I'm traveling from the Midwest to the West Coast and need to take my tools with me. I'm flying on a Sunday and starting work right away. Does anyone have stories about checking a packout with an airline? Is it safe to ship batteries inside, or should I just buy new ones when I arrive? I'm considering using the 38" rolling modular tool chest. Any advice would be appreciated!
4 Answers
I wouldn't recommend shipping batteries at all; it’s against the rules. Just a heads-up, while the PACKOUT can work for travel, it'll likely come out pretty banged up on the other side. I had to replace mine once because an aluminum rail ended up scratched up.
Packouts can be pretty hefty. You're likely to pay extra for the weight, but they can definitely do the job. Just be prepared for some extra costs!
Just so you know, every airline has different rules, but typically, you can't check lithium batteries unless they are under 100Wh per device. This includes M18 5Ah and lower. You are limited in how many spare batteries you can take in your carry-on, usually just two. So plan accordingly!
I've seen packouts on flights quite a bit. I personally go with a Pelican Air 1615 since packouts can be too bulky for me. I usually travel with 75-85 lbs of tools every week. Just a heads up, you can't bring batteries in your checked luggage. I check my charger but always carry one M12 and one M18 battery with me.
Definitely no loose lithium-ion batteries in checked luggage! If it's in a device like a flashlight, you're fine, but loose ones will be taken out. I carry a 5Ah M18, an M12, and a power bank in my carry-on without any issues during my weekly travels.