Carry-on Batteries and Power Banks: Pack Them Correctly
Separate installed batteries, spare batteries and power banks. Check Wh, protect terminals, and remove power banks before gate-checking a bag.
Sources and scope
Source-based research; no hands-on test or specialist review claimed.
Two power banks; no onboard recharging; distinguish the 2026 provision from 2027 changes.
ICAO change of 27 March 2026, IATA guidance valid through 31 December 2026
Page 4: personal use; national adoptionSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Cabin carriage, short-circuit protection and damaged battery restrictions.
US dangerous-goods guidance; carrier restrictions can be stricter
Size limits; Quantity limits; Damaged or recalled batteriesSource review: · Codex (AI source review)
Separate three categories before packing: batteries installed in equipment, loose spare batteries and power banks. Their quantity and packing rules are not interchangeable.
Power banks
Under the March 2026 ICAO change described in IATA's guidance, personal power banks are limited to two, belong in carry-on baggage and must not be recharged onboard. Carrier and national implementation can be stricter. See the power-bank rule guide for Wh thresholds and the distinction between 2026 and 2027 provisions.
Spare versus installed batteries
The FAA PackSafe page treats spare lithium batteries and power banks as cabin items. Protect spare terminals individually against short circuits. Do not apply a generic spare-battery quantity allowance to power banks after the specific 2026 change.
An installed battery does not automatically make a device acceptable in the hold: device type, battery size, damage/recall status and protection against activation still matter. Check the exact device entry and airline policy rather than relying on the word “electronics”.
Gate-check checklist
- Identify power banks and spare lithium batteries before handing over the bag.
- Move them into a permitted cabin item and protect exposed terminals.
- Keep model and Wh markings available for inspection.
- If a battery becomes hot, swells or emits smoke, alert crew immediately.
For an approval request, send the airline the model, Wh rating, quantity and whether the battery is installed or spare. A product's USB watt output is charging power, not stored energy. The distinction matters when a “140 W” power bank is compared with a “100 Wh” transport threshold.
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