Traveling with a smart suitcase? Beware — airlines might not let you take it on board.

With Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Chinese New Year just around the corner, have those of you planning to travel abroad packed your luggage yet? Recently, American Airlines stated that “smart suitcases are becoming increasingly popular and are also a top gift choice. However, the lithium batteries used in these suitcases pose risks when placed in the cargo hold,” and that in the future, such smart suitcases will face stricter control by airlines.

According to a report by CommonWealth Magazine, smart suitcases come with built-in USB ports for convenient charging, GPS features to help locate lost luggage, electronic locks for anti-theft protection, and weight scales to prevent overweight fees. Some can even follow travelers automatically. These convenient features have made users very fond of them. But the built-in lithium batteries have raised concerns among airlines about potential cargo hold fires and flight safety risks.

American Airlines was the first to announce a new policy: passengers must remove the lithium battery if they want to check in a smart suitcase. If carrying it in the cabin, the battery does not need to be removed but must be turned off. Subsequently, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines also announced similar policies, stating that even carry-on luggage requires battery removal. These measures are set to take effect on January 15, with United Continental Holdings and Southwest Airlines following suit.

However, smart suitcases are selling well globally, and many models do not allow for battery removal. Laura Brown, a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said, “The actions of the airlines are in line with our guidelines, which state ‘do not place lithium batteries in the cargo hold.’” The concerns over smart suitcases mean consumers will need to think twice before purchasing one.