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If you own a MacBook Pro, you may not be able to bring it on your next trip.
Last week, the FAA banned MacBook Pros sold between September 2015 and February 2017, following a recall of the laptops by Apple in June.
The laptops’ lithium batteries are the cause for concern. According to the recall, “in a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units, the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk.”
Overheating lithium batteries were also the cause for the well-known ban on Samsung Galaxy Note 7 cellphones in 2016, after over 100 incidents of the phones overheating. While the ban on these phones is still in place by the airlines, Samsung recalled more than 96% of the phones, so airlines are no longer required to make announcements about them on every flight.
It has yet to be seen how the TSA will handle the new ban on MacBook Pros. As with most Apple products, MacBooks are overwhelmingly popular, and not all of the laptops contain problem batteries–just those sold between September 2015 and 2017. So, a problem MacBook and a safe MacBook will look identical. This will make enforcement tricky.
To determine for yourself if your MacBook is included in the recall, enter your product’s serial number on Apple’s site. If your laptop is one of those affected, you can get the battery replaced for free.
It’s worth looking into if you’re unsure. Not only will you save yourself from an overheating laptop, but your fellow passengers will thank you.
I had such a laptop [I have!] – contacted Apple, it replaced the battery [actually the whole top/lid because that’s apparently where it was and it’s easier = with no cost to me. I assume, but haven’t yet tested it, that my proof of repair should work.