Power Banks in Hand Luggage: Airline Rules for Spare Batteries

Spare lithium batteries and power banks are not allowed in checked baggage. That is the core rule from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and it applies whether you are carrying a power bank, a spare phone battery or a spare camera battery. Lithium and sodium-ion batteries can be carried by air depending on their configuration and their Watt-hour rating for rechargeable batteries, or their lithium content for non-rechargeable ones. Spare batteries are not allowed in checked baggage.

Who this affects

Anyone flying with a power bank, a spare phone or laptop battery, a camera battery, a drone battery, or smart luggage that contains a battery. It also affects travellers with battery-powered mobility aids, which have their own separate procedures.

IATA says lithium and sodium-ion batteries can be carried by air depending on configuration and Watt-hour rating for rechargeable batteries, or lithium content for non-rechargeable ones. The same guidance states that spare batteries are not allowed in checked baggage.

If you are travelling with an unusual amount of electronic equipment, be prepared for extended security checks. You may be allowed to carry the items, but their use on board may be prohibited or limited, so check with your airline.

What to do, step by step

1. Keep every spare battery and power bank out of your checked baggage. Do not put them in the bag you check in.
2. Check the Watt-hour rating printed on the battery or power bank. For rechargeable lithium batteries, this is the number that decides whether and how they can fly.
3. Pack each spare battery so it cannot short-circuit. IATA says batteries should be either installed in the equipment or packed in a way that they are sufficiently protected against short circuits.
4. Check your airline's rules before you fly. IATA advises passengers to check with their airline, and for items that need airline approval, to consult the airline well in advance and allow extra time at check-in.
5. For smart luggage, check whether the battery is removable. Baggage with a non-removable battery exceeding 0.3 g lithium metal or 2.7 Wh is forbidden for carriage. If the bag is checked in, the lithium battery must be removed and carried in the cabin as a carry-on item.
6. For battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility aids, make advance arrangements with the airline and provide information on the type of battery installed and how the mobility aid should be handled, including instructions on how to isolate the battery.

Costs and timing

There is no fee mentioned in the source material for carrying a power bank or spare battery in hand luggage. The practical cost is time: allow extra time at check-in and security if you are carrying unusual amounts of electronic equipment or an item that needs airline approval.

Timing matters most for mobility aids. IATA and its member airlines prepared a Battery-Powered Wheelchair and Mobility Aid Guidance Document so that, on arrival at the airport, a battery-powered mobility aid can be accepted and loaded without delay. That guidance sets out the information passengers should give the airline in advance.

Exceptions and special cases

• Smart luggage. Baggage with a non-removable battery above 0.3 g lithium metal or 2.7 Wh is forbidden. Removable batteries must travel in the cabin when the bag is checked.
• Small lithium battery-powered vehicles. Balance wheels, air wheels, solo wheels, mini balance boards and hoverboards are treated as small lithium battery-powered vehicles. IATA has issued guidance on their classification and the provisions that apply, and says that although a small vehicle might serve as a mobility aid, it is considered a personal electronic device under the regulations.
• Battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility aids. These have different procedures depending on the battery type. Most modern types use gel-type non-spillable batteries, which are considered non-dangerous and can be loaded with checked baggage in the cargo compartment. Older wet-cell batteries require disconnection and possibly removal, with the battery packed in a special box depending on the aircraft type. Lithium battery powered wheelchairs have additional requirements, so check with the manufacturer or distributor for the right documentation.
• Electronic devices. Phones, tablets, laptops, drones and GPS units are generally fine if the batteries are installed in the equipment or packed so they are protected against short circuits. Power tools with larger lithium batteries are subject to the airline's approval.

What is not yet confirmed

The source material does not give a single worldwide Watt-hour limit for power banks in passenger baggage. IATA says carriage depends on the Watt-hour rating for rechargeable batteries, and points passengers to the Dangerous Goods Regulations and its passenger guidance documents for the detailed provisions. Because limits and approvals can differ by airline and by route, treat the airline's own rules and the official IATA guidance as the deciding sources, and check them again close to your travel date.

FAQ

This guide is general information, not a substitute for your airline's rules or the official dangerous goods regulations. Check the current requirements with your airline and the relevant authorities before you travel.