New rules have come into effect restricting the batteries you can take on a plane travelling to or within the USA. Compact cameras appear to be unaffected but SLR users will have to comply with the new restrictions:

“New US DOT Hazmat Safety Rule to Place Lithium Battery Limits in Carry-on Baggage on Passenger Aircraft Effective January 1, 2008
Passengers will no longer be able to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage beginning January 1, 2008 once new federal safety rules take effect. The new regulation, designed to reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, will continue to allow lithium batteries in checked baggage if they are installed in electronic devices, or in carry-on baggage if stored in plastic bags.
Common consumer electronics such as travel cameras, cell phones, and most laptop computers are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. However, the rule limits individuals to bringing only two extended-life spare rechargeable lithium batteries*, such as laptop and professional audio/video/camera equipment lithium batteries in carry-on baggage.
"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," said Krista Edwards, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Lithium batteries are considered hazardous materials because they can overheat and ignite in certain conditions. Safety testing conducted by the FAA found that current aircraft cargo fire suppression system would not be capable of suppressing a fire if a shipment of non-rechargeable lithium batteries were ignited in flight.
"This rule protects the passenger," said Lynne Osmus, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assistant administrator for security and hazardous materials. "It's one more step for safety. It's the right thing to do and the right time to do it."

*Blinks 3 or 4 times*
*Raises hand*

How many times have rechargeable lithium batteries been responsible for an in-flight fire? How often are they responsible for non-airborne fires when not in active use?

"Safety testing conducted by the FAA found that current aircraft cargo fire suppression system would not be capable of suppressing a fire if a shipment of non-rechargeable lithium batteries were ignited in flight". Why weren't the rules created to ban shipments rather than individuals? Hey, maybe I'd just feel better if it was something like 6 batteries in the bag - since there are any number of devices that take 4 batteries, 2 leaves ya 1/2 empty on your refill.

"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," Isn't it kinda hard to keep a spare rechargeable in it's original packaging? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of recharging?

Hi I'd like to take a picture of that beach. Where can I plug my camera in?

it must be those special flame retardent plastic bags they dole out to you at check in ;-)

original retail packaging can include the plastic cap or tray that comes with the battery. while yes, I too thought "a shipment" was a bit of an extreme scenario, it was probably done intentionally, no?

someone in a suit, and someone in a lab coat had a conversation. It went something like "ok, worst case scenario, what kind of hazard would these things represent?" "well, if a whole S***load of them, were to ignite..." "ok, perfect"

Yeah, they're getting carried away. Sort of. Heck, leave a 9 volt battery in contact with a key for a while... damn thing gets searingly hot. now, in a freakish set of circumstances, let's say said hot battery comes in contact with a flammable substance, like the polyester threads found on the outside of lots of pieces of luggage....or pajamas. crazy? outlandish? most likely, yes.

here's the thing though. weren't a good number of crashes blamed on freakish, one-in-a-million occurances? does it really hurt to try to prevent them? As someone who flies, I'd say not.

I’ve pretty much gone past worrying about the ever increasing restrictions on air travellers that get introduced and then relaxed – it’s all part of the game in a better safe than sorry way. Some make sense – some not so much (why is 100ml of liquid explosives not a threat but 120ml is etc etc) I guess two slr battery packs are enough and it doesn’t say you can’t pack your charger in your checked in baggage – just something for folks to be aware of if they hadn’t heard about this.

Many thanks for this info Phil. I need to pass this along to our son-in-law who will be traveling to China again (with camera =).

I shall leave my opinion on this matter at the door ;=)

but the USA does allow running with scissors now .. and, quite frankly, I find you leaving that out as a thinly veiled plot to undermine our great nation

we will be introducing cryogenic flight soon .. and your batteries can either be frozen with you, or placed in a baggie next to your cryo-tube (at additional expense)

claims that the flash-freeze method shortened your battery life, and\or, by extension your own life, will not be heard by the courts

tough it out

Welcome to the Corporate Police States of America. where your are FREE.... to do what they tell you.

Great.. i'm already terrified of flying now I have to paranoid about batteries on the plane too.. think i'll start swimming.. lol

but .. in other news .. they allow Kangaroo Leather now ... and now we can buy the same shoes that David Beckham wears

yes, BeckhamHeim Steamroller .. wait, what was the name you guys had for him?

Golden Balls?

Old, and in the way

Hey You! Trading fodder!

Beckham? .. I don't see that name on the roster, have you checked your mail?

Since Cat asked, from the Associated Press, 4 Dec 07:

Evidence indicates laptop batteries caused a spectacular cargo plane fire at Philadelphia International Airport last year, federal safety investigators said Tuesday, but they said it's not certain. ...

The three crew members on the UPS cargo plane jumped to safety on the tarmac and were treated for minor injuries after the aircraft made an emergency landing around midnight on Feb. 7, 2006. The airplane and most of the cargo were destroyed by the fire, which started as the plane approached Philadelphia.

The blaze was one of several in recent years in which lithium batteries caught fire on aircraft. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, sometimes called "secondary" lithium batteries, and nonrechargeable, or "primary" lithium batteries, can present fire hazards because of the heat they generate when they are damaged or suffer a short circuit.

Twelve fires involving batteries were reported to the Federal Aviation Administration before the Philadelphia fire, and 15 others have been reported since then, NTSB investigator Crystal Thomas told the board. But the NTSB said too many incidents are exempt from reporting requirements and better data is needed. ...

In the past two years, defective laptop batteries have been fingered as potential fire hazards. Thomas noted that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled millions of laptop batteries because they could catch fire.

In the Philadelphia case, investigators said destruction from the blaze made it difficult to determine a definitive cause, but other hazardous materials were ruled out. The NTSB also noted that the blaze appeared to have started in containers that contained laptop batteries.

Edit: Video of a laptop burning at Los Angeles International. The Mods will particularly enjoy seeing, right after an official warning to stay away from the smoking 'puter, a guy going right up and... hey, flames is pretty. Gotta love flames. (Turn sound down if at work or near a parrot.)

Thx for the info Leslie, it appears to be a larger problem than I would have thought.

I initially took it to be another one of those 5 Ounces of Shampoo Could Bring Down A Plane "precautions," but apparently not.

This likens to the "no cell phone use" signs by the gas pump
If your battery catches fire, normally due to INTERNAL problems from MANUFACTURE, not people's misuse or ill-thought out storage, there's not a lot you could do in the first place to prevent it or predict it either. The FAA/TSA website quotes ONE instance on their website which has led to this new pain in all your rears. So much for not giving into the terrorists by changing your life. Sorry for the soapbox everyone, this kind of regulation irks me to death. Probly cus the good ole' US Navy likes to do the same sort of Knee-jerks!