BBC travel expert tells plane passengers 'keep key item' in cabin
Air travel involves a lengthy list of rules and regulations depending on how your possessions are packed. Now, one travel expert is urging travellers to pay much closer attention to a frequently overlooked electronic item that absolutely cannot be placed in checked baggage destined for the aircraft's hold. Travel journalist Ash Bhardwaj has cautioned people to keep any electronics containing lithium batteries in their hand luggage and bring them into the cabin instead of checking them in. He explained that this is due to a significant fire risk, while blazes in the cabin can be tackled, fires erupting in the luggage hold could prove far more hazardous. Ash appeared alongside Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones on the rooftop of BBC's Morning Live studio, basking in the sunshine as the blistering temperatures continued to blanket the country. He highlighted a recent easyJet flight bound for the UK that was actually diverted to Rome after a passenger realised they had left one of their lithium batteries in the hold. Ash revealed he had encountered a similar lithium battery predicament himself at the airport: "We were in Vietnam, flying back home, and I saw these signs about not being allowed lithium batteries in your hold luggage. I was checking everything; 'Is this one a lithium battery, like the fan for the baby carrier'." To play it safe, Ash decided to move everything he thought might contain a lithium battery straight into his hand luggage. He went on to say: "Basically, it's a fear of the batteries catching fire. If you've got it on you, in the cabin, in your hand luggage, that's fine because if anything does happen the crew can deal with it. "The key thing don't put power banks in your checked luggage they need to come with you." Bear in mind that each airline may operate under differing rules regarding which batteries and electronics must stay in the cabin, so it's strongly recommended that you check with your carrier before you travel. As a general rule, spare batteries and power banks should only ever be packed in carry-on baggage. You may need to store these carefully to prevent the circuit from shorting out — for example, by placing the item back in its original retail packaging or putting each battery in its own protective pouch according to the Civil Aviation Authority. This protection must also prevent the item from being accidentally switched on or damaged throughout the flight. Certain power banks may also require prior approval from the airline operator before being allowed onboard. Other items that may contain lithium batteries: Laptops Tablets Smartphones Smart watches Cameras Music players Smart baggage tags Electronic cigarettes
