Samsung sets up airport kiosks for last-minute Galaxy Note 7 exchanges

FOX 32 NEWS - There’s more fallout from those Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones which were overheating and catching on fire.

FOX 32’s Larry Yellen reports on Samsung’s efforts to help airline passengers who might be carrying one of the banned devices.

Gloria Abimbola owns a Samsung phone. It's not the Galaxy Note 7 which has been catching on fire. But on her flight into Chicago Tuesday, she heard the same warning as everyone else.

“When I was taking off from Atlanta, the hostess said make sure you don't have a Samsung Note Seven. I was like, that makes sense. It's scary,” Abimbola said.

Galaxy Note 7's were banned from flights last week after 96 reports of overheating in the U.S., including thirteen reports of burns. The FAA now treats the phones as a forbidden hazardous material. Passengers caught bringing them board can face fines and criminal prosecution.

This week, Samsung has set up customer service desks at some of the world's busiest airports, including all of the terminals at O’Hare. Passengers there can obtain refunds or exchange their Note 7 phones with help from a Samsung representative.

Samsung said that despite the presence of these booths at many airports, they are urging customers to either exchange their phones or arrange for a refund before ever heading out for their trips.

In a statement, Samsung told FOX 32, "We know this is an inconvenience to our customers, but their safety has to remain our top priority. Smartphones are a constant companion for travelers; the terminals today were filled with flyers who keep them handy for travel updates, business and family calls. But nobody was complaining about some Samsung owners having to give up their phones before getting on board.

The Galaxy Note 7’s are banned not just as carryon items, but also inside checked baggage.