Date: 202106
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Other / Unknown
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Electronic Device
Detector: Person Flight Crew; Person Flight Attendant
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate; Routine Inspection; Pre-flight
Result: Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Company Policy
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: While passengers were boarding I was notified by Flight Attendant A that a passenger had a smart bag that they could not put on the cart because they could not remove the battery. Flight Attendant A told me that it was a fairly full flight and there might not be a seat to put the bag in because it was not going to fit in the overhead compartment in the cabin. She asked me if we could put the bag in the forward cargo compartment with the flight crew bags since we have access to it inside the cabin. I told her to standby and proceeded to request a supervisor give me a call to help interpret the rules on this situation. In FOM it says that smart bags must have the batteries removed prior to being stored in the cargo compartment; but it does not reference anything about cabin storage. The supervisor; Name; and I decided that the bag was okay as long as it was placed in the cabin and not in a cargo compartment (including the forward cargo). There was an open row that the bag was placed in and we determined that it was in compliance with the FOM guidance and departed as scheduled. Improve and clarify guidance in the FOM and flight attendant manuals on this topic. There is currently no guidance on smart bags in the cabin of the aircraft; only in the cargo area.


Second narrative: After being notified by ground service agents and flight attendants that one of the passengers has in his/her possession a smart bag; both Captain and I reviewed the FOM regarding the smart bag policy (FOM page #); and the Captain called the supervisor. We all agreed after reviewing the FOM that the bag may stay with the passenger in the cabin; because FOM stated that battery from the bag shall be removed prior to the storage in the cargo compartment. It did not state that battery needs to be removed prior to the storage in the cabin. FOM should be clarified to state that smart bag batteries shall be removed prior to the storage in the cargo compartment and in the cabin; or more simply; anywhere on the aircraft.


Synopsis: Flight crew reported the need for an FOM revision to clarify the transport of smart bags with a non-removable battery in passenger cabin.