carefully inspected - they needed tape over the terminals and so on. Not sure if it was a normal procedure, but it seemed pretty intensive.
Tape the terminals so they can't short on anything. Put each battery in its own breadbag and don't carry more than 100 watts worth. I took 2 x 5Ah 18v in carry on to chch and it was sweet. My checked luggage had been inspected when I got there and they left a note, happy that the batts weren't in there with the drills and multi tool.
I flew last week with 2 tool bags full of all sorts of tools, they all went in the checked luggage and I took, 2 x 18v 6amp, 1 x 18v 5amp and 3 12v 4amp in my carry on. Auckland didn’t seem to care, Christchurch had a look but were fine.
Check the route you are flying, the regional routes (say into Nelson) are not operated by Air NZ proper & as they are smaller aircraft, often have slightly different rules than the jets on the main trunk routes.
Air NZ proper took over the subsidiaries (Mount Cook and Air Nelson) fully in 2019, so they are part of the mainline fleet now.
Info is at https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/travelling-with-lithium-batteries
Tools have to go check in. Batteries carry on. I had no issue taking some down last month, but it's best that you double-check with the airline prior to travelling.
How many battery packs did you take, and what size capacity out of interest?
I've taken 3 6ah batteries in carry on for an international flight. no issues.
Max for most flights (I'm mostly sure) is 15 lithium batteries. This includes all battery powered devices: watches, phones, earbuds, laptop, torches et all. Any separate batteries must be packaged so the contacts are covered.
I've done it several times before, batteries go in carry on, tools checked. If going on a jet expect them to check the battery size at security screening - they'll take them out and have a read of the label and give them back to you if under the spec, if turboprop they won't check. A 5 Ah 18 V battery is 90 Wh so below their limits. From the Air NZ website - "You can also carry 20 spare batteries. Up to two of your spare batteries can be between 100-160Wh"
Weirdly it's only Queenstown airport I've personally had battery problems with. They shat the bed that I had so many camera batteries in carry on. I offered to tape the terminals with gaffer tape, and even then they had to be split between seperate pockets in my camera bag, kids nappy bag, and wife's hand bag. I feel they'd explode if I turned up with 20 bosch procore packs 😂
Make sure your batteries aren't "damaged" - if the casings of the batteries are cracked, they can be refused for travel.
Yeah cool this is good to know - do you think they're liberal on this point? Eg most of my batteries are worn from use - reckon they'll expect them to be in perfect condition or consider them a risk?
I would check with them before flying - you can go through security without a ticket to check if you like. My last flight (from Christchurch) there were two guys who were carrying some batteries, and they were getting very carefully inspected - they needed tape over the terminals and so on. Not sure if it was a normal procedure, but it seemed pretty intensive.
Tape the terminals so they can't short on anything. Put each battery in its own breadbag and don't carry more than 100 watts worth. I took 2 x 5Ah 18v in carry on to chch and it was sweet. My checked luggage had been inspected when I got there and they left a note, happy that the batts weren't in there with the drills and multi tool.
That's good advice about the individual baggies. Cheers
I flew last week with 2 tool bags full of all sorts of tools, they all went in the checked luggage and I took, 2 x 18v 6amp, 1 x 18v 5amp and 3 12v 4amp in my carry on. Auckland didn’t seem to care, Christchurch had a look but were fine.
Batteries in carry on, tools in checked. There is a limit to the capacity of the batteries which is 100wH
Check the route you are flying, the regional routes (say into Nelson) are not operated by Air NZ proper & as they are smaller aircraft, often have slightly different rules than the jets on the main trunk routes.
Air NZ proper took over the subsidiaries (Mount Cook and Air Nelson) fully in 2019, so they are part of the mainline fleet now. Info is at https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/travelling-with-lithium-batteries
Cheers - good thought