Always looking to make life easier for the traveling public, the Department of Transportation will limit your ability to take spare batteries with you when you fly starting Jan. 1. The new rules prohibit packing loose lithium batteries in checked baggage. Batteries already inserted in a gadget are OK, as are plastic-bagged batteries in carry-on baggage -- limit two per flier.
Feds say batteries pose a fire hazard that can't be handled by existing fire-protection systems in baggage holds.
