Two major players determine if you can fly with your Onewheel XR. It’s the TSA/ FAA with the rules governing what is allowed when flying and then it’s the rule of the individual airlines such as Southwest, Delta, and United. In short, the answer is
No, you cannot fly with the Onehweel XR. The battery of the XR is 324 Wh, far more than the limit set by the FAA of <160 Wh. The only way is to disassemble the board ship the battery separately to the location and carry the rest as checked-in luggage.
The Onehweel XR with its 324 Wh batter falls under the devices with large lithium-ion batteries (>160 watt-hours). It doesn’t help that the battery of the Onehweel XRis that it’s an NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide). NMC is a Lithium-ion class battery and its full name is Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2). What’s governed by the regulations is the amount of active Lithium inside the battery, and the Onewheel XR is above that for carry-on and checked-in baggage.
With airline approval, devices can contain larger lithium-ion batteries (101-160 watt-hours per battery), but spares of this size are limited to two batteries in carry-on baggage only. This size covers the largest aftermarket extended-life laptop batteries and most lithium-ion batteries for professional-grade audio/visual equipment.
FAA.gov
Common questions and answers
- What type of battery does it have?
Its NMC battery - Does it list the watt-hours?
The watt-hours are 324 wh and visible on the label on the underside of the board
Documentation
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), large lithium-ion batteries between 101-160 watt-hours are permitted “with airline approval.” (www.faa.gov)
According to the US Department of Transportation, “Lithium-Ion Battery, installed in a device (more than 100 but less than 160 watt-hours). Operator approval required” is permitted: (www.phmsa.dot.gov)
Can I take my Onewheel Pint on a plane?
You cannot take the Onehweel XR onto a plane as carry-on baggage. This is because the lithium batteries inside and governed by the TSA and follow the FAA guidelines regarding flying. The Onewheel XR is regulated as a large battery and therefore prohibited from being carried onto the plane.
Can you check in an Onewheel XR?
No, You definitely can’t travel with an Onewheel Pint as checked-in baggage, the high-power lithium batteries are considered a dangerous item and can only be carried onboard. Not even wheelchairs or other personal mobility devices above 300wh are allowed to be checked in or carried as carry-on baggage.
(B) The battery must be carried in carry-on baggage only;
FAA
(D) The battery must not exceed 300 Watt-hour (Wh)
Disassemble the board before shipping
The only way is to disassemble the Onehweel XR and ship the controller separately with all the right labels. Many riders have done this with success, but it’s an increased cost and hassle to separately ship the battery. The motor, rails, and controller are then checked in when flying. This idea also fixed the problem that many airlines have specifically called out “self-balancing boards” on their Restricted Items list.
Make sure to fully deflate the wheel before shipping and drain the battery to below 30% SoC (State of Charge)
Disassembling the board is something commonly done in the electric skateboard community when riders are traveling with their boards on planes.
Rent a board instead of flying
If you are not feeling comfortable disassembling, shipping, and flying with your board another option is to rent a board. Today there are multiple options out there and if you want to see a list of providers check out Onewheel rentals in the USA. Most major cities have got a rental shop and more are popping up both in the US and around the world.
2020 IATA Lithium Battery Guidance: Transport of Lithium Metal and Lithium Ion Batteries (PDF)
