# Airlines Say No to “Smart” Luggage Due to Fears of Battery Fires

Published 2017-12-06 · Updated 2026-06-09 · Energy on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/energy/airlines-say-no-smart-luggage-due-fears-battery-fires

> Airlines worry that battery-powered devices like hoverboards, laptops, and even luggage could become a fire risk. Starting January 15th, American Airlines passengers will be banned from checking “smart” luggage if their batteries can’t be removed. Delta followed close behind with a similar restriction while United and Southwest Airlines expressed an ongoing review of policy. Featuring…

Airlines worry that battery-powered devices like hoverboards, laptops, and even luggage could become a fire risk. Starting January 15th, American Airlines passengers will be banned from checking “smart” luggage if their batteries can’t be removed. Delta followed close behind with a similar restriction while United and Southwest Airlines expressed an ongoing review of policy. Featuring USB ports for charging, “*smart*” luggage is a growing sector of the luggage market. Approved screwdrivers are on offer from the TSA for on-site battery removal.

---
Source: MarketScale, https://www.marketscale.com/industries/energy/airlines-say-no-smart-luggage-due-fears-battery-fires. Published for AI indexing and citation; cite the canonical URL. Site guide for agents: https://www.marketscale.com/llms.txt