Flying With a Power Bank? Know These Rules
Can you take a power bank on a plane? Usually, yes, provided it stays in your hand luggage rather than a checked suitcase. Under UK guidance, passengers may carry up to two, but airlines can impose tighter limits. Charging the power bank itself during a flight is prohibited, while using it to charge a phone depends on the operating airline. Its capacity matters too.
These precautions reflect the fire risk posed by damaged or overheating lithium-ion batteries. On 11 October, an IndiGo service between Delhi and Chennai diverted to Hyderabad after smoke was detected from a passenger's electronic device in an overhead locker. The crew contained the incident and the aircraft landed safely, with no reported injuries. The flight was disrupted, but the battery restrictions were already in force.
Which Power Banks Can You Take on Board?
- UK guidance: Two power banks maximum; up to 100Wh each without approval.
- Above 100Wh: Up to 160Wh requires airline approval; over 160Wh is prohibited in passenger baggage.
- Checked luggage: Power banks not allowed.
- Emirates: One under 100Wh; under-seat bag or seat pocket; no use onboard.
- Qantas/Jetstar: Two permitted; neither use nor charging onboard.
- Virgin Australia: Two permitted; keep beside your seat; no use onboard.
Check the capacity printed on each charger before leaving home. If only milliamp-hours are shown, multiply the battery's nominal voltage by its mAh rating, then divide by 1,000 to obtain Wh. Keep power banks in separate protective pouches or cover exposed terminals to prevent short circuits. If your hand luggage is taken at the gate for hold storage, remove every power bank first.
“Lithium batteries power everything from vapes and mobile phones to cameras and power banks. If they become faulty or damaged, they can cause an intense fire that is difficult to extinguish, both in the cabin and the hold of an aircraft."
On connecting itineraries, check each operating airline's policy, even when the flights appear on one booking. Qantas allows a nearby overhead locker if closer storage is unavailable, while Emirates requires a seat pocket or under-seat bag. Some aircraft USB sockets can still charge your phone directly; that does not permit using a banned power bank. Tell cabin crew immediately if a battery overheats, swells or produces smoke.