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Flying with a "fire-prone" Macbook Pro? No problem!

5.9.2019

Translation: machine translated

Apple recently announced that the battery in a batch of 2015 Macbook Pros could overheat. Flight safety authorities have issued warnings in response. But - what actually happens when you board a Swiss flight with your Macbook Pro?

On 20 June 2019, Apple announced that the battery of Macbook Pros from the 2015 series, which were sold between 2015 and 2017, could become hot and pose a fire hazard. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), over 400,000 devices are affected in the USA. So far, 26 devices are said to have overheated. In five cases, people have been slightly injured and another person has inhaled smoke.

The most spectacular battery fire was filmed by US musician White Panda and published on Twitter at the end of May. (Pro tip if this happens to you: Maybe take the device off the wooden table before you start filming!)

Free battery replacement for affected devices

Apple will replace the battery of affected devices free of charge. According to Apple's instructions, you can find out whether the Macbook Pro is affected via the system menu. The serial number is also written on the back of the device, but in 1 mm font. In practice, the device must be started in order to obtain the serial number. Enter it in the link above to find out whether your device is affected.

After Apple warned its customers, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published a warning on 1 August, a good six weeks later. The American aviation safety authority FAA followed suit in mid-August.

The Americans immediately issued a ban on affected devices. The Europeans are somewhat less strict: EASA recommends that affected Macbook Pros may be taken on board, but may not be used or charged during the flight. EASA also refers to general guidelines that were drawn up after Samsung's Note 7 debacle. The airline Swiss shows a short version of the EASA warning on its website.

In practice... nothing

I wondered how Swiss handles this and asked the airline. "Our passengers must confirm during the check-in process that they are aware of the prohibited items and - in accordance with the regulations - are not carrying them in their hand baggage or checked baggage," says media spokesman Stefan Vasic on request. However, specific checks for the Macbook Pro will not be carried out.

I want to know from Vasic what happens if a passenger starts up their Macbook Pro on the flight and works with it. Does someone come by and ask if it's an affected model? "If a prohibited device is used on board during the flight, our cabin crew would take it for monitoring and keep it until the end of the flight," says Vasic. The staff had been specifically trained for the Note 7, but none had turned up for some time. "There are no restrictions on Macbooks due to the low risk assessment," says Vasic. Even if you open an affected notebook on a Swiss aircraft - nothing will happen.

Watch out on US flights and with certain airlines

You should be careful, however, if you are returning from the USA to Switzerland. As the FAA is stricter, they may take a closer look. If your notebook is affected, you should have the battery replaced by Apple before travelling and take the relevant receipts with you. Even if your Macbook Pro is not affected, I would print out a screenshot from Apple's support page to prove that everything is OK with your notebook. Better safe than sorry.

Some airlines have issued individual bans. Qantas bans the use of all 15"-Macs, Air Italy bans all 15"-Macbooks. Here, too, you are only on the safe side with documents. No airline is likely to actively search for Mac notebooks - enquiries to Air Italy and Qantas have so far gone unanswered. <p

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Aurel Stevens

Chief Editor

aurel.stevens@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm the master tamer at the flea circus that is the editorial team, a nine-to-five writer and 24/7 dad. Technology, computers and hi-fi make me tick. On top of that, I’m a rain-or-shine cyclist and generally in a good mood.

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