One airline changed its T&Cs without telling their customers
Three of the UK’s leading airlines have issued a warning to anyone boarding with a certain type of bag.
Ryanair, easyJet and BA have all changed their policies in recent weeks, causing confusion among some passengers.
Journalist and author Pandora Sykes has reported that she wasn’t allowed to board her flight because she had the wrong type of bag.
She tweeted out saying: “Beware anyone being so foolish to fly easyjet – captain just refused to let us board our flights because our checked-in suitcases have USB ports (aka “smart bags”).
“EasyJet quietly changed their Ts&Cs a few weeks ago without telling their customers.”
Beware anyone being so foolish to fly Easyjet – captain just refused to let us board our flights because our checked-in suitcases have USB ports (aka “smart bags”). Easyjet quietly changed their Ts&Cs a few weeks ago without telling their customers
— Pandora Sykes (@PINsykes) August 13, 2022
easyJet’s terms and conditions state that for safety reasons a lithium battery or power banks need to be disconnected before flying.
This means that smart bag owners who are unable to disconnect the battery will be unable to fly with their luggage.
Ryanair also states that you must be able to remove the lithium battery before you put the bag in an overhead locker.
British Airways has a similar policy, but adds that if you are able to remove the battery from your smart bag if the lithium battery is more than 160Wh or you do not know the Wh of the battery it will not be allowed on the flight.
See the full list of rules below:
EasyJet
In all cases, for safety reasons, the lithium battery/power bank needs to be disconnected, so if you are unable to remove it from your luggage, they won’t be able to accept the bag on board.
In the hold: If the smart luggage is to be checked in and put in the hold, you need to disconnect and remove the lithium battery/power bank from the smart luggage at Bag Drop and take it into the cabin with you. Any exposed terminals should be protected from short circuit.
In the cabin: If the smart luggage is to be carried in the cabin, you need to disconnect and remove the lithium battery/power bank from the smart luggage, but it can stay in the bag.
British Airways
If the lithium battery/power bank cannot be readily removed from Smart Baggage by the customer, the Smart Bag will not be accepted on the flight. If you can easily remove the lithium battery/power bank, the Smart Bag is permitted for carriage, subject to the following conditions:
- Lithium battery/Power banks up to and including 100Wh are acceptable for carriage.
- Lithium battery/Power banks of more than 100Wh up to 160Wh, please see the information in the lithium batteries section for approval.
If the Wh rating of the Lithium battery / Power Bank is more than 160 Wh, or the Wh rating cannot be determined (e.g. not marked on the battery/Power Bank case) the lithium battery/power bank will not be accepted on the flight.
- If the Smart Baggage is to be checked in and will travel in the hold, the lithium battery/power bank must be removed and carried in the cabin (terminals protected against short circuit).
- If the Smart Baggage is to be carried in the cabin, you must be able to easily remove the lithium battery/power bank, but it can remain in the bag.
If you are bringing Smart Baggage with you, please ensure that you are aware of our security requirements. If your flight is operated by one of BA’s partner airlines, please contact that airline to ensure you are aware of their Smart Baggage restrictions.
Ryanair
You can take a ‘smart bag’ on the plane as your item of carry-on baggage. However, you must remove the lithium battery before you put the bag in the overhead locker. The battery must stay with you at all times.
A ‘smart bag’ can be carried in the hold as checked-in luggage as long as you remove the lithium battery before handing the bag in at the bag-drop desk or the gate. You must take the battery on the plane with you.
Smart bags which the lithium battery has not been removed from are not allowed in checked-in luggage or carry-on baggage, or go through security with them on you (for example in your pockets).
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