Quick Answer
Power bank rules by airline: the number you memorised is the one that did not change
The 100Wh limit is the same as it was in 2020. Almost everything around it changed in 2025 and 2026: how many banks you may carry, whether you may use one in the air, where in the cabin it has to sit, and, from 1 January 2027, whether the 100 to 160Wh approval tier exists at all.
You probably do not need to read the whole page. Find your airline in the table, read its row, and go.
How this page was built. VoyageHacks read each airline’s own published policy page, the IATA operator guidance and the FAA, TSA, UK CAA, EASA, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese regulator documents on 16 September 2026, and every row below is taken from the carrier’s own wording, not from press coverage. Where a carrier publishes nothing on a point, the row says “Not published” rather than guessing. Rows marked with a date other than 16 September were last read on that date. Links to all 50 sources are at the bottom.
Twelve carriers have their own page with the full wording of their rule, read directly on 16 September 2026, and the banks that pass it: Delta, United, American, Southwest, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Air France, Ryanair, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air India and Qantas.
About 37Wh, so it clears every limit on this page including Southwest’s one-bank, 100Wh rule, and it is small enough to sit in a seat pocket where the rules now want it. Model A1259, not on Anker’s recall list as of 16 September 2026.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonAbout 74Wh: still under the 100Wh no-approval ceiling on every carrier here, with 87W across three ports for a laptop. The Wh rating is printed on the case, which is what a gate agent actually looks for. Model A1383, not recalled.
Check price on Amazon Live price on Amazon99.54Wh as Anker prints it, which is the largest bank you can carry with no airline approval anywhere on this page, and it stays legal after the 1 January 2027 change. There is no margin, so buy it only if you have read your carrier’s row below. Model A1340, not recalled.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonThe rules airline by airline, read 16 September 2026
North America
| Airline | Power banks allowed | Capacity | Using it in flight | Where it must sit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 2 portable chargers per passenger (section marked “NEW”, 16 Sep 2026 read). Up to 4 spare device batteries under 100Wh and up to 2 of 100–160Wh | Flat 100Wh per charger. “Large portable power banks” (4Patriots, Bluetti, EcoFlow, Jackery and similar) banned outright | Allowed, “within reach and visible while in use”. No recharging the bank from the in-seat outlet | Personal item under the seat or the seatback pocket, not in an overhead bin “or other enclosed spaces” |
| Delta Air Lines | 2 per person | Flat 100Wh each, “with no exceptions”: no approval tier for power banks | Not during taxi, takeoff or landing. Recharging the bank on board is banned | Under the seat in front or in the seat pocket, not in an overhead bin |
| United Airlines | Not published | Devices “less than 100-watt hours”; up to 2 spare lithium batteries “with a max of 160 watt-hours” in carry-on | Not published (16 Sep 2026 read) | Carry-on only. “You must remove any lithium batteries and power banks” from a bag checked at the gate. Ubio Power Bank and VRURC OBO_B7 charger named as recalled and banned |
| Southwest Airlines | 1 per customer, from 20 April 2026 (28 Aug 2026 read) | 100Wh | Allowed, but must be visible, not inside a bag. Charging the bank from in-seat power is banned (28 Aug 2026 read) | Personal item under the seat in front, not in an overhead bin |
| JetBlue | 2 per customer | 100Wh per spare battery | Banned: “should not be used to charge or power other devices during flight”. No charging from in-seat power | Not in checked baggage or overhead compartments |
| Alaska Airlines | 2 per guest at 100Wh or less, plus up to 2 of 101–160Wh | 100Wh; the Wh (or V and Ah) must be marked on the battery in English | Not published; Alaska recommends not flying with fully charged banks | “Within arm’s reach”, including after a gate-check |
| Air Canada | Power banks count as spare batteries: 2 of 100–160Wh with airport-agent approval | 100Wh no approval; 100–160Wh with approval | Not published | Carry-on only |
Europe
| Airline | Power banks allowed | Capacity | Using it in flight | Where it must sit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | Up to 4 spare batteries, of which up to 2 may be power banks | 100Wh no approval; 100–160Wh with BA approval; over 160Wh forbidden | Not published | “In your smaller under-seat item of hand baggage”, never in the hold |
| Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels, Discover, Edelweiss) | 2 per passenger | 100Wh no approval; 100–160Wh with approval registered in advance | Banned since 15 January 2026: no charging devices from a bank, no charging the bank | On you, in the seat pocket, or in the bag under the seat in front, not in the overhead bin |
| Air France | 2 in the 100–160Wh tier; no count published under 100Wh | 100Wh no approval; 100–160Wh with advance approval; over 160Wh prohibited | Not published | “Prohibited in overhead storage bins”, must stay under your supervision and readily accessible |
| KLM | 2 (“power banks count as spare batteries”) | 100Wh no approval; 100–160Wh with prior permission; over 160Wh never | Banned: “using or charging it on board is also not allowed” | With you, not in the overhead bin |
| Ryanair | 2 per passenger (up to 20 spare batteries in total) | Flat 100Wh: over 100Wh not permitted in cabin or checked | Allowed, except during taxi, take-off and landing. Recharging the bank is banned at any time | On your person or in the under-seat bag; not in the overhead lockers |
| easyJet | 2 per person, cabin bag only | Up to 160Wh for two spare batteries | Banned: “must not be recharged or used to charge other devices while on board” | Cabin bag, where it can be monitored |
| Wizz Air | 1 power bank under 100Wh (within 20 spare batteries); 2 of 100–160Wh with approval | 100Wh; 100–160Wh with approval; over 160Wh forbidden | Banned “during any phase of the flight” | Under the seat in front or in the seat pocket, continuously monitored; not in the overhead compartments |
| Iberia | 2 per passenger at 100Wh; 2 of 100–160Wh | 100Wh; 100–160Wh | Banned “at any point during the flight” | Not in the overhead bins |
| Vueling | 2 spare batteries, power banks included | 100Wh | Not published | Carry-on only |
| TAP Air Portugal | 2 per person | 100Wh no approval; 100–160Wh max 2 | Banned: “must not be used or charged on board” | Hand baggage only |
| Norwegian | 2 spare batteries | 100Wh; 100–160Wh max 2 with check-in staff approval | Banned: “power banks cannot be used on board” | Carry-on only |
| Finnair | 2 per person | 100Wh no approval; 100–160Wh max 2 with prior approval | Not published | Under the seat in front or in the seat pocket, “preferably not in the overhead bin” |
| SAS | 2 power banks (up to 20 spare batteries) | 100Wh; up to 2 batteries of 160Wh | Banned: “may not be used or charged on board” | Under the seat in front or where the crew shows you; not in the overhead bin |
| Aer Lingus | 2 spare batteries | 100Wh | Not published | Hand baggage only; removed from any bag that is checked |
| Virgin Atlantic | 2 per passenger (up to 5 spare batteries and power banks in total) | Over 160Wh (about 43,000mAh) not allowed | Cannot be plugged into the in-seat power supply at any time | Cabin bag only; must fit the crew’s 37 x 28 x 10 cm fire containment bag |
| Turkish Airlines | Not published as a separate count | 100Wh; 100–160Wh “may also be carried” | Not published | Cabin only. On UK-bound flights the bank must be smaller than 16 x 9.3 x 1.5 cm |
| Air Serbia | Not published for power banks | Generic spare-battery wording only (up to 160Wh, two spares) | Not published | Not published |
Middle East and India
| Airline | Power banks allowed | Capacity | Using it in flight | Where it must sit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates | 1 per customer | Under 100Wh, rating must be visible on the bank | Banned. No using it, no charging it | Seat pocket or bag under the seat in front, not in an overhead locker |
| Qatar Airways | 2 per passenger (2 banks + 18 spare batteries) | 100Wh; over 100Wh “no longer allowed in passenger baggage” since the 18 June 2026 update | Allowed in non-critical phases only, “in the passenger’s direct supervision” and not in a bag or bin while charging. Charging the bank “prohibited at all phases of flight” | Accessible, “not in overhead stowage or side storage lockers” |
| Etihad Airways | Up to 10 spare batteries at 100Wh or less; 2 of 100–160Wh with authorisation | 100Wh; 100–160Wh with authorisation; unknown Wh not accepted | Banned: “strictly prohibited, including charging your power bank on board and using it to charge a device” | Economy: bag under the seat or the seat pocket. First and Business: the seat’s storage compartment. Not the overhead locker |
| Air India | 2 spare batteries, power banks included | Flat 100Wh | Not published | Cabin baggage, “cannot be placed in overhead bins” |
Asia-Pacific
| Airline | Power banks allowed | Capacity | Using it in flight | Where it must sit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines | 2 | 100Wh no approval; 100–160Wh with prior approval | Banned. No charging the bank from USB or seat power, no charging devices from it | Seat-back pocket or under the seat in front, not the overhead compartments |
| Cathay Pacific | 2 per passenger (from 30 March 2026) | Under 100Wh | Banned. No use, no recharging (28 Aug 2026 read) | Under the seat in front, “never checked baggage or overhead bins”. Extra banks are confiscated at Hong Kong International |
| Japan Airlines | No count under 100Wh; 100–160Wh up to 2 combined | 100Wh; 100–160Wh max 2; over 160Wh prohibited | Banned from 24 April 2026: no charging the bank from seat power, no charging devices from it | Cabin only |
| ANA | 2 per person (from 24 April 2026) | Flat 160Wh or less | Banned from 24 April 2026: no charging from the seat outlet, “refrain from using power banks to charge other electronic devices” | Cabin only, terminals taped or bagged |
| Korean Air (also Asiana, Jin Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul) | Carried in the cabin | Not restated in the notice | Banned from 26 January 2026: “use and charging are strictly prohibited” | Within reach: on you, seat-back pocket or under the seat in front, not in the overhead bins |
| EVA Air | 2 per person from 31 March 2026 | 100Wh; 100–160Wh max 2 with approval; over 160Wh prohibited | Banned since 1 March 2025 (Taiwan CAA rule) | Cabin only |
| China Airlines | Not published as a count | Under 160Wh must be carried in the cabin | Banned: “strictly prohibited from use and charging throughout flights” | Recommended not in the overhead compartments |
| Qantas / Jetstar | 2 per customer, from 15 December 2025 | 160Wh each | Banned. “Not permitted to use or charge power banks while onboard” | Within reach: seat pocket or under the seat in front; “if not possible, then in a nearby overhead locker” |
| Virgin Australia | 2 per person | 160Wh each; 100–160Wh declared at check-in with approval | Banned: “cannot use or charge power banks on the aircraft”, solar banks included | Carry-on only |
| Air New Zealand | 2 power banks (up to 20 spare batteries) | 100Wh each; 2 spares of 100–160Wh | Not published | Carry-on only, terminals protected |
Four things in those tables are worth a second read.
“Not published” is not the same as “allowed”. United, Finnair and Air Canada publish no rule on in-flight use, which means the ICAO baseline applies and the decision on anything unusual belongs to the crew working your cabin that day.
The strictest airlines are not the long-haul ones. Southwest allows one power bank, full stop. Wizz Air allows one under 100Wh and bans its use in every phase of the flight. If you fly either with a phone bank and a laptop bank, one of them stays home.
Five carriers have already dropped the approval tier. Delta (“100Wh each, with no exceptions”), American, Ryanair, Qatar Airways (since 18 June 2026) and Air India apply a flat 100Wh cap to power banks. From 1 January 2027 that is the rule everywhere.
Cathay Pacific tells you what actually happens. Extra banks are taken at the security checkpoint at Hong Kong International, not politely queried at the gate. That is the enforcement reality behind most of these rules.
The national rules that sit on top of the airline rules
An airline’s row is not the whole answer if you fly through Japan, South Korea, Taiwan or China, because those states regulate power banks directly and every airline serving them applies the rule.
| Regulator | Rule | In force |
|---|---|---|
| ICAO (193 states) | Two power banks per person, cabin only, no recharging on board, terminals protected; 100–160Wh with operator approval until 31 December 2026 | 27 March 2026 |
| IATA DGR 68th edition | The 100–160Wh approval provision “will not be carried into the 68th edition”: a flat 100Wh ceiling for passengers | 1 January 2027 |
| FAA / TSA (United States) | 100Wh no approval, 101–160Wh with approval and two maximum; carry-on only; removed from any bag checked at the gate; damaged or recalled batteries barred. The FAA page notes airlines “may have stricter quantity and Wh limits” | FAA page updated 11 August 2026; TSA page 14 May 2025 |
| UK CAA | Maximum two power banks per person, cabin bag only, never recharged on board; 100–160Wh with airline approval; over 160Wh as cargo only | Current guidance |
| EASA (EU) | Safety Information Bulletin 2025-03: carry the bank where it can be monitored, on the person if possible; recharging it or powering a device from it is “strongly discouraged”; 100Wh | Advisory, airlines set the hard rule |
| Japan MLIT | Two power banks per person, each 160Wh or less; no charging the bank on board, no using it to charge devices. Applies to every airline flying to or from Japan | 24 April 2026 |
| South Korea (Korean Air, Asiana, Jin Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul) | In-flight use and charging banned; bank kept within reach, not in the overhead bin | 26 January 2026 |
| Taiwan CAA (EVA Air, China Airlines, Starlux, Tigerair) | Maximum two power banks per person; in-flight use banned | 31 March 2026 (EVA’s use ban since 1 March 2025) |
| China CAAC (domestic flights) | Power banks without a China Compulsory Certification (3C) mark, with an unclear mark, or of a recalled model or batch are barred from domestic flights. Airports inspect at security | 28 June 2025 |
The China rule is the one that catches foreign travellers, because a bank bought outside China has no 3C mark and is confiscated at security before a domestic leg. Buy a marked bank locally for the domestic sectors, or fly through with your devices already charged.
What changed on 27 March 2026, and what changes on 1 January 2027
ICAO, the UN aviation body, issued an addendum to its Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, effective the same day, approved by all 36 states on the ICAO Council and applying across its 193 member states. IATA’s guidance document for operators, dated 31 March 2026, lists what it did for power banks carried for personal use:
- carried as carry-on baggage (existing requirement);
- not recharged while on board (new requirement);
- not used to recharge a device while on board (new recommendation, which is why some airlines ban use and others allow it);
- no more than two power banks per person (new requirement);
- individually protected against short circuit when not in use (existing requirement).
The same document then says what comes next: the provision allowing passengers to carry 100 to 160Wh power banks with the operator’s approval “will not be carried into the 68th edition of the DGRs”, because of “concerns with regulatory oversight of power bank manufacturers”. The 68th edition comes into force on 1 January 2027. From that date the passenger ceiling is a flat 100Wh, and a 30,000mAh bank (about 111Wh) that flies with approval today will not fly at all.
The reason behind all of it is thermal runaway: a lithium cell failing and heating uncontrollably, sometimes with no warning and no external cause beyond a manufacturing defect. IATA’s guidance names the concern directly, “low barriers to manufacturing and a general lack of confidence in global regulatory oversight of non-conforming manufacturers”, and singles out wireless power banks as “an emerging concern” because several passengers have reported them entering thermal runaway. Nothing about the chemistry changed in 2026. What changed is that airlines stopped assuming an overhead bin was a safe place to discover it.
The two numbers that decide everything
Watt-hours (Wh) measure the total energy a battery stores, and it is the unit every airline rule on this page uses. Milliamp-hours (mAh), the number printed largest on the box, is not.
The FAA’s limits for lithium ion batteries in carry-on baggage are:
| Battery rating | Rule today | Rule from 1 January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 100Wh | Allowed, no airline approval needed | Unchanged |
| 101 to 160Wh | Allowed with airline approval, maximum two spares per passenger | Power banks in this band no longer allowed |
| Above 160Wh | Not allowed on passenger aircraft | Unchanged |
To convert, use the formula American Airlines publishes on its own restricted-items page:
Wh = mAh x 3.7 / 1,000
- 5,000mAh is about 18.5Wh
- 10,000mAh is about 37Wh
- 20,000mAh is about 74Wh
- 27,000mAh is about 100Wh, which is the practical ceiling
One more thing screeners genuinely check: the Wh rating has to be readable on the case. Alaska Airlines requires the battery to be “marked by the manufacturer with the WH rating or a V and Ah in English”, and Emirates requires the capacity rating to be clearly visible on the power bank. A legal bank with a peeling sticker and no printed number is the one that gets binned, because nobody can prove it is legal.
Where the bank has to sit now, and why the overhead bin is out
Twenty of the 38 carriers above now require a power bank to be within reach in the cabin: on you, in a bag under the seat in front, or in the seat pocket. Not in an overhead locker.
The logic is blunt. A cell in thermal runaway gives very little warning, and cabin crew are trained to reach it, cool it and contain it. Virgin Atlantic even sizes the rule: the bank must fit its crew’s 37 x 28 x 10 cm fire containment bag. Crew cannot do any of that quickly to a bag three rows back and above head height.
Two details people trip on:
- Gate-checked bags. The FAA requires that when a carry-on is checked at the gate or planeside, all spare lithium batteries and power banks are removed from the bag and kept with you in the cabin. United, Alaska and Aer Lingus repeat it in their own words. It is the single most commonly missed rule on this page, because it happens in the jet bridge when you are already flustered.
- Smart bags. Southwest specifically requires the battery to be removed from a smart bag before the bag goes in an overhead bin.
A recalled power bank is not allowed on the aircraft at all
This is a legal restriction, not an airline preference. The FAA states that damaged or recalled batteries and battery-powered devices, which are likely to create sparks or generate a dangerous evolution of heat, must not be carried aboard an aircraft, in either carry-on or checked baggage. China’s CAAC bars recalled models from domestic flights by name, and Southwest repeats the instruction in its own policy.
| Brand | Recalled models | Recall |
|---|---|---|
| Anker | A1642, A1647, A1652 | CPSC, 17 October 2024 |
| Anker | A1263 (PowerCore 10000) | CPSC, June 2025 |
| Anker | A1257, A1647, A1652, A1681, A1689 | CPSC 25-466, 18 September 2025, about 481,000 units |
| INIU | BI-B41 (10,000mAh) | CPSC, 2026, about 210,000 units |
| Baseus | PPCXM06, PPCXW06 (magnetic wireless) | CPSC, June 2024, about 132,000 units |
The model number is printed on the case, and Anker’s own recall page checks a serial number directly. Two of the recalled Anker units are the Zolo 20,000mAh 30W (A1681 with a Lightning cable, A1689 with a USB-C cable), which still appears in 2026 gift guides and AI-generated answers because it is cheap.
VoyageHacks checked every power bank recommended on this site against those lists on 16 September 2026. The three banks in the grid above are A1259, A1383 and A1340, none of which is affected.
Large power stations are a separate, much stricter category
If you were planning to bring a camping power station rather than a pocket bank, stop here.
American Airlines bans large portable power banks and lithium-ion powered generators outright, as carry-on and as checked baggage, and names the brands it means: 4Patriots, Bluetti, Daran, EcoFlow, Jackery, Power Queen, Solar Recharged and Vevor. These units are typically several hundred watt-hours, far above the 160Wh ceiling, so no approval process exists for them.
There is no workaround. Ship it, or rent one at the destination.
What to do before you fly
- Read your bank’s Wh rating off the case. If only mAh is printed, do the conversion above and write the answer on a piece of tape stuck to the bank.
- Check the model number against the recall table above, or against the CPSC database for any brand.
- Count your banks against your airline’s row, not against the ICAO limit. Southwest, Emirates and Wizz Air allow one.
- Plan for no in-flight charging. On 18 of the 38 carriers you cannot use the bank at all, so arrive at the gate with the phone full and use the seat’s own USB port instead.
- Pack it where you can reach it, in the personal item that goes under the seat, before you board rather than at the gate.
- Flying a domestic leg in China? Only a bank with a printed 3C mark gets through security.
Need a bank that clears every row? Our best travel power banks guide lists seven, all under 100Wh with the rating printed on the case, and Anker vs UGREEN vs INIU compares the three brands. For the rest of the cabin-bag rules, see carry-on suitcases that fit every airline and the travel gear hub.
What changed
- 17 September 2026: twelve per-airline pages linked from the table; American row corrected from a direct read (two portable chargers, flat 100Wh, use allowed if visible); United row corrected (no in-flight use or stowage rule is published); Qatar Airways row updated for its 18 June 2026 change (over 100Wh no longer allowed); Qantas overhead-locker fallback added.
- 16 September 2026: every row re-read; table expanded from 9 to 38 carriers; national rules for Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China added; the 1 January 2027 removal of the 101 to 160Wh tier added from IATA’s guidance; British Airways row corrected (2 power banks, under-seat item); INIU and Baseus recalls added.
- 28 August 2026: page published with 9 carriers.
- 24 April 2026: Japan’s MLIT rule took effect: two banks of 160Wh or less, no in-flight use or charging, on every airline serving Japan.
- 20 April 2026: Southwest reduced its limit to one power bank per customer.
- 31 March 2026: Taiwan’s two-bank limit took effect on EVA Air, China Airlines, Starlux and Tigerair.
- 30 March 2026: Cathay Pacific applied the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department’s two-bank limit and in-flight use ban.
- 27 March 2026: the ICAO addendum took effect: two banks per passenger, no recharging in flight.
- 26 January 2026: Korean Air, Asiana, Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul banned in-flight use and charging.
- 15 January 2026: Lufthansa Group banned using and charging power banks on board.
- 15 December 2025: Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia banned onboard use and charging.
- 1 October 2025: Emirates banned using or charging a power bank onboard.
- 18 September 2025: CPSC recall 25-466 of five Anker models.
- 28 June 2025: China’s CAAC barred unmarked and recalled power banks from domestic flights.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many power banks can I bring on a plane in 2026?
Two on most airlines, one on some. ICAO’s baseline, effective 27 March 2026, is a maximum of two power banks per passenger in the cabin, and JetBlue, Alaska, Delta, KLM, Ryanair, easyJet, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Iberia all publish that number. Southwest Airlines limits each customer to one from 20 April 2026, Emirates allows one, and Wizz Air allows one under 100Wh. The FAA sets no general quantity limit itself, so the airline’s number is the one that counts.
Can I use a power bank during a flight?
It depends on the airline, and this is the rule that changed most in 2026. Lufthansa Group, SWISS, KLM, TAP, SAS, Norwegian, Iberia, Wizz Air, Emirates, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Japan Airlines, ANA, Korean Air and China Airlines prohibit using a power bank in flight at all. Delta and Ryanair forbid it during taxi, takeoff and landing. American and Southwest allow use if the bank stays visible and within reach; United publishes no rule. Recharging the power bank itself from seat power is banned everywhere under the ICAO rules.
What is the 100Wh power bank limit?
Watt-hours (Wh) measure the total energy a battery stores, and it is the unit every airline rule uses. The FAA allows lithium ion batteries up to 100Wh per battery in carry-on with no approval, and 101 to 160Wh with airline approval, limited to two spares. Anything above 160Wh is barred from passenger aircraft. A 20,000mAh bank is roughly 74Wh, so it clears the limit comfortably. Delta, American, Ryanair, Qatar Airways and Air India apply a flat 100Wh cap to power banks with no approval tier at all.
What changes for power banks on 1 January 2027?
The 101 to 160Wh approval tier disappears. IATA’s guidance document for operators, dated 31 March 2026, states that the provision allowing passengers to carry 100 to 160Wh power banks with airline approval will not be carried into the 68th edition of the Dangerous Goods Regulations, which comes into force on 1 January 2027. From that date the ceiling for a passenger’s power bank is a flat 100Wh, which is about 27,000mAh.
How do I convert mAh to watt-hours?
Multiply the milliamp-hours by 3.7 volts and divide by 1,000. American Airlines publishes the same formula: Wh = mAh x 3.7 / 1,000. A 10,000mAh bank is about 37Wh, a 20,000mAh bank about 74Wh, and the 100Wh ceiling works out to roughly 27,000mAh. If only mAh is printed on your bank, do the arithmetic before you fly, because Alaska Airlines and Emirates both require the Wh rating to be readable on the case.
Can a power bank go in a checked bag?
No. The FAA requires spare lithium batteries and power banks to travel in carry-on baggage only, and every airline on this page repeats that rule. If your carry-on is checked at the gate or planeside, you must take the power bank out and keep it with you in the cabin: United, Alaska and the FAA all spell that step out. Battery terminals must also be protected from short circuit.
Can I fly with a recalled power bank?
No. The FAA states that damaged or recalled batteries and battery-powered devices must not be carried aboard an aircraft in carry-on or checked baggage, and China’s CAAC bars recalled models from domestic flights outright. Anker has seven recalled models across three CPSC recalls: A1263, A1642, A1647, A1652, A1257, A1681 and A1689, and A1689 is the Zolo 20,000mAh 30W. INIU’s BI-B41 and the Baseus PPCXM06 and PPCXW06 are also recalled. The model number is printed on the case.
Why can’t power banks go in the overhead bin any more?
So that a fire is seen and reached in seconds. American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska, British Airways, KLM, Air France, Ryanair, Wizz Air, SAS, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Air India, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Korean Air all now require a power bank within reach, in a bag under the seat in front or in the seat pocket, rather than in an overhead locker. A lithium cell in thermal runaway gives very little warning.