Samsung Opens Galaxy Note 7 Exchange and Refund Booths in Airports Worldwide

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 is officially banned from traveling on airlines in the US, among other countries, making international travel with the explosive smartphone more than just a nuisance.

Samsung has responded by opening Note 7 exchange booths in international airports across the globe, where users can swap their treacherous devices for safe models or receive refunds. The beleaguered tech giant has also offered to provide free data transfers on the spot to ease the transition. One report suggests that approximately one million of the Note 7 devices are still out in the wild, despite the company’s numerous efforts to recall them.

Samsung first opened the exchange booths at major South Korean airports, including Incheon, Gimpo, and Gimhae, according to The Korea Times. Similar “customer service points” have been established in seven Australian airports as well as US airports (including LAX and SFO), with plans likely in place to expand to other major airports.

In a statement to Gizmodo, Samsung urged all Note 7 owners to visit their local carrier or retail store to exchange the device before traveling: “We urge all Galaxy Note 7 owners to exchange their device or obtain a refund before they arrive at their airport. We know this is an inconvenience to our customers but safety has to remain our top priority.”

The world’s largest smartphone vendor continues to struggle with the spectacular fallout from the discontinuation of the Note 7, which had initially been expected to sell more than 10 million units. Last week, Samsung revised its third quarter operating profit down to $4.58 billion while its shares plunged more than 8 percent.