Is it possible not to check the scooter as luggage? Is it possible to transport an electric scooter on an airplane? We take the scooter on board the plane... with a separate ticket

We deal with the new requirements of airlines.

In February of this year International organization civil aviation(ICAO) has approved new rules regarding the transport of lithium-ion batteries in luggage compartments civil aircraft and on a recommendatory basis apply to 191 ICAO member countries, including Russia.

Let's dot all the i's, specialists from Aviakass will help us with this.

What are lithium-ion batteries

The most popular type of battery that is widely used in last years. Such batteries are the source of energy in most modern electronics; they power phones, laptops, digital cameras and even electric cars.

Your iPhone, iPad, MacBook and even Apple Watch also have a lithium-ion battery.

The operating principle of such batteries is based on the chemical composition of their components. The elements have gained great popularity due to their high energy density, low self-discharge and ease of maintenance.

What are airlines afraid of?

There is no smoke without fire; in the history of civil aviation there are several sad examples when lithium-ion batteries led to fires on board aircraft.

In 2013, such incidents were recorded in the USA and Japan. On board passenger aircraft fires occurred that were caused by overheated lithium-ion batteries. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Similar incidents have previously occurred on board cargo aircraft.

An overheated lithium-ion battery can cause an explosion and fire. The combustion temperature of such batteries is more than 600 degrees Celsius. This is enough to melt the aluminum from which the fuselage of the airliners is made.

Don't relax

Each air carrier has its own safety standards and baggage allowances and hand luggage. Sometimes restrictions apply to all flights, and sometimes to flights that take place in certain countries.

It is better to study the rules of each carrier immediately after purchasing tickets.

These are the requirements for the transportation of lithium-ion batteries from the TOP-5 Russian air carriers:

Aeroflot

What concerns: lithium-ion batteries with a power density of up to 100 Wh* (mobile phones, cameras, watches, laptops)

Can be carried in hand luggage inside equipment and gadgets. External batteries are allowed to take no more than 2 pieces per person. At the same time, they must be protected by something that excludes the possibility of a short circuit. Carriage in luggage is only possible inside the equipment.

Battery type: lithium-ion batteries with a specific power of 100-160 Wh* (laptops with a larger battery, professional audio and video equipment, portable devices)

May be carried inside the equipment with the permission of airline representatives. Portable and replaceable batteries (no more than two per person) must be packaged in such a way as to prevent contact shorting. Such batteries can only be carried in luggage inside equipment, and permission must be obtained from an airline representative.

Battery type: lithium-ion batteries with a specific power of more than 160 Wh* (industrial equipment, some electric and hybrid vehicles, mopeds)

Subject to registration as “dangerous cargo” with special transportation requirements.

S7 Airlines

Portable electronic devices (watches, cameras, phones, laptops, etc.) containing lithium-ion batteries must be carried as carry-on baggage. If such devices are carried in checked baggage, measures must be taken to prevent unintentional activation.

Portable medical electronic devices with similar batteries must be carried as carry-on baggage.

Spare batteries must be separately protected to prevent short circuits and are carried only in carry-on baggage.

UTair

On the company's official website, in the section on permitted baggage, there are no separate rules and restrictions for the carriage of lithium-ion batteries.

Representatives only mention the need to obtain permission to carry medical equipment and vehicles that run on batteries in their luggage.

Ural Airlines

Consumer electronic devices with lithium-ion cells or batteries, such as watches, calculators, cameras, phones, laptops, etc., are permitted in checked and carry-on luggage. for personal use. Spare batteries must be in separate packaging that protects the batteries from short circuits and should only be carried in hand luggage.

Small mobile devices with lithium batteries, such as electric scooters, electric scooters, etc., are prohibited.

Keep up with the times

Today, small vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly popular. Don't forget that hoverboards, scooters and Segways are also equipped with lithium-ion batteries.

The vast majority of airlines prohibit such devices from being carried as checked or carry-on baggage. The only exception may be vehicles for people with disabilities.

Some carriers offer to register such devices as “dangerous goods” subject to proper transportation regulations and rules.

Be careful that a fashionable toy from a trip abroad does not become a gift for airline representatives.

Each airline puts forward its own requirements regarding what is allowed and what is prohibited from being carried on an airplane. It is advisable to check the airline’s conditions before purchasing tickets or immediately before the flight. There is also a certain basic list of items that are prohibited from being carried according to the Order of the Ministry of Transport, both in checked luggage and in hand luggage. What does it include?

Let's look at examples:

Weapons (knives, stun guns, firearms and their dummies);

Explosive objects and substances (cartridges, sparklers);

Gases (such as lighters or aerosols);

Flammable liquids (solvents, acetone);

Flammable solids (matches), ;

Toxic substances and poisons (arsenic, mercury, antifreeze);

Caustic substances (lime, peroxide, acid, resin);

Radioactive substances and magnets.

What is prohibited from being carried in the cabin?

Certain other substances that may pose a danger to passengers or their luggage are also prohibited.

Small-sized vehicles for personal use - skateboards, Segways, electric scooters for children and adults.

If the flight is international, uncut plants and soil are also prohibited.

Also, for transportation in the cabin of an airliner there is a list of prohibited items:

Piercing and cutting objects (scissors and knives with blades longer than 6 cm, knitting needles, needles);

It must be remembered that if prohibited items are present in a passenger’s luggage, they will be confiscated by employees. If the items being transported belong to the first list and are not accompanied by a permit (for example, firearms), then the passenger is removed from the flight for investigation.

What is allowed to be carried in the cabin of an airplane?

Equipment with battery power up to 160 Wh (laptops, photo and video equipment, mobile and medical devices);

Thermometer without mercury;

Mercury tonometer and pressure gauge in a factory case;

One lighter;

Dry ice up to 2 kg per person;

Hydrogen peroxide up to 100 ml;

Liquids, aerosols and gels up to 100 ml, packed in a transparent bag up to 1 liter. If a container with a volume of more than 100 ml, although the volume of liquid is within the norm, it is still prohibited for transportation;

Products from “Duty free” are packaged in a special way with identifying marks indicating the place of purchase.

It is allowed to carry in the luggage of the airliner

Cutting and piercing objects for household purposes, in addition to those prohibited;

Aerosols for household use.

Do not forget that in individual cases it is possible to obtain permission for items not listed (for example, wheelchairs power more than 160 Wh). To do this, you must contact representatives of the carrier company in advance.

It's getting warm, which means it's time to open the cycling season. And you don’t have to open it in your city: many airlines allow you to take your two-wheeled friend with you on a trip. Agree, spinning your bike is much easier and more enjoyable than wasting time and effort on mastering the city’s trash collection system or paying through the nose to rent bikes at a hotel. We will tell you, firstly, how to transport a bicycle, and secondly, how to do it for free.

In any case, the bicycle is checked in as oversized baggage. The easiest way to transport a bicycle is as is, in the sense of “as it is.” It is convenient because in this situation you can ride a bicycle even to the airport. Most airline rules only require that you unscrew the pedals, turn the handlebars along the frame, and tie down the front wheel. This method is suitable if your bike is quite simple - for example, a regular road singlespeed, in which there is nothing to break even if dropped from ten kilometers high to the ground. Although it is better to wrap such a bicycle with at least garbage bags and packing tape on the outside, so as not to scratch the frame when loading.

For a simple bicycle, simple polyethylene is enough

If the bike has speeds, then the first method is complicated by the need to remove the rear derailleur, along with the “cock” (who doesn’t know, this is such a part for attaching the derailleur to the frame), otherwise there is a high probability of its breakdown, and you will not ride at your destination ride, but look for a bike repair shop. Therefore, it is better to transport such equipment in a box. Yes, yes, a bicycle box. No, no, we understand that you carefully kept it under your bed all these years. Experienced cyclists simply go to the nearest bike shop and ask for a box that would otherwise be thrown away anyway. After this, all that remains is to disassemble the bike to its “shop” condition (remove the pedals, front wheel, shifter, handlebars, sometimes the saddle with seatpost), put it in a box and think about how you will load it into a taxi - so order a station wagon or minivan.

A bike in a box looks something like this

How to drive with a box public transport, science does not know. In addition, there is one more nuance: if the bike is large enough, then the box can exceed the notorious 203 cm in the sum of three dimensions. And if size standards do not apply to “just bicycles”, then at some airports they can find fault with a box with a bicycle inside - they say, it’s a box, and it doesn’t matter what’s inside. You will waste time and nerves trying to prove that paying extra for exceeding the dimensions in this case is wrong.

This table will help you estimate the size of the box:

Another way is to use a soft bike cover. When using it, you need to disassemble the bike to approximately the same extent as when transporting it in a box. A bike in a case takes up much less space than in a box, you can pack it there directly at the airport, and you don’t need to look for the box either on the way there or on the way back, so you will be more autonomous. There are a great variety of covers available for all models and sizes of bicycles, they are equipped with handles and often suitcase-type wheels, there is only one minus: if you do not fly with your bike very often, then for the sake of one or two trips, buy a cover, the cost of which is comparable with the price of not the worst bike, it’s a so-so idea. Cheap covers for a couple of thousand rubles are intended more for storing bicycles or transporting them on a train.

A good case for transporting a bicycle is, to put it mildly, not cheap.

And we can’t help but mention, at least for general development, hard plastic cases. Professional cyclists usually travel with these, because the weight and dimensions of these cases are a sure way to pay extra for excess baggage. But the expensive carbon frame will not crack, and the brake discs will not bend.

Hardcore cyclist about to take flight

Now let's move on to organizational issues. Thanks to Aviasales, we were able to find out that there are not many airlines in the world that allow you to carry a bicycle for free. These guys are: (perhaps the list is incomplete - add in the comments)

“Free within the weight limits of one piece of luggage” means that the bicycle is considered one piece of luggage. That is, in most cases, when one piece of luggage is included in the fare, you will have to choose: either a suitcase with things, or a bicycle - and, accordingly, put everything in hand luggage. It's a different story if you're a frequent flyer. Even a silver card at most airlines gives you the opportunity to carry one additional piece of baggage - this can be a bicycle. In addition, do not forget about special rates: for example, the return “economy” of many airlines includes two pieces of baggage, and Asian carriers have baggage allowances so generous that they give two pieces to everyone.

However, you shouldn’t be tricky and put everything on your bike that doesn’t fit in your suitcase and hand luggage: helmets and other equipment, as a rule, will be asked to be carried separately from the bike. And remember about the weight limit: everything together should not be heavier (most often 23 kg).
And the rules for bicycles also apply to more modest equipment - for example, balance bikes, scooters (we are not talking about electric scooters, but regular ones), etc. Moreover, in some cases they are even allowed to be taken into the cabin in addition to hand luggage, but you should not count on this: here, rather, it all depends on the specific person at the airport. Always expect that you will have to check your scooter in your luggage. By the way, many folded scooters fit perfectly into full-size suitcases: just unscrew the steering column and your hipster roller will fit diagonally inside.

The easiest way to transport a bike by plane