According to Save Travel effective January 1st, 2008 there are new rules for carrying spare batteries with you, when you're on a US flight. I'm not kidding. The folks who genuinely came up with the idea that liquids need to be wrapped into containers (official language: "All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.") now come up with just another rule that makes me think "what the f...":

- Spare batteries are the batteries you carry separately from the devices they power. When batteries are installed in a device, they are not considered spare batteries.

- You may not pack a spare lithium battery in your checked baggage

- You may bring spare lithium batteries with you in carry-on baggage – see our spare battery tips and how-to sections to find out how to pack spare batteries safely!

- Even though we recommend carrying your devices with you in carry-on baggage as well, if you must bring one in checked baggage, you may check it with the batteries installed.

Please note that the rule states it is no longer allowed to carry the batteries that classify for being potential terror threads in your checked baggage. This means you have to take them into your carry-on baggage. This part is, what makes me wonder: How do the US officials proceed once I'm on my way to the Gate and they identify an AAA spare battery for my electrical shaver in my checked baggage? Do they not ship my baggage to where I'm going?

I guess I'll find out soon... Finally I'd like to dedicate this post to one of my colleagues who has been extremely successful in the past when it came to "investigating" how airport security handles exceptions to behavioral rules... :-).