Recalled 2015 15-Inch MacBook Pro Models With Faulty Batteries Banned From Flights in U.S.

[jerryk]

Glad I upgraded from my 2015 15" MBP to a 2018 MBP
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My wife and I are currently in France on our honeymoon, flying back to the US in a few days.

My wife has her Macbook 15-inch with her, are we supposed to cut short the honeymoon to rush to a Mac store
to get the computer fixed before we fly back?!

Nope, just sell the MacBook there. Just kidding.

Most airlines will let you carry it, but not use it.

 

[I7guy]

I almost agree. Apple should be embarrassed about the fact that they're quoting a 3 week turnaround for this repair.

So once you factor in the possible week long wait for a Genius Bar appointment (for me in London, at least), we're talking a month for this essential repair.

Not great – especially given that most of us who have this machine have bought a powerful spec for a specific purpose. It's not like you can just switch to another laptop for web browsing.

I still haven't managed to have mine replaced as I can't have my machine out of action for that long.

I've made genius bar appointments, and I usually get in within a day. I can't comment on the three week turnaround and if it's specific to where you are located.

 

[owen.meredith]

I got the battery in mine replaced (for free) a couple weeks before they announced the programme. Not that I don't have the proof, but seeing as I'm about to take a couple of flights (including long haul) soon there's no real way for them to tell which version you have right? Unless they literally ask you to turn it on and show them.

 

[tiger$tyle]

I've made genius bar appointments, and I usually get in within a day. I can't comment on the three week turnaround and if it's specific to where you are located.

The battery replacement is three week, year – the Genius Bar wait is a reflection of central London.

I can't understand why Apple won't replace these in-store.

I suspect that three weeks is because they're shipping the defective machines by sea? But why even have to ship them at all?

Why not mail the good batteries to the stores, and avoid any danger of shipping the defective units....?

 

[citysnaps]

I almost agree. Apple should be embarrassed about the fact that they're quoting a 3 week turnaround for this repair.

So once you factor in the possible week long wait for a Genius Bar appointment (for me in London, at least), we're talking a month for this essential repair.

Not great – especially given that most of us who have this machine have bought a powerful spec for a specific purpose. It's not like you can just switch to another laptop for web browsing.

I still haven't managed to have mine replaced as I can't have my machine out of action for that long.

For my wife and her 2015 MBP, she was quoted 3 weeks at the longest, with 1 week minimum.

Her laptop was returned in 7 days.

 

[tiger$tyle]

For my wife and her 2015 MBP, she was quoted 3 weeks at the longest, with 1 week minimum.

Her laptop was returned in 7 days.
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Yeah I hear you – but not knowing whether it's 1 week or 3 weeks makes a big difference to a working professional

 

[tivoboy]

Wow, the problem with this is basically EVERY rMBP from 2012-2015 looks THE SAME. Even then, how are TSA agents or airlines going to police this.

I don’t think I was in the original recall, but.I think for 2015 models Apple is going to have to come up with some better solution or answer. I mean HELL, they GAVE AWAY new MBP when they couldn’t replace defective batteries. At this point they should probably replace 2015 models with something newer or provide a NQA battery replacement AND some official documentation. I fly 1-2 times a WEEK and can’t put my laptop in the hold or go without it. I’m sure many people are not in that situation, but MANY RW’s are.

 

[photoj2754]

So does Apple have the exact number of laptops that need to be fixed and if they do, are they crossing then off the list when fixed so they can eventually tell the airlines “ They are all fixed.”

 

[tiger$tyle]

Wow, the problem with this is basically EVERY rMBP from 2012-2015 looks THE SAME. Even then, how are TSA agents or airlines going to police this.

I don’t think I was in the original recall, but.I think for 2015 models Apple is going to have to come up with some better solution or answer. I mean HELL, they GAVE AWAY new MBP when they couldn’t replace defective batteries. At this point they should probably replace 2015 models with something newer or provide a NQA battery replacement AND some official documentation. I fly 1-2 times a WEEK and can’t put my laptop in the hold or go without it. I’m sure many people are not in that situation, but MANY RW’s are.

Yeah. How do we escalate this with Apple and let them know that it's not acceptable?

It's one thing to have a recommended recall – it's another if we literally have no choice, if the laptop is restricted from flying.

We deserve better on this.

 

[jdiamond]

Great, due to TSA knowledge it's going to be no apple devices at all on flights.

Yeah - mine was one supposedly not affected - which is a good thing - but how do I convince TSA of that?
[doublepost=1565800295][/doublepost]Apple: Guess you better stop using an older laptop and buy a new one. OK, that was cynical. Apple is probably right now working with the TSA to make sure Apple customers won't be needlessly harassed.

 

[teezy]

interesting - my top case was replaced earlier this year as a "courtesy" when i brought my 2015 in for a completely unrelated issue (something went wonky with my GPU and i ended up with a new lobo too). having worked there a few years, top case replacements aren't uncommon, and this occurred well before there was this big fuss about a quality program (sic: "recall"). had my machine since 8/16 and haven't had much a problem with it.
i also traveled via air recently without a problem... although this was before the FAA "stepped in" (literally just a few weeks ago).

it's gonna be interesting to see how TSA "checks" machines. i don't imagine they're gonna force travelers to show the "about this mac" screen.
they can gather the year from the identifier in the last four characters of the serial number IIRC. fourth character in the beginning shows the year it was built too. the "2015s" were built in the end of 2015 and discontinued in the beginning of 2017, shortly after the 2016s came out.

Is any of this battery replacement stuff applicable to 2014 MBPs?

nope. as the title states, and per the quality program page, this applies only to 2015 15" MacBook Pros (built and sold between 9/15 and 2/17), and a limited number, at that..

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Are you really asking if Apple will do something extra for free?

a repair under a quality program is always free, so long as nothing is damaged.

 

[zeram1]

I just got the battery replaced (yes, I was in range). We should get Apple to replace our "affected" models at no cost, for unaffected ones!

 

[lyunmac]

Ugh we have three affected out of 21 of this model in our company. Now I gotta set up loaners to the users while they wait 1-2 weeks for their laptops.

 

[logicstudiouser]

I have a 15-inch mid-2015 Retina MacBook Pro. It was purchased from Apple Store Online Refurbished. It has the Iris Pro 1536MB Graphics, not the MX370. I went to the Apple page, and plugged in the appropriate serial number for the unit, and this is what came up:

------------------------

So, apparently this mid-2015 Retina 15-inch MacBook Pro is a Refurbished model, and is not affected, and has a newer replaced battery. So how in the world are the airline security checks going to know this?? Without having a serial number checker on hand??

Same thing shows up when I input my serial number. When did you purchase yours? I purchased mine in February 2017, right at the end range of this recall.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

Ugh we have three affected out of 21 of this model in our company. Now I gotta set up loaners to the users while they wait 1-2 weeks for their laptops.

Don't forget to set up the printers on the loaners. My IT never does it.

 

[Rookie42]

I don't live in the US, and so I am not certain exactly how the TSA operate. I believe they are not connected to the airlines, and that they handle security at the airports independently (as well as other things).

In the UK, the security operation is completely independent from the airlines.

The recall for these MBPs is quite specific, and the TSA/FAA rules are for the safety of the general public.

If I were responsible for airport security, I would proceed on this basis:
I already have laptops out of bags, so it should be very simple to identify an apple machine. I separate these machines at security, not at the gate. I check the serial number, and enter it into the apple website at security. The apple website tells me if the machine is affected or not, including if the machine has had the necessary replacement (which I don't care about as long as it's now considered "safe").

This process shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. It's no more intrusive than the random checks that are imposed upon individuals for all sorts of reasons at this stage in the process of security checks at airports in my experience. And yes, I have flown a great deal around the world, and usually carry various electronic devices.

I understand that TSA and other security staff are unlikely to be very good at distinguishing which model of machine you might have with you, but that's what the web site is for. The biggest risk here is fat-fingering the serial number into the web site.

Maybe, as an additional comfort for the airline, they pop your laptop into a sealed clear plastic bag, shown as checked, and you can't use it until you board the aircraft... a pain in the backside, but better than being on a flight with an exploding laptop.

The crunch comes when you turn up with a machine which is affected, and they say you can't fly with it. Bear in mind the FAA ruling here states you're not allowed it in the luggage hold either... so switched on or switched off... there's going to be very little you can do at this stage other than allow them to destroy it, or take it home and miss your flight.

 

[Timemaster]

For my wife and her 2015 MBP, she was quoted 3 weeks at the longest, with 1 week minimum.

Her laptop was returned in 7 days.

honestly even the 1 week is pretty bad. Now having your computer for a week can be very rough on some people. Big time if you make your living off of the computer.

I am glad my mid 15 MBP is not requiring an update as it being off line for a week is nuts. A few months ago that answer would be completely unacceptable and impossible for me. I was a point of if the computer died I would of gone out and bought a new one right then and their as I needed it. Now if it was gone for a week it would be painful.

 

[Rookie42]

Glad I upgraded from my 2015 15" MBP to a 2018 MBP
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Nope, just sell the MacBook there. Just kidding.

Most airlines will let you carry it, but not use it.

I don't think they will let you carry it on the flight at all... my understanding is that it's simply not allowed on the flight. The best thing is to check the serial number, and then take it to a local apple store if needed before you fly home.

 

[Timemaster]

I don't live in the US, and so I am not certain exactly how the TSA operate. I believe they are not connected to the airlines, and that they handle security at the airports independently (as well as other things).

In the UK, the security operation is completely independent from the airlines.

The recall for these MBPs is quite specific, and the TSA/FAA rules are for the safety of the general public.

If I were responsible for airport security, I would proceed on this basis:
I already have laptops out of bags, so it should be very simple to identify an apple machine. I separate these machines at security, not at the gate. I check the serial number, and enter it into the apple website at security. The apple website tells me if the machine is affected or not, including if the machine has had the necessary replacement (which I don't care about as long as it's now considered "safe").

This process shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. It's no more intrusive than the random checks that are imposed upon individuals for all sorts of reasons at this stage in the process of security checks at airports in my experience. And yes, I have flown a great deal around the world, and usually carry various electronic devices.

I understand that TSA and other security staff are unlikely to be very good at distinguishing which model of machine you might have with you, but that's what the web site is for. The biggest risk here is fat-fingering the serial number into the web site.

Maybe, as an additional comfort for the airline, they pop your laptop into a sealed clear plastic bag, shown as checked, and you can't use it until you board the aircraft... a pain in the backside, but better than being on a flight with an exploding laptop.

The crunch comes when you turn up with a machine which is affected, and they say you can't fly with it. Bear in mind the FAA ruling here states you're not allowed it in the luggage hold either... so switched on or switched off... there's going to be very little you can do at this stage other than allow them to destroy it, or take it home and miss your flight.

The few extra minutes per person adds up really damn fast. Think about it right now each person might interact with security TOTAL like 15-30 sec total. 5-10 sec getting your ID check. another 5-10 sec with the person screening your bags and another 5-10 sec at the body scanner. Now on top of other failed screenings you have to add in the MBP checks time adds up way to fast.

 

[nt5672]

Well, we would not be here at all if Apple would have owned up to the problem and fixed it years ago. Something that on average Apple refuses to do, until the media barrage becomes too great.

Apple, and the cheap CEO Cook, deserve whatever fallout is heaped on them! If I was traveling with a banned laptop and had to leave it, I would be pissed.

 

[Rafael Santos]

No, the replacements are considered safe.

Hum... My Macbook Pro 15" 2015 had its swollen battery changed in 2017. They charged me (a lot!) because it was out of warranty. Two years after it is swollen again...

 

[nt5672]

Oh, BTW if the batteries were replaceable, one could just remove the battery and continue on, using an adapter until you got a replacement battery. But oh, no, that is not Cook's, way. Apple has to have one locked in and dependent. So they need to pay the price.

 

[WardC]

Same thing shows up when I input my serial number. When did you purchase yours? I purchased mine in February 2017, right at the end range of this recall.

I believe it was 2017. I had purchased a newer 2016 model and absolutely hated it (butterfly no-travel keyboard, only TB3 ports, no standard USB, display didn't even look as good)...so I decided to go back to a 2015 model and found a Refurbished unit from the Apple Store Online for $2199, at the time. It has 512GB of Flash, 16GB of RAM, but integrated graphics (Intel Iris Pro 1536MB) and not the MX370 2GB that my previous 2015 (sold on eBay) had.

Inputted the serial number to the program website, and came back with the message I posted earlier, saying it was not in the range of recalled serial numbers, not affected, or it had already been serviced with a new(er) battery under the program. Perhaps Apple knew about this and put new batteries in all units before selling them Refurb from their online store. Had it about 2 years now, it is a great computer, very fast....

I just do not like the newer models that much, I still rely on standard USB all the time, do not like all the adapters required...I have a Thunderbolt 2 Cinema Display I use at work, and a bunch of Thunderbolt 2 external disks, etc...and plus the newer power adapter is an inconvenience for me too, since the Monitor needs to be connected to a power port on the MacBook Pro (I have an Apple MagSafe adapter -- small magnetic adapter) that adapts the Magsafe 1 to Magsafe 2. If I had a newer model I would actually need to hook in a power adapter block, have an extension for that, and then plug in a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter just to use the Apple Cinema Display 27" with the laptop. (VERY INCONVENIENT)

 

[MacATDBB]

I have a mid-2015 retina MBP and pasted the serial # into the webpage and got the message back that the serial number suggested the machine was not eligible for a battery replacement.

Then just for fun I randomly changed one of the numbers in the serial number ... assuming Apple have some kind of an error checking routine for detecting valid serial numbers I was expecting to see a message telling me the serial number I pasted was not a genuine serial number. But in fact I got the same message saying the machine was not eligible for a battery replacement. So ... if people type in their serial numbers rather than pasting them, but typo a digit - as long as the number still looks mostly like an Apple serial number, they'll always get the message that their machine doesn't need a battery replacement. Yikes.

 

[bobdobalina]

There are two possible solutions:

1) Just carry your warranty replacement receipt when you travel.

2) Apple buys us replacement 2018 15" Macbook Pro's just to be safe. Better, make that redesigned 16" models so TSA won't be confused, just to be extra safe.