One of the more exciting aspects of owning a drone is having the opportunity to take it on vacation with you to capture the memories. However, a question on many drone pilots’ minds is “can you bring a drone on a plane?”
Many people are unsure about what different airlines’ policies are with regard to carrying drones on planes, this is mainly because of their batteries.
In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about flying with a drone.
What you will learn in this article:
# Can you take a drone on a plane?
# General guidelines about drones
# Lithium battery watt-hour limit
# Major Airlines’ Drone Policies Across the Globe
# Essential Accessories for Travelling With a Drone
# Customs Implications When Travelling With A Drone
Can You Take a Drone on a Plane?
The short answer is yes you can! No matter whether you want to take your drone on an international flight or a domestic flight, you are allowed to take a drone as long as it meets the requirements for packing.
However, airline policies differ and it’s worth referring to them before you travel. We also recommend printing off the policy too so you have a quick reference in the airport; drones are still quite new and sometimes airline/airport staff may be unclear on the specific guidelines.
Before traveling, ensure your drone is turned off and that it’s secured in a high-quality backpack. Hardcase backpacks work best.
Can you fly with a drone in your carry-on?
Generally speaking, as batteries are considered dangerous materials, Airlines only allow you to bring drone batteries in your carry-on luggage as long as they meet certain requirements.
But the regulations regarding carrying drones on flights can vary depending on the airline and the country of travel. Keep reading to learn about major Airline’s Policies!
TSA’s Drone Policy
At the time of writing, according to the TSA website, drones are allowed through the TSA security checkpoint in airports. Nevertheless, they recommend you check directly with the airlines about carrying your drone on a plane. It’s also important to note that the ultimate decision is down to the TSA officer on duty and they are allowed to prohibit an item from going through the checkpoint if they deem it necessary.
General Guidelines About Drones, Their Batteries, and Taking Them on Planes
The main issue with carrying a drone on an aircraft isn’t the drone itself, it’s the battery inside it.
Before taking your drone on an airplane, some airlines will request that you remove the battery from the drone. Covering the contact points with painter’s tape is a great extra precaution to avoid shorting too.
As a general rule, airlines are wary of allowing Lithium-Ion batteries in the hold due to the likelihood of combustion. If batteries are carried with you in the cabin they can be monitored in case they short-circuit and catch fire. Only smaller batteries tend to be allowed to be checked in and only if they’re attached to the electronics they’re powering.
Each airline has an individual set of rules pertaining to how many batteries you can carry in the cabin and what size you’re allowed. However, I’ve traveled on many different airlines both domestically and internationally and have carried both a Phantom and a Mavic Pro, alongside other camera equipment, and not had a problem.
Drone Battery Watt Hour Limit
Both in the United States and across the globe, the usual rule is that lithium batteries under 100 Watt-hours are permitted in both carry-on and checked luggage on a plane. However, each individual airline has its own set of rules and regulations.
If you have a drone with a battery that is larger than 100 Watt hours (but less than 160 Watt-hours) you will need approval directly from the airline to take them in your carry-on. Spare batteries of this size are usually limited to 2 per passenger.
For more information on the FAA’s regulations regarding batteries, click here.
Here are the Watt-hours on some of the more popular drones currently on the market.
DJI Mavic Mini – 17.28 Watt-hours
DJI Mini SE – 17.32 Watt-hours
DJI Mini 2 SE – 17.32 Watt-hours
DJI Mini 2 – 17.32 Watt-hours
DJI Mini 3 / DJI Mini 3 Pro
- Intelligent Flight Battery: 18.1 Watt-hours
- Intelligent Flight Battery Plus: 28.4 Watt-hours
DJI Mavic 3 / DJI Mavic 3 Classic – 77 Watt-hours
DJI Avata – 35.71 Watt-hours
DJI FPV – 44.4 Watt-hours
DJI Spark – 43.6 Watt-hours
DJI Mavic Air – 43.6 Watt-hours
DJI Mavic Pro – 43.6 Watt-hours
DJI Mavic Pro 2/Mavic Zoom – 43.6 Watt-hours
DJI Phantom 3 – 68 Watt-hours
DJI Phantom 4 – 81.3 Watt-hours
DJI Inspire 1 – 129.96 Watt-hours
DJI Inspire 2 – 97.58 Watt-hours
Autel EVO Nano– 17.32 Watt-hours
Autel EVO II– 82 Watt-hours
Yuneec Typhoon H – 79.9 Watt-hours
Major Airlines’ Drone Policies Across the Globe
Here we have put together a comprehensive list of some of the major airlines and their rules and regulations when it comes to carrying batteries on board.
Note that with regards to the sizes mentioned, small is a battery with less than 100 Watt-hours, the medium is a battery with between 100 – 160 Watt-hours, and large is anything over 160 Watt-hours.
Take a drone on a plane: Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines Drone Policy: According to Alaska Air’s website, your drone can be placed on hold as long as the batteries are taken out and are carried with you in your hand luggage. All drone batteries must be less than 100 Watt-hours and they recommend that you carry them in a case or bag that fits under the seat in front of you. All connection points need to be covered with non-conductive tape and they recommend that the batteries are not fully charged for travel.
Take a drone on a plane: American Airlines
American Airlines Drone Policy: American Airlines only permits small and medium batteries on their flights. In your carry on you’re permitted to have 2 medium-sized batteries and there’s no limit on small batteries. You can put your drone in your checked luggage, but the battery must be taken out and placed in your carry-on luggage.
Take a drone on a plane: British Airways
British Airways Drone Policy: British Airways are a little more strict with carrying batteries on their planes. You’re only permitted 4 small batteries and 2 medium (for which, extra paperwork is required). Large batteries are not permitted. You can put your drone in the hold with the battery attached to it as long the drone has either a small or medium-sized battery.
Take a drone on a plane: Cathay Pacific Drone Policy
Cathay Pacific Drone Policy: You may carry less than 20 small batteries and 2 medium batteries in your carry-on luggage on all Cathay Pacific flights. You may also check small and medium batteries into the hold as long as they’re attached to your device. Spare batteries must stay with you in the cabin. Large batteries are prohibited.
Take a drone on a plane: Delta Airlines
Delta Airlines Drone Policy: Delta has a similar policy to American Airlines and United. No more than 2 medium batteries are permitted and large batteries are prohibited. They can be attached or unattached. You can check your drone into the hold with its battery attached too.
Take a drone on a plane: EasyJet
EasyJet Drone Policy: All spare batteries on EasyJet flights must be carried in your hand luggage and be protected from short-circuiting. Spare medium-sized batteries are limited to 2 per passenger and items can only be checked into the hold if they have a small or medium-sized battery that is attached to the device.
Take a drone on a plane: Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines Drone Policy: Hawaiian Airlines allows you to carry 2 spare batteries for your drone and you must either ensure they’re in their original packaging or, tape the ends to prevent them from short-circuiting. They also state that the batteries should be kept well away from metal items including coins and jewelry.
Take a drone on a plane: Iceland Air Drone
Iceland Air Drone Policy: Iceland Air state that all batteries for drones and other electronic devices must be placed in your hand luggage. If your hand luggage needs to be checked into the hold, then you must inform a staff member about the batteries so they can act accordingly. They don’t state any rules regarding the size and quantity of the batteries.
Take a drone on a plane: Qantas Airlines
Qantas Drone Policy: There is no limit to the number of small batteries permitted on Qantas flights, but we recommend carrying less than 20. The same applies to medium-sized batteries and they can be checked in the hold as long as they’re attached to your drone. Separate batteries must be carried in your hand luggage. Large batteries are prohibited.
Take a drone on a plane: Southwest Airlines
Southwest Drone Policy: Southwest’s battery limits changed at the beginning of 2018 but they’re similar to other airlines. You can travel with up to 20 small-sized batteries and 2 medium-sized ones. Large batteries are prohibited both in the hold and in carry-on luggage.
Take a drone on a plane: Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Drone Policy: No more than 20 small batteries and 2 medium-sized batteries can be taken on as hand luggage on Singapore Airlines flights. Drones with small or medium batteries can also be checked into the hold as long as the battery remains attached.
Take a drone on a plane: Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines Drone Policy: All drone batteries need to be taken on as part of your hand luggage on Spirit Airlines. They state that the batteries must not exceed 100 Watt-hours (whether they’re attached or not) and though they don’t have a set number of batteries allowed onboard, they state that you should only be carrying a “reasonable number” of spares.
Take a drone on a plane: United Airlines
United Airlines Drone Policy: Only small and medium-sized batteries are allowed on United Airlines flights; large batteries are prohibited. Medium-sized batteries are limited to 2, and there is no maximum on small batteries, though we recommend carrying less than 20. Batteries must remain attached to the drone. United Airlines allows you to carry your drone in the hold as long as the battery is attached. Detached batteries can’t be checked in.
Essential Accessories for Travelling With a Drone
There are a number of different drone accessories to help you transport them more easily. You may just want to use the drone bags that your drone came with, however, they don’t provide the greatest protection and it’s always a good idea to invest in a quality drone backpack.
Hard-shelled cases are also a great way to protect all your gear from the general bumps and scratches your drone may encounter in transit. Having individual sections with their own padding helps to protect each component of the drone, especially the batteries.
How to pack a drone battery before taking it on a plane?
Most drone batteries are lithium-ion or lithium-polymer, which are considered dangerous materials and have restrictions on how many and how large you can carry on board. Here are some tips you can follow before packing your drone batteries before flying:
- Make sure your battery capacity does not exceed 100 Wh (watt-hours) per battery. You can find the capacity on the battery label or calculate it by multiplying the voltage (V) by the ampere-hours (Ah).
- Pack the batteries in your carry-on luggage. You are not allowed to place drone batteries in your checked baggage, as they pose a fire risk. You should only put them in your carry-on luggage, preferably in their original packaging or in a fireproof bag, normally a customized drone backpack would do the trick.
- The battery must be removed from the drone and stored separately in your protective case or bag.
- You should also protect the terminals from short-circuiting by covering them with tape or placing them in individual plastic bags.
Customs Implications When Flying with a Drone
I have traveled to many countries over the last year with my drone and have had no issues. However, it’s still recommended that you check the laws regarding drones and importing electronics before traveling internationally. For example, when traveling to Argentina, they are very strict on how many electronics you have with you and a large number of electronics could arouse suspicion.
There have also been a few horror stories about people traveling with their drones.
When traveling to Bali in 2016, filmmaker Chafic Saad was ordered to pay $2,000 by Balinese customs as a deposit because they believed he was importing his drone with the intention to sell. Such an incident can be a one-off, as I know many people who have traveled to Bali with drones before. Nevertheless, it’s always better to be prepared for questions from customs.
In some places, it’s completely illegal to fly drones, so we do not recommend bringing a drone to the following countries:
Algeria Barbados Brunei Ivory Coast
Cuba Iran Iraq Kenya
Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Madagascar Morocco
Nicaragua Saudi Arabia Senegal Syria
Uzbekistan
If you happen to bring a drone to any of the above-listed countries, it may be confiscated.
It’s likely that they will have some kind of system in place, however, to retrieve it when you’re boarding your return flight. However, there may be fees associated with storage, and taxes, and you may even be charged hefty import fees, despite not technically taking it with you. People have been known to pay hundreds of dollars in import taxes in countries like Nicaragua despite having their drones confiscated for the entire trip.
Rules and regulations change often, and it’s worth doing a quick Google search before traveling to see if any countries have lifted or even introduced new restrictions regarding drones.
Don’t Forget to Check the Local Drone Laws Once You Arrive
Drone Laws vary by country and state and it’s a good idea to verse yourself in them before traveling.
For example, in the UK, from November the CAA will require all drones over 200g to be registered with them, even if you’re flying recreationally. You will also need to complete a quick test and pay a fee to ensure you know how to fly responsibly.
The FAA in the United States govern the laws of flying drones, you can find their most up-to-date information here.
In Canada, drones are governed by Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) and you can check out their current rules and regulations regarding drones here.
We hope we covered everything you may need to know about traveling on a plane with your drone; whether it’s for an international or a domestic flight. Do you have any questions about taking your drone on a plane? Be sure to ask us in the comments below, the team here has traveled across the world with a wide variety of drones and would love to help you out with anything we can!