A321
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct
General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Procedure; Human Factors
Just prior to pushback; passenger notified Number 1 Flight Attendant that they had lithium batteries in 2 checked baggage. [One in] cargo; [and] iPad and laptop. Both bags removed and taken to TSA to inspect and separate devices from checked bags. Turns out; only one bag had a device and the other device was in one of the passenger group 6 bags checked. Now 6 bags removed and taken to TSA for same routine. Other passenger sitting around passenger that caused the delay were angry and saying that TSA website says lithium batteries can go in checked baggage if not separated from device. This is correct; but after communicating with manager [at airport]; and manager in Flight Ops; we confirmed [company] policy of removing device from checked bag.Passenger telling flight attendant they and lithium battery in their checked bags. Passenger late declaration of lithium battery in checked baggage.Agent accepting bags at counter maybe can make very clear [company] policy is more restrictive than TSA. Make clear how company wants to handle these situations in future. Can only TSA impact? Should bags just come off and go next flight avail? Will this cause passenger to not disclose Hazmat in checked bags? Our issue was no real time line for delay was foreseeable due to passenger. Please have inflight and Flight Ops come up with clear direction for crews in future. Please acknowledge [the] Flight Attendant Number 1 for her excellent handling of all parties including; passenger; flight crew; CSA; ground crew; etc. She did a fantastic job.
A320 Captain reported passenger informed Flight Attendant of Lithium Ion battery powered electronic devices in checked baggage requiring re-inspection and departure delay.