Ban on Smart Luggage Implemented by U.S. Airlines

Six weeks after United States’ carriers announced a unilateral ban on smart luggage, this has now been implemented luggage where the lithium-ion batteries have not been removed prior to transportation. Airlines, including Delta, American and United, will not allow so-called smart luggage to be transported on their aircraft where the component battery cannot be removed. This follows a continued trend within the airline industry where lithium-ion batteries are seen as a fire risk when the outer casing has been punctured, the battery remains connected to a device, or when closely packed together in numbers.
Many of the airlines have had a policy concerning the restriction in transportation of items which contain a lithium-ion battery in the baggage hold, but because there are two principle types of smart luggage, further clarification has had to be made.
Manufacturers such as Away produce items of luggage where the lithium-ion battery which powers such elements as a USB charging port, GPS tracking, etc. can be removed. Other manufacturers including Bluesmart have a built-in lithium-ion battery which cannot be removed. Providing the battery is removed from the former type of smart luggage, these bags can be accommodated by an airline, even if the battery is packed in the luggage carrier itself. The latter type of smart luggage is not permissible under any circumstances.
When the ban on smart luggage was first announced, a number of smart luggage manufacturers indicated they would be working closely with airlines in order to obtain certain exemptions, though to date none have been implemented.