batteries and airports

phobal

i'll be getting around india by means of jet airways with my 24 litre backpack, which means carry on all the way! problem is, i have a digital camera with a removable battery pack (we're not talking about AA batteries or anything here). from what i have heard, batteries are not permitted past pre-screen checkpoints at indian airports. but from observing previous threads here on IM, people have had batteries in packages confiscated but not batteries that are physically in a device, batteries removed and handed-off to the in-flight crews, or being forced to check the batteries itself.

i've heard that after confiscation, batteries do not make it to the f/a's, and that checking the batteries itself is just absurd. so, i'll have to take my travel documents, the camera (sans-battery), a book, and other such valuables while i check my backpack. i've heard wrapping is available internationally, but i haven't heard anything domestically.

do you guys have any tips or wish to share your experiences going through security? i'm paranoid about getting my crap rummaged through/stolen, and i need to bring a camera with me for my trip. i'm leaning towards throwing the dice and hoping the batteries won't be seized, and if they do, they'll make it to the flight crew. thanks!

Indojingai

Land in India first...
the battery will be the least of your problems...

Best you can do is if your camera takes regualar AA sized batteries.

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-m2-

I didn't have any problem going through security with laptop or camera -- they went through the X-ray screening with no manual search. I kept charger and spare batteries in my main pack (which was checked in) and had no problems. I only had one internal flight with Jet (out of Mumbai) but had similar experience departing from Delhi. I don't know about the reliability of handing things over to be handled by flight crew -- the security check is where things would be uncovered and there would be a lot of ways for things to get screwed-up.

Seems to me that 2 years ago, I was asked to turn on my lap-top and other battery equipped devices to show that they were functioning items, but this did not happen at any of the airports I passed through this year.

Merchant

I wouldn't worry about it. Indian security people seem concerned about "dry cells"--traditional looking batteries--and not the more specialized things in modern devices. I've never had to take batteries out of a camera or flash unit, but I have had extra AA batteries taken from me to be reclaimed later. I have a manual camera whose meter is powered by little button hearing-aid style batteries, which I carry a lot of, and have never even had those sniffed.

I seriously doubt you would be asked to take a battery pack out of a digital camera.

crvlvr

Thats true. If you leave your battery in the camera, you should be ok.

peterhj

Never had a problem. Traveled on several interior flights with two digital cameras, several spare batteries, nobody ever even wanted to inspect my hand lugggage.

Peter
Http://www.yodso.org/cm

phobal

Good to know, my camera battery does not resemble those normal AA batteries at all. Thanks guys!

edwardseco

I don't know what this tells you but on my last trip out they confiscated about 8 Nihms. The rest they ignored. I was ticked off plenty. When I got to KLIA I went to security and I was stunned to find them there wrapped in duct tape. I apologize profusely for my bad temper and ungentlemanly comments! First time I went through this. Next time I will be cool whatever comes..

Indiafan

Six years ago they took the batteries from pocket lamp but last year not from digital camera. So you should be ok.

nedhopkins

I sailed through airports in Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi with AA batteries in my camera, but had them confiscated in Varanasi. I suspect the practice is as inconsistent as that regarding fingernail clippers in the US: I've had them confiscated in Sacramento and New York, but not in Los Angeles or San Francisco.

jjacquemain

Came through Delhi with quite a few batteries in and out of my camera..both were looked at, however none were taken. Wish that were the case for the bags of chocolate I had!!

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phobal

i took 6 segments and i was never questioned regarding my digital camera at all. my bulky and dense power convertor (on both the x-ray and carbon scans that they do for carryon luggage, it comes up as a HUGE BLACK thing) gave me a bit of a hard time though.

Whatever

So normal batteries in packages are a no-no, though they might be overlooked.
Non-traditional batteries seem to be OK. So my supply of hearing aid batteries would not be conficated? I really need them!

shere

There are posters at airports explaining what is a no no for hand baggage and batteries are not on these.

I have carried batteries in my hand baggage 3 times in the last year without problems. If you have problems ask for an airport manager.

Mistral

When I fly I never keep my spare batteries inside my hand luggage.
Never had problems for the batteries inside the camera.
A friend of mine had problem but security allow him to insert the batteries in the checked luggage.

Best regards

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