Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage, as reported by Taipei Times.
EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorised as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode.
However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage. Should passengers opt to keep such devices in check-in luggage, they should be turned off or powered down, according to the airlines.
However, as Bluetooth headsets are often stored inside cases that also double as charging ports, both EVA Air and UNI Air said such portable electronic devices (PEDs) do not meet the basic requirement of being kept turned off because the cases automatically charge headphones upon contact and storage.
In addition, the airlines explained that Spare Battery-Power Bank devices must never be left inside check-in luggage and must always be stored inside carry-ons.
Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases and PEDs are equipped with built-in lithium-ion batteries, as are portable electric fans, adding that such devices are banned from being placed in checked luggage.
It has also been reported that Air New Zealand states that AirPods, in-ear headphones, and their charging cases should be carried on your person and not placed in checked baggage; and explicitly classifies headphone charging cases as “power/charging devices,” listing them as prohibited items.
Other Taiwanese airlines have not decided
Other Taiwanese airlines, such as Starlux Airlines, China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines, do not have regulations governing the delivery of earbuds and their charger cases.
However, Starlux said that portable electronic devices placed in checked luggage must be switched off at all times during the flight. Meanwhile, passengers must take precautionary measures and ensure that specifications of the batteries meet international standards, if they choose to do so, the airline said.
Passengers of China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines are advised to carry earbuds and their charger cases in hand luggage, as lithium-ion batteries and portable chargers are banned in checked luggage, the two airlines said.
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