Traveling to/from Mexico with batteries

[Jon Nellis]

Checking the batteries is nothing new and not limited to Mexico. Coming back from Honduras in 2008, they made me check the Lithium scooter batteries.

Just like the US does not follow IATA regulations, neither do many countries in Central/South America. They have their own regulations regarding batteries and none of them even mention size or chemistry that I have been able to find. I usually just find the website for a regional airline and pull up the restricted items page. Here's Taca's page http://www.taca.com/eng/syi/bag/bageqnoperm.asp?id=14


Cheers,
Jon

[sandy]

Old thread but does anyone have any recent experience returning from CUN with lithion ion batteries in carry-on luggage?

I'll be in Mexico from the 15th to the 22nd so just seeing what I may expect. Thanks all.

[Johan Isaksson]

I flew from Paris to Cancun inbound and outbound through Atlanta and onwards to Paris. Both times with Lithium cannisters in my carry on. I had to show them in security and got asked about battery type but had no issues after providing specifications.

[Jim Coke]

Hi Sandy,

Lithium ion battery luggage protocol for international air carriers (carry-on or check-in luggage) is a huge mess these days. TSA won't give you a hard time about carry-on batteries, usually. In the USA put your Lithium pack in your carry-on, not in check-in luggage. If the battery pack is in a container and "padded", you should be good to go. Check the TSA and your Airline Regulations:

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-informat...es-and-devices

Flying from Mexico (CUN) to the USA is a different animal. CUN airport security requires your Lithium batteries be checked in your luggage. If you get caught carrying lithium ion batteries, they "will check them in" at the security stop.

I have not had many problems at the CUN airport these days. They see a lot of cavers and cave divers coming through with all sorts of illumination gear. Go for it.

Jim

[sandy]

Thanks guys!

[rddvet]

I think it depends on who you get in Mx and how nice you are. We were told by Protec some people carry on some people check on the way back to the US. Just for ease, we carried them on in a backpack both into and out of Mx and had no issues in December. They looked at the cans both times, but in Mx we just smiled and said "scuba" then smiled again and said "cenote" and they smiled back and waved us on.

[Jim Coke]

Absolutely right,

Smile, have fun, and enjoy the culture and caves while you are there. You cannot go wrong.

[FW]

The biggest problem I have had was coming back from England. They did a random check in the skyway. The inspectors were Arabian (go figure) and they couldn't understand what all my dive computers, lights, batteries, etc were about. They called a supervisor, who was English. I explained to her that I was there to cavedive, but that isn't very popular in England, so I got a strange look. She asked for a SCUBA "license". All my cards were in checked baggage, except my DAN card. Thank goodness she accepted that, because they had made the last call for boarding several minutes earlier, and were about to close the doors. I couldn't find any space in the overhead by then, so I had to ride 6 hours with my feet on my carry on

[Gobey]

I printed a booklet of light and put next to it. Just stamp of TSA control on. Flight Prague - London - NY- Cancun

[RN]

I haven't flown through Cancun in a while but Cozumel hasn't given me any issues the past few trips, including the trip a few weeks ago. They just waved us through. One person in our group did fly through Cancun and he didn't have any issues this time either. We were all using TillyTec lights though, which have sealed canisters and look a little different on xray. Not sure if that makes a difference or if it was just the people working security.