Can I fly with THE SPOT?

On the one hand, I assume you mean a Spot Satellite Messenger.

On the other hand, I can't figure out what part of a Spot Satellite Messenger you think contains hazardous or pressurized materials such that it couldn't be flown. Source?

Assuming you mean the Spot I'm thinking of–yes, you can fly with a Spot, so long as you don't fill the battery compartment with C4. It's a regular piece of consumer electronics.

It’s the Lithium batteries which are flammable.
You can take it as hand luggage.

A Spot device has a lithium battery, and they may be classified as hazardous.

You should not have any problem carrying one in your handbag, but I would advise against removing it from the handbag or powering it up. GPS receivers are normally banned from use in the cabin, and the Spot has that built-in.

I know that it doesn't seem like it would be harmful, but that doesn't negate the FAA or TSA rulings. Supposedly some terrorist could use a GPS receiver to determine exactly the right time to explode some bomb for maximum effect. Also, a lithium battery might be used as part of a detonator for a bomb.

So, it is best to leave it unpowered in your handbag, wrap some earphones around it, and pretend that it is an MP3 music player or something.

–B.G.–

“I know that retailers have to ship the spot via ground because apparently the SPOT is flammable.”

USPS Packaging Instruction 9D
Lithium and Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries

“When mailed domestically only:

“Primary lithium (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries and secondary lithium-ion (rechargeable) cells and batteries are mailable in limited quantities domestically via air or surface transportation when they are installed in or packed with the equipment they are intended to operate.

“Individual secondary batteries (without equipment) are mailable in limited quantities domestically via air or surface transportation only, provided the batteries are in the originally sealed packaging.

“Individual primary batteries (without equipment) are mailable in limited quantities only via surface transportation, provided the batteries are in the originally sealed packaging.”

[Edit: Spacing and emphasis added.]

Perhaps when retailers have a large order shipped it exceeds some “limited quantity” threshold, and then they cite that restriction to customer, even though for a single unit it does not apply.

Not going to argue with the FAAs inane policies regarding use of electronics in flight, in the cabin, etc. But you are allowed to carry GPS receivers on-board with you. Agree with Bob though, just leave it in your bag and don't use it during flight.

On the hazardous battery issue, the lithium batteries used by a Spot are regular, run-of-the-mill, AAA lithium ion batteries. When installed in electronics, these are allowed to be carried-on or checked. No different than, say, the lithium ion batteries in your cell phone, laptop, camera, etc.

It gets complicated when checking uninstalled lithium ion batteries. I would not recommend checking a large number of spare batteries. If you want to bring spares, put them in your carry-on.

If you could not carry GPS receivers or lithium batteries on a plane that would eliminate most smartphones on the market today.

"Primary lithium (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries and secondary lithium-ion (rechargeable) cells and batteries are mailable in limited quantities domestically via air or surface transportation when they are installed in or packed with the equipment they are intended to operate. "

the caveat is thatto mail it, the device is supposed to be packed in crush resistant packing, like the styrofoam it comes in or something, so that the batteries cannot be crushed or damaged, leading to a fire.

In the cabin of a plane, a small fire from batteries can be attended to , which is why they let you carry them on, but not put them in checked baggage where they cant be .

You can fly with batteries in your computer and cell phone, and generally a couple of spares. However if security finds a lot of batteries in your bags you may not be allowed to carry them onto the plane even if they are regular Alkaline. There is a lot of variation in government the rules depending on where you are traveling to and from and and the carriers own business rules.

disposable lithium batteries are actually Lithium sulfur batteries, not lithium Ion batteries.

Lithium Ion batteries are a concern because heat and mechanical damage can cause them to go into thermal runaway and catch fire. For this reason shipments of a large quantity by air is generally not allowed or restricted.

Lithium sulfur batteries (energizer AA and AAA) are no more of a fire hazard than regular Alkaline AA and AAA batteries. Currently no one is selling rechargeable lithium sulfur batteries.

"Lithium sulfur batteries"

More accurately, lithium iron disulfide. LiFeS2

–B.G.–