Alaska Airlines is a truly wonderful airline. They are consistently renowned for their customer service and excellent rewards program. But, can you take a drone on an Alaska Airlines flight? What is the Alaska Airlines Drone Policy?
We’ve got you covered. In this article we examine the Alaska Airlines Drone policy and explain how to travel with a drone on an Alaska flight.
Be sure to check out all of our Airline Drone Policies here and of course, the TSA Policy on Drones here.Â
Alaska Airlines Drone Policy
Unlike many airlines who fail to make any mention of drone at all (thus leaving travelers having to piece together a policy by examining battery policies and other baggage policies) Alaska does speak to drones – a bit anyway.
In fact, as we will find, Alaska has really just bungled their drone policy and made matters far more confusing to travelers than it needs to be.
Checking a Drone – Alaska Airlines
Specifically, Alaska notes that a drone can be included in your checked baggage as long as you remove the batteries and carry them on. Because drone batteries are Lithium Polymer batteries they fall under the airline’s battery policies (this is the case with most airlines, by the way).
Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries have to be carried on to an Alaska Airlines flight and this includes batteries for your drone.
They further note:
“All batteries must be under 100 Watt hours, and the terminals covered/insulated to prevent short-circuiting. Original retail packaging is sufficient, or if not in the original packaging, the terminals must be covered with non-conductive tape. We also recommend not traveling with fully charged batteries.”
Most drone batteries will be under 100 Watt Hours (wh) but you can always check the manufacturer’s specifications or simply look at the labeling on the battery.
Note, at the end of the next section we examine some of the confusion that Alaska Airlines drone policy introduces. Keep reading.
If you are interested in buying a travel drone please check out our detailed analysis of the very best drones for travel.Â
Alaska Airlines Drone Carry on Policy
Alaska Airlines allows drones to be carried on to their flights as long as passengers comply with other carry on limitations (e.g. Alaska’s carry on size limitations)
In fact, Alaska Airlines actually recommends that travelers carry their drones on to the plane instead of checking them:
“Due to the number of batteries most drones travel with, we recommend carrying everything in a backpack or similar case that will fit under the seat in front of you.”
We agree with Alaska’s recommendation but for different reasons. Sure, keeping everything together is nice, but frankly I’ve seen dinged up suitcases come out of baggage claim. The last thing I want to have is my 900.00 drone get broken or stolen so we recommend always bringing a drone on as carry on.
You can easily find a drone backpack that will fit your drone gear and simply carry it on. By carrying your drone on you will get peace of mind as it sits above you in the overhead bin or beneath the seat back in front of you.
Example Drone Backpack on Amazon
Confusion about Alaska’s Battery Policy and Drone Policy
Like many airlines who are trying to get their drone policies sorted Alaska makes a good effort, but ultimately bungles it a bit giving travelers cause for confusion. I will try to highlight some conflicting information about the Alaska Airlines drone & LiPo battery policies:
- Alaska notes that drones are allowed
- They note that batteries must be carried on
- They also note that drone batteries must be less than 100 watt hours
- They don’t identify a limit on the # of <100wh batteries you can bring with your drone
- Their general LiPo battery policy breaks LiPo batteries into two sizes: small and large
- Large LiPo batteries can exceed 100wh but be no larger than 160wh (this is common with airlines). Two spares are allowed to be carried on.
- Smal LiPo batteries are <100wh AND are allowed to be “installed in equipment”
- This is the first part of confusion. Alaska says drones are cool as long as they are 100wh or less and you carry the batteries on. But that conflicts with their normal small LiPo drone policy which says that batteries CAN be left in equipment. Huh!?!? Which is it and why the confusion
- It’s also odd that Alaska restricts it’s drone batteries to 100wh while allowing other larger LiPo batteries to be as large as 160wh. Many other airlines allow drones to be no larger than 160wh with no issues. So, why the smaller restriction!??!
All of that is to say that we recommend that travelers do this when traveling with their drones on Alaska:
- Always carry your drones on in a drone backpack
- Have <100wh batteries
- Leave them uninstalled and in original packaging
Thanks for stopping in
Ok, thanks for stopping in for another airline drone policy. Sure, Alaska makes an effort here, but ultimately they bungle it a bit. It’s not horrible, but it’s not clean. Let’s hope the Alaska Airlines Drone policy gets cleaned up a bit in the future. For now, though, happy traveling and droning.
Please check out these great articles including more travel drone related content, travel tips and more.
- Best Travel Drone – comparison & analysis of the top drones for travelers
- What’s the TSA Drone Policy?
- American Airlines Drone Policy – can I take my drone on an American Airlines flight?
- Delta Drone Policy – there is no policy!
- 3 Awesome Drones for Travel
- Top 5 Drones on Amazon.com
- 147 Travel Tips – the ultimate list of road warrior tips & tricks
- 7 Tips for Traveling with a drone – the experts weigh in
- Spirit Airlines Drone Policy – what is Spirit’s Policy on Traveling with a Drone?
- United Airlines drone policy – what you need to know about bringing a drone on United
- Lufthansa Drone Policy – Sorry there isn’t one!
- Southwest Airlines Drone Policy – does Southwest Airlines Luv your drone?
- Best Hotel Mattresses – the 11 Best Hotel Beds you wish you owned
- Traveling for Work – the dark side
I have read your article carefully and I agree with you very much. This has provided a great help for my thesis writing, and I will seriously improve it. However, I don’t know much about a certain place. Can you help me?
Reading your article helped me a lot and I agree with you. But I still have some doubts, can you clarify for me? I’ll keep an eye out for your answers.
Reading your article helped me a lot and I agree with you. But I still have some doubts, can you clarify for me? I’ll keep an eye out for your answers.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
I am sorting out relevant information about gate io recently, and I saw your article, and your creative ideas are of great help to me. However, I have doubts about some creative issues, can you answer them for me? I will continue to pay attention to your reply. Thanks.
I am an investor of gate io, I have consulted a lot of information, I hope to upgrade my investment strategy with a new model. Your article creation ideas have given me a lot of inspiration, but I still have some doubts. I wonder if you can help me? Thanks.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Your article gave me a lot of inspiration, I hope you can explain your point of view in more detail, because I have some doubts, thank you.
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my weblog so i came to ?eturn the favor?’m trying to find things to improve my web site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
I’m uncertain about the source of your information, but this is a great topic. I need to invest some time in further research and understanding. Thanks for providing such valuable information; I’ve been searching for this data to aid in my mission. By the way I am a Senior Researcher @ (Clickmen™)
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You are amazing! Thanks!
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you. https://accounts.binance.com/uk-UA/register?ref=53551167
I do agree with all the ideas you have introduced on your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are very short for newbies. May just you please prolong them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog. A great read. I’ll certainly be back.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike.
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You are amazing! Thanks!
Your content always keeps me coming back for more!
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks! https://www.binance.info/ru-UA/join?ref=DB40ITMB
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me. https://www.binance.info/tr/join?ref=YY80CKRN
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog. A fantastic read. I’ll certainly be back.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic blog. An excellent read. I will certainly be back.
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
Usually I do not read article on blogs however I would like to say that this writeup very compelled me to take a look at and do it Your writing style has been amazed me Thank you very nice article
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
“Excellent!”
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
Temp Mail I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles
Vitazen Keto This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read everthing at one place
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Real Estate I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
Real Estate Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.
Techno rozen very informative articles or reviews at this time.
Real Estate I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this place.
Real Estate This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read everthing at one place
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
allegheny county real estate I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this place.
comprar reseñas amazon
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
Thank you very much for sharing, I learned a lot from your article. Very cool. Thanks.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article. https://accounts.binance.com/ru/register-person?ref=V3MG69RO
Sky Scarlet I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
Blue Techker Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites
Thinker Pedia This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read everthing at one place
Tech Learner Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.
Strands Hint I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Blue Techker I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Blue Techker I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Hey there, You have done a fantastic job. I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I’m confident they’ll be benefited from this site.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.