Traveling to/from Mexico with batteries

[RN]

Most of us know that the TSA/airlines want us to carry our Li-on batteries in our carry on luggage. In fact, there are regulations to this effect. I have no problem with that. In fact, I prefer to carry on my high dollar items anyway. However, this is not the case in Mexico. Flying back from there today I packed my canister lights and batteries in my carry on luggage as usual (did this 9 months ago with no issues). The security detail at the airport would not let me take the batteries through with me. I went back to the Delta desk to try to get the batteries checked and they told me the batteries have to go in carry on with me. So here I am with several hundred dollars in dive equipment that I'm not allowed by security to take on in my carry on luggage and Delta won't allow me to check. The Delta employee comes to security with me and he and the security guard spend the next 10 minutes arguing about each other's policy. Delta finally calls his supervisor and gets permission for me to just check the batteries. Once in Atlanta, I had to take them back on as carry on. Delta told me this new rule was instituted a couple months ago and they have been trying to get the Mexican authorities to change the rule. He said they have shown them the TSA rules and that they conflict with the Mexico rules. I was ready to send Delta an email concerning missing batteries when I got back but fortunately mine made it through in my checked bag. So heads up to anyone in Mexico right now or planning on traveling to Mexico in the near future. I think I was pretty lucky in that there was an understanding employee on duty today and I was able to get my batteries checked. Someone else may not be so lucky. I'm hoping to go back to Mexico soon but not so sure I want to bring my canister lights with me. I'm exploring other options.

[Merlin Rhoda]

Your experience with flying out of Mexico mirrors our own over the past few years - batteries must be checked. We've never had a problem with the airline checking them however - they just always remind us to move them to our carryon after clearing customs for the leg home.

Glad to hear it worked out for you in the end.

[rongoodman]

In six or so trips back from Cancun I've had them refuse once to allow my lights to stay in the carry-on, but that one time nearly made me miss my flight.

[chuuk]

My expereince has been that sometimes I feel the person checking your carryone wants to keep the batteries-Had this problem with CR123A. I told the security person no they are allowed. When I said I would take them back to the departure lounge and throw them away instead of leaving them with him-He let me through
Canister lights I have now- switched to a 10 watt that uses D cell batteries. I take my D cells in my carry on and leave them all at Mexico at the end of the trip. I leave my 24 watt diverite light at home in Canada. I have may trips to Mexico cave diving and it all depends who is checking the carry on and what they want

[jj1987]

I sent an email to the HazMat Instructor for a US airline which flies to Cancun. Even working for an airline and being a diver I'm struggling to interpret the documentation on this. If I were a gate agent without a diving back ground I would have no clue.

I'll try to get you guys the exact regulations (in both languages if possible) for that airport so that you can keep it with you, maybe make a pdf you can just print out with an explanation of what a can light is in both English and Spanish as well as a summary of the regulations so you can tape it to your light when you travel. With all the confusion, someone's going to lose a battery due to a misunderstanding if we don't get some clarify on this.

[a64pilot]

Sometimes it's easier to ship things to the motel where you are going to be, just ship them early enough that you can confirm their arrival before you leave and have it insured of course. That way you don't have to worry about the weight too.
You have to be careful I have "lost" an aviation O2 bottle trying to fly with it. Apparently the regulation is you have to have the valve out, and that's not happening very easily with tapered threads like in an aviation O2 bottle, I can see "losing" battery packs the same way because a TSA idiot doesn't know their own regulations. Years ago I flew to Cyprus to do some work and dive the wreck there, The TSA folks essentially freaked out on the two soft weights I had, nothing else bothered them, but they really freaked out on the soft weights, never explained why.

[curtschu]

What is the regulation when shipping your own personal property for your own use to a foreign country. I would hate to arrive at the hotel and find I have to buy my own batteries back. I have heard it is best to pre-ship you large luggage pieces too. Anyone have experience doing this

[a64pilot]

I've done it with no problem, years ago when I lived in Germany I had a video camera shipped to my German address so I could take it to Bosnia with me, I had import "issues" with that because it was a new camera and it looked like smuggling I guess, It was easily fixed though, but personal property I've never had an issue with. I have always wondered upon arrival back into the US how do you prove you left with the expensive watch, jewelry etc. and didn't buy them overseas?
The TSA people are idiots, customs people aren't as bad, actually they aren't customs anymore, but CBP now. I used to export several aircraft a year by flying them overseas, only problem I ever had was with the TSA idiots in Atlanta on my return.

[mag3]

I've done it with no problem, years ago when I lived in Germany I had a video camera shipped to my German address so I could take it to Bosnia with me, I had import "issues" with that because it was a new camera and it looked like smuggling I guess, It was easily fixed though, but personal property I've never had an issue with. I have always wondered upon arrival back into the US how do you prove you left with the expensive watch, jewelry etc. and didn't buy them overseas?
The TSA people are idiots, customs people aren't as bad, actually they aren't customs anymore, but CBP now. I used to export several aircraft a year by flying them overseas, only problem I ever had was with the TSA idiots in Atlanta on my return.

US Customs (CBP) Registration Certificate for personal effects taken abroad - Form 4457

Before you leave the US, you go to the CBP station, bring all your items with the form filled out correctly and with serial #'s noted. You can etch or permanently mark your own serial # if needed. The agent will verify them all, and then sign and stamp the certificate form. Take the completed/signed forms with you when you clear US CBP again.

As you noted, it should only be an issue with things that "look new."

[RN]

I sent an email to the HazMat Instructor for a US airline which flies to Cancun. Even working for an airline and being a diver I'm struggling to interpret the documentation on this. If I were a gate agent without a diving back ground I would have no clue.

I'll try to get you guys the exact regulations (in both languages if possible) for that airport so that you can keep it with you, maybe make a pdf you can just print out with an explanation of what a can light is in both English and Spanish as well as a summary of the regulations so you can tape it to your light when you travel. With all the confusion, someone's going to lose a battery due to a misunderstanding if we don't get some clarify on this.

This was Cozumel not Cancun. I also found out one of our group who left a couple hours earlier didn't have any issues with his canister light in his carry on. So apparently this was just this one particular security person that had an issue with it. She was very adamant and argumentative, even with the Delta supervisor.

Sometimes it's easier to ship things to the motel where you are going to be, just ship them early enough that you can confirm their arrival before you leave and have it insured of course. That way you don't have to worry about the weight too.

My concerns about that are in not getting the package. I've heard from people who live in Mexico that all packages shipped to the country go through Mexico City and if it's something one of the postal workers wants, it just gets lost. I've had FB friends ask for anyone traveling to PDC to bring down laptops, lights, etc for fear they won't make it through Mexico City postal checks.


If we couldn't have gotten the canisters back we were going to call a friend who lives in Cozumel and have him come pick them up so at least we would still have them for the next trip. We would just have bought new ones here. They weren't getting my canisters. Fortunately, that's not how it ended. This is one reason I always arrive a few hours early to the airport. Most of the time I sit and wait. This time it paid off.