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Lufthansa has not banned AirTags

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Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags

#151

Post by fphhotchips »

Sporktacular wrote: post #77
txcwpalpha wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The original statement from Lufthansa mentioned that Airtags fall under the category of "Dangerous Goods". "Dangerous Goods" is a term used by the ICAO to refer to batteries or items with batteries (also refers to dangerous chemicals or radioactive material, but if you look at ICAO guidance about Dangerous Goods, the bulk of the guidance is about batteries). > Hundreds of tags transmitting is bad for the same reason…

The article never mentions batteries but says specifically it's because of transmissions. If it was for the batteries that would be no reason to take special issue with trackers but ignore portable weighing scales for example. "Phones don't have to be shut off during flights. That hasn't been a thing for years." During take off and landing they do. Whether of not that's rational or justified is irrelevant. The reason…

> During take off and landing they do

No, they don't.

You're all over this thread talking about rules that haven't been universal for literally over a decade. Phones haven't had to be turned off for takeoff and landing for over a decade in some places. Radio transmissions haven't had to be disabled (only mobile network transmissions) for years in the USA, Australia and Europe. The Plane Wifi gets turned on when the forward door closes, and doesn't get touched until after everyone deplanes. Bluetooth isn't even disabled by default in Airplane mode anymore. There are very few holdouts on this (Air Canada for example took a very long time to formally allow bluetooth use during flight).

Hell, there's a comment above that points out this document [1], which specifically allows low-powered wireless communication on cargo tracking devices.

[1] https://www.iata.org/contentassets/05e6d8742b0047259bf3a700b...

Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags

#152

Post by fuzzzerd »

Sporktacular wrote: post #58

What am I missing? Comments all seem to be based on a false assumption. Nowhere in the article does it mention battery fires as the reason, or even the word battery/batteries. The original article ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33127459 ) doesn't mention batteries either, but it would make sense only to effectively put them in airplane mode. Hundreds of tags transmitting is bad for the same reason that phone'…

Phones haven't had to be shutoff on flights in years.

Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags

#153

Post by doc »

nixcraft wrote: post #138
Jack5500 wrote: post #7

Except they have. A Lufthansa spokesperson has clarified the new rules for the German news site watson: https://www.watson.de/leben/urlaub%20&%20freizeit/879935671-... It rougly translate to: The device itself is not banned, but has to be shut off during flight. In practice this would mean that you would have to remove the battery from the airtag, since there is no powerswitch. But I will admit that this seems odd an…

From Lufthansa Twitter account: "yes this is correct. AirTags are banned in Lufthansa flights." https://twitter.com/lufthansa/status/1578869457140580353

Well that didn't last long, I saw the tweet a few minutes ago but now it's been deleted. PR in action?

Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags

#154

Post by koolba »

amelius wrote: post #114
brewdad wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What would be the point of putting an AirTag in your luggage if you prevent it from communicating with the outside world? Toss the Tag in your carry-on if you want it at your destination.

The box could open itself after landing.

A timer attached to a mechanical device in your luggage better damn well be detected by those X-ray machine.

Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags

#155

Post by anu7df »

fphhotchips wrote: post #148
yellow_postit wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn’t it also be bandwidth consumption on a limited connection?

Perhaps on the upload but download bandwidth can seemingly deal with a plane full of people streaming Netflix these days, so that's not an issue.

Netflix on a plane? I have never seen that. Which onboard wifi allows that? Perhaps you are thinking of movies delivered via wifi, but the content is streamed from the plane itself.

Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags

#156

Post by splonk »

Youden wrote: post #52

My reading is that AirTags are permitted by IATA regulations. [0] indicates that a small Lithium-metal battery, as is installed in an AirTag, can be transported as cargo on a passenger aircraft. [1] indicates that low-powered communications like Bluetooth are permitted from active devices transported as cargo (page 9, item 3). Am I missing something? [0]: https://www.iata.org/contentassets/05e6d8742b0047259bf3a700b..…

Passenger checked luggage isn't the same as cargo. Your first reference links to [0] for passenger guidance, which includes the following:

"If devices are carried in checked baggage:

• measures must be taken to protect the device from damage and to prevent unintentional activation;

• the device must be completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode)"

Alternative reference (IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (for passengers and crew)), effective Jan 2022 [1]:

"Lithium Batteries: Portable electronic devices (PED) containing lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries, including medical devices such as portable oxygen concentrators (POC) and consumer electronics such as cameras, mobile phones, laptops and tablets (see 2.3.5.8). For lithium metal batteries the lithium metal content must not exceed 2 g and for lithium ion batteries the Watt-hour rating must not exceed 100 Wh. Devices in checked baggage must be completely switched off and must be protected from damage. Each person is limited to a maximum of 15 PED."

[0]: https://www.iata.org/contentassets/6fea26dd84d24b26a7a1fd578...

[1]: https://www.iata.org/contentassets/6fea26dd84d24b26a7a1fd578...

Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags

#157

Post by smcl »

doc wrote: post #153
nixcraft wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From Lufthansa Twitter account: "yes this is correct. AirTags are banned in Lufthansa flights." https://twitter.com/lufthansa/status/1578869457140580353

Well that didn't last long, I saw the tweet a few minutes ago but now it's been deleted. PR in action?

Chaos

Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags

#158

Post by bpye »

anu7df wrote: post #155
fphhotchips wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps on the upload but download bandwidth can seemingly deal with a plane full of people streaming Netflix these days, so that's not an issue.

Netflix on a plane? I have never seen that. Which onboard wifi allows that? Perhaps you are thinking of movies delivered via wifi, but the content is streamed from the plane itself.

I’ve been able to stream video on an Air Canada flight from Vancouver to London, afaik it’s the same GoGo satellite service that seemingly everyone else has.

Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags

#160

Post by bpye »

aussieguy1234 wrote: post #136

I'm flying with another airline, but reading about this and stories of travellers luggage getting lost prompted me to purchase 4 tiles for my upcoming international flights. They're on their way to me now by express shipping. So the author is correct in that banning Bluetooth trackers is just going to make them even more popular.

For some recent flights I did put an AirTag in my checked bag. Whilst I didn’t need it, it was reassuring to be able to see that the bag had made it to the destination whilst waiting at the carousel.
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