Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage • Hacker News Board

Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage

#351

Post by layer8 » Sat, Oct 08, 2022, 12:52 AM UTC

ajmurmann wrote: post #321

layer8 wrote: post #313

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Translation of the cited statement by the Lufthansa spokesperson: “ Baggage trackers belong to the category of Portable Electronic Devices and are therefore subject to the Dangerous Goods regulations issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization for carriage in aircraft. Accordingly, the trackers must be deactivated during the flight due to their transmission function, similar to cell phones, laptops, table…

This section makes it even more confusing to me, since I thought that the whole cell phone transmission restriction theater had been removed a few years ago. Was that only within the US and I've been violating EU regulations for years?

I don’t think this is about transmission. Rather, it is probably to reduce the risk of thermal runaway of lithium batteries, which can cause fire and explosion.

The regulation also states that such devices “should be carried as carry-on baggage”, that is, in preference to checked baggage, presumably so that the devices are less prone to damage, and cases of malfunction and fire will be more quickly detected.

Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage

#352

Post by NavinF » Sat, Oct 08, 2022, 12:53 AM UTC

josephcsible wrote: post #322

HWR_14 wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They also sit at a much higher pressure. The concern is that the much lower air pressure can cause stress on lithium batteries in the cargo hold, leading to bulging and possible damage, maybe catastrophic. Especially for already damaged or poorly made batteries

Isn't the cargo hold pressurized too? Don't pets often fly in there?

Yes: https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/8252/are-cargo-...

GP is just making up hypothetical dangers of Li-ion batteries, a popular pastime on the internet.

Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage

#353

Post by KirillPanov » Sat, Oct 08, 2022, 12:54 AM UTC

rajko_rad wrote: post #343

I left my AirPods case in my seat, realized walking toward baggage area, wouldn’t let me go back to get them.. assured me someone would go get them for me… I filed a claim, they said they couldn’t find them there… now I see my AirPods case in an apartment complex in the Bronx… nothing I can do….

You could show up at the apartment.

Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage

#354

Post by rx_tx » Sat, Oct 08, 2022, 12:56 AM UTC

smoldesu wrote: post #347

ajmurmann wrote: post #321

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This section makes it even more confusing to me, since I thought that the whole cell phone transmission restriction theater had been removed a few years ago. Was that only within the US and I've been violating EU regulations for years?

The more predominant issue is keeping anything with a lithium-ion battery in checked luggage. They'll crack down on anything from laptops to hearing aids.

CR2032 batteries that are in airtags are NOT lithium-ion, they're non-rechargeable and are usually Lithium/Manganese Dioxide [1] (lithium metal). I believe they're fine to have in checked luggage if contained inside some equipment (like the airtag). [2] Look for PI 970 If transported by themselves, they're cargo aircraft only.

Source: [1] https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/cr2032.pdf [2] https://www.iata.org/contentassets/05e6d8742b0047259bf3a700b...

Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage

#355

Post by Retric » Sat, Oct 08, 2022, 12:56 AM UTC

mrelectric wrote: post #323

EvanAnderson wrote: post #296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would think the antennas on cell towers are polarized to limit radiated power up.

They are.

Would that do much for multi path bounces etc?

Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage

#356

Post by justin66 » Sat, Oct 08, 2022, 12:58 AM UTC

schappim wrote: post #258

Just wait until AirTags have accelerometers in them too (capturing all the abuse to bags)! Seriously though, I'll be surprised if Apple puts any serious resources into future versions of the AirTag, given the amount of bad PR[0] they've generated for Apple, and how allergic Apple is to bad PR. From the perspective of Apple, the cost to benefit ratio doesn't seem to be there, especially for a product that is a roundin…

> Just wait until AirTags have accelerometers in them too (capturing all the abuse to bags)!

You can usually film the baggage handlers abusing the luggage going on or off of your plane. It's not a revelation. If you can get a video to go viral, something extremely superficial might be done by the airline, but it's not going to change anything. This has happened many times in the past.

Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage

#357

Post by postalrat » Sat, Oct 08, 2022, 12:59 AM UTC

leifg wrote: post #276

Knowing German I read through the sources. This article is pretty misleading. The [primary source]( https://www.watson.de/leben/urlaub%20&%20freizeit/879935671-... ) is a slightly clickbait article asking the questions: "Are AirTags allowed in checked luggage?". They reached out to Lufthanse asking them. They responded: "Luggage trackers are electronic devices so they have to be turned off when the luggage is checked…

What do you mean "active tracker"? As far as I know airtags have a battery and aren't passive devices.

Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage

#358

Post by layer8 » Sat, Oct 08, 2022, 1:01 AM UTC

rx_tx wrote: post #354

smoldesu wrote: post #347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The more predominant issue is keeping anything with a lithium-ion battery in checked luggage. They'll crack down on anything from laptops to hearing aids.

CR2032 batteries that are in airtags are NOT lithium-ion, they're non-rechargeable and are usually Lithium/Manganese Dioxide [1] (lithium metal). I believe they're fine to have in checked luggage if contained inside some equipment (like the airtag). [2] Look for PI 970 If transported by themselves, they're cargo aircraft only. Source: [1] https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/cr2032.pdf [2] https://www.iata.org/contentasse…

The wording “containing lithium metal” from the ICAO regulation still applies.

Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage

#359

Post by hasel » Sat, Oct 08, 2022, 1:02 AM UTC

aobdev wrote: post #287

thaumasiotes wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and it might well be that you don’t have the receipts anymore. That seems pretty unlikely; the receipts now go to your email where you'd have to delete them intentionally.

Receipts for the personal items that the airline lost, not for the airfare. You need to prove how much your damages are in order to make a claim.

Is there anything to stop me from pulling receipts for something I didn’t actually put in my luggage?

Re: Lufthansa bans AirTags in checked luggage

#360

Post by daguava » Sat, Oct 08, 2022, 1:03 AM UTC

This is the dumbest thing they could have done - Streisand effect is in full swing after this. "What doesn't Lufthansa want us to see? What are they hiding?"

THANK YOU LUFTHANSA for making people actually hold you accountable for the ungodly shitty practices most airlines hold themselves to without recourse. Enjoy the bed you've made for yourself.