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FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

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21–30 of 138 posts

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#21

Is this a Samsung-specific problem, or is it more generally, a lithium ion battery problem (the regulations have always been in place for lion batteries on planes)? I suspect it's the latter -- in which case, it's pretty unfair to single out Samsung. On another note, I've always felt paranoid about keeping my phone in my pocket or having my laptop on my lap, especially if it starts to heat up. I might as well stick a…

It's an issue with batteries manufactured by Samsung SDI. Hong Kong Note 7's have batteries from ATL and are not subject to the recall

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#22
post #3

If I understood this correctly, this is based on a higher (but unknown to consumers?) chance that the Galaxy Note 7 's battery could explode during flight and catch fire. Then, what would be considered a chance high enough that a laptop battery's explosion would not be a concern? Would it be safer to lock these phones into an explosion-proof box before they onboard the flight?

This is actually my #1 fear in flying in 2016. Some rough baggage packing under the plane that damages a laptop battery in the gate checked bag. Every time I fly I watch people gate check bags with laptops and more even after the announcement to "remove all lithium batteries & electronics". I wish more people understood how dangerous this could be and would take 3 minutes to take electronics out and carry them on boa…

Even for gate-checked bags, the gate agent is supposed to announce that lithium batteries cannot be in the bag, and should probably confirm that with the passenger when tagging the bag.

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#23
post #3

If I understood this correctly, this is based on a higher (but unknown to consumers?) chance that the Galaxy Note 7 's battery could explode during flight and catch fire. Then, what would be considered a chance high enough that a laptop battery's explosion would not be a concern? Would it be safer to lock these phones into an explosion-proof box before they onboard the flight?

This is actually my #1 fear in flying in 2016. Some rough baggage packing under the plane that damages a laptop battery in the gate checked bag. Every time I fly I watch people gate check bags with laptops and more even after the announcement to "remove all lithium batteries & electronics". I wish more people understood how dangerous this could be and would take 3 minutes to take electronics out and carry them on boa…

A while back I checked a second, relatively bulky laptop that I was carrying for a new employee. As I understood it the current rule is that you shouldn't check a laptop battery that isn't plugged in but it is fine as part of the laptop?

On another flight I also checked a power bank before learning of the rules surrounding them, which depending on capacity could be a lot more dangerous.

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually my #1 fear in flying in 2016. Some rough baggage packing under the plane that damages a laptop battery in the gate checked bag. Every time I fly I watch people gate check bags with laptops and more even after the announcement to "remove all lithium batteries & electronics". I wish more people understood how dangerous this could be and would take 3 minutes to take electronics out and carry them on boa…

It seems unwise to gate-check a bag with a laptop anyway, given the way the luggage handlers throw bags around. Gate-checking a roller board suitcase with clothing is one thing, but I wouldn't check anything fragile or particularly expensive.

Sometimes there is no choice, e.g. in the case when I carry two or three laptops for work reasons, and the weight limit of carry-on baggage means only one fits in hand luggage.

A laptop packed properly in a hard bag full of clothes isn't very likely to take any hit, though. If the baggage handlers run over it by a truck, then it may be damaged, but not in plane.

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually my #1 fear in flying in 2016. Some rough baggage packing under the plane that damages a laptop battery in the gate checked bag. Every time I fly I watch people gate check bags with laptops and more even after the announcement to "remove all lithium batteries & electronics". I wish more people understood how dangerous this could be and would take 3 minutes to take electronics out and carry them on boa…

Even for gate-checked bags, the gate agent is supposed to announce that lithium batteries cannot be in the bag, and should probably confirm that with the passenger when tagging the bag.

Some people have no idea what battery chemistry is in their laptops. Especially for models where the battery isn't even removable. I don't mean this as a criticism, it's just not necessarily something that everyone notices.

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#26
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even for gate-checked bags, the gate agent is supposed to announce that lithium batteries cannot be in the bag, and should probably confirm that with the passenger when tagging the bag.

Some people have no idea what battery chemistry is in their laptops. Especially for models where the battery isn't even removable. I don't mean this as a criticism, it's just not necessarily something that everyone notices.

Yea, I think this is really the crux of it. The GA nor the pax know whether or not a battery or device is Li-ion.

Edit: or I guess if it was just a battery they could read on it but I bet that never ever happens.

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually my #1 fear in flying in 2016. Some rough baggage packing under the plane that damages a laptop battery in the gate checked bag. Every time I fly I watch people gate check bags with laptops and more even after the announcement to "remove all lithium batteries & electronics". I wish more people understood how dangerous this could be and would take 3 minutes to take electronics out and carry them on boa…

Even for gate-checked bags, the gate agent is supposed to announce that lithium batteries cannot be in the bag, and should probably confirm that with the passenger when tagging the bag.

I definitely hear the announcements a lot... whether or not they follow up "e-cigarettes and spare lithium batteries" with "and other electronics" or "such as those found in personal electronics" is very hit and miss.

At my regional airport they just hand out the tags and don't ask any other questions or offer any other guidance to each individual passenger. It's just the one main blanket announcement.

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#28
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually my #1 fear in flying in 2016. Some rough baggage packing under the plane that damages a laptop battery in the gate checked bag. Every time I fly I watch people gate check bags with laptops and more even after the announcement to "remove all lithium batteries & electronics". I wish more people understood how dangerous this could be and would take 3 minutes to take electronics out and carry them on boa…

A while back I checked a second, relatively bulky laptop that I was carrying for a new employee. As I understood it the current rule is that you shouldn't check a laptop battery that isn't plugged in but it is fine as part of the laptop? On another flight I also checked a power bank before learning of the rules surrounding them, which depending on capacity could be a lot more dangerous.

I'm not sure about specifics there. It's an interesting thing to think about though... whether a battery with exposed leads has more potential to short vs being attached to something. (I would assume the exposed leads would be worse.)

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even for gate-checked bags, the gate agent is supposed to announce that lithium batteries cannot be in the bag, and should probably confirm that with the passenger when tagging the bag.

I definitely hear the announcements a lot... whether or not they follow up "e-cigarettes and spare lithium batteries" with "and other electronics" or "such as those found in personal electronics" is very hit and miss. At my regional airport they just hand out the tags and don't ask any other questions or offer any other guidance to each individual passenger. It's just the one main blanket announcement.

I think unless they are checking for them to the same extent that they are checking for liquids and weapons in carry on it is likely that plenty of people aren't following the rules either intentionally or from ignorance.
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