Can Away Luggage Be Checked? | Battery Rules Guide

Away Suitcase Check-In: The Rule In Plain Words

If your Away case is a checked size, you can hand it over as is. If it’s a Carry-On with a built-in power bank, pop the battery out and bring that small pack into the cabin. That line comes from safety rules that airlines enforce on all smart bags. You’ll see it on the TSA power bank page and the FAA PackSafe smart-bag page.

Which Away Models Are Meant For Check-In?

Away sells carry-on sizes and checked sizes. The checked lineup—The Medium, The Medium Flex, The Large, The Large Flex, and The Trunk—ships without a charging battery. These are built for the hold and breeze through bag drop. Older Away Carry-Ons that came with a removable 37Wh battery can still travel; just remove that module before you check the shell.

Taking An Away Carry-On In Checked Luggage — Rules

Plenty of travelers hand over a compact Away carry-on when bins fill or a connection is tight. That works, with one small step. Pop the battery, pack it in your personal item, and then check the empty shell. The case rides the belt; the battery rides with you.

Step-By-Step Before The Counter

1) Eject The Battery

Flip the latch under the handle, lift the panel, and eject the power bank. Away’s own guide shows the location and motion. If your bag doesn’t have a battery slot, you’re done.

2) Pack The Battery In Your Cabin Bag

Drop it in a small pouch so the terminals can’t touch coins or keys. Keep it with your phone cables. Power banks count as spare lithium batteries, so they don’t ride in the hold.

3) Gate-Check Situations

If an agent tags your carry-on at the gate, pop the battery there and tuck it into your backpack. Crew may ask you to show the removed unit, then send the empty shell down the jet bridge.

What About AirTags And Trackers?

Tile, AirTag, and similar trackers use tiny coin cells. Airlines generally allow them in checked baggage. The FAA smart-bag page mentions location trackers and points people to airline rules for details. If you use a tracker, keep it within the small battery limits listed by your carrier.

Protect Your Bag When You Check It

Hard shells take knocks. A few small habits keep your case rolling longer and keep clothes dry on rainy tarmac days.

Pad And Seal

Line the frame with a soft layer—sweatshirt, packing cube, or the laundry bag that ships with the case. Close all interior zips so loose bits don’t snag a belt. If weather looks rough, add a light rain cover or a clear wrap at the kiosk.

Protect The Wheels

Tall drops bend axles. Fill the corners so the shell doesn’t collapse, and avoid overstuffing the lid. If you have spare foam blocks from a delivery, slide them around the wheel wells.

Mind The Weight

Most airlines cap standard checked bags at 50 lb (23 kg). Overweight fees sting. Use a small scale at home and shift dense items to your cabin bag if you’re near the line.

Airline Smart-Bag Language You’ll See

Airlines post nearly the same rule: removable battery out, bag shell fine to check. Here’s a quick read on the wording you’ll bump into when checking an Away carry-on.

Typical Wording

“Customers checking a smart bag with a removable lithium-ion battery must remove it and take it into the cabin.” That’s how one major U.S. carrier phrases it. If your bag moves from cabin to hold at the gate, staff will ask you to remove the battery there as well. You’ll see similar lines across other airlines.

Want the brand’s own note? Away explains that older Carry-Ons with a 37Wh battery can fly, and the battery must be removed and carried in the cabin when the shell is checked. Their page lays out the latch and the steps clearly.

Quick Packing Flow For Checking An Away Case

1. Open the case and stage the battery tools near the handle.
2. Remove the battery if present; place it in a small pouch.
3. Power off any devices that stay in the shell.
4. Distribute weight low and centered; lock fragile pieces between soft layers.
5. Close, lock, and attach a tag inside and outside the case.
6. At bag drop or the gate, confirm the battery is with you.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Leaving The Battery In The Case

That’s the one thing that stops a check-in. If staff see the battery window, they’ll ask to watch you eject it before the bag goes on the belt.

Forgetting The Pouch

Loose batteries shouldn’t touch metal. A zip pouch or the battery’s sleeve keeps terminals covered and easy to find at security.

Packing All Valuables In The Hold

Shift small cameras, memory cards, watches, and meds to your personal item. The case gets tossed and stacked; your tote stays under your eye.

Ignoring Airline-Specific Twists

Some carriers want the battery removed even if you plan to carry the bag on board. Others ask you to pull it at the jet bridge if bins fill up. Read the line on your airline’s site when you fly a new route.

When A Carry-On Turns Into A Checked Bag

Sometimes you plan to wheel your Away carry-on on board and plans change. Maybe the last leg runs on a small jet, or bins fill up during boarding. You can still hand it over. Before you pass the tag point, open the battery door and take the pack out. Slip it into your backpack and zip the door so nothing rattles. Hand the shell to the agent and keep the battery with you for pickup at the gate.

At The Check-In Counter

Checking at the desk is often calmer than gate tagging. Use the counter space to eject the battery, place it in a pouch, and show the empty slot to staff if they ask.

At The Gate

When agents start tagging bags, move a step aside, remove the pack, and stow it. If you travel with a partner, pass them the case for a minute so you can focus on the latch. Keep boarding passes and ID in a front pocket so you’re not juggling everything at once.

International Trips And Regional Lines

Outside the U.S., airlines follow the same basic safety logic. The bag shell can go in the hold, while any loose lithium battery stays with you. Carry-ons with fixed batteries cause snags at many airports, so a case with a removable pack is the safe bet. If you’re crossing regions, scan your airline’s page the night before and you’ll see wording that matches the U.S. rule.

What If The Battery Is Missing Or Stuck?

Old cases sometimes lose a screw or pick up grit in the latch. If the pack won’t release, don’t check the case. Carry it on, or swap bags if you can. If the battery is lost, the shell can still be checked; the rule targets loose lithium packs inside the hold, not empty compartments. After the trip, a small clean and a fresh screw set brings the latch back to form.

Care For The Battery When You Land

Re-attach the pack after you clear the secure zone. Click the panel shut and press the test light to confirm charge. Away’s 37Wh pack sits well under the common 100Wh limit for spare lithium-ion batteries, so it flies on nearly all routes. If you use another brand’s bank, check its Wh rating on the label.

Light Packing Ideas For Checked Away Cases

Build a base layer with shoes in dust bags at the hinge side. Stack soft clothes next, then slide a packing cube across the void to lock the stack. Place a small toiletries kit in the middle, inside a freezer bag, to contain leaks. Use the mesh panel for socks and workout gear.

Label Inside And Out

Slip a card with your name, email, and phone under the mesh. Add a tag on the handle. If the outer tag snaps, the card helps baggage staff reach you.