Pack a permitted power bank in your cabin baggage, never in a case going into the hold. “Permitted” depends on the unit, your route and the operating airline. Find the capacity on the device itself before searching for a weight limit or assuming that anything sold as a travel charger can fly.
Read the watt-hour rating
Look for Wh, meaning watt-hours. Watts alone describe power, not stored energy; the large number advertising how quickly a charger can charge a laptop is not the number to compare with a Wh limit. If the label gives battery capacity in mAh and a nominal battery voltage, multiply the mAh by that voltage and divide by 1,000. A hypothetical 10,000 mAh battery rated at 3.7 V works out to 37 Wh. Do not substitute the USB output voltage for the battery voltage.
Keep the label legible. A calculation can help you understand the capacity, but it does not replace a visible marking where the airline requires one. If you cannot identify the rating, do not rely on a guess at security. Ask the manufacturer and the airline before packing it, or take a clearly marked alternative.
Check the carrier on every flight
Look in each operating airline’s dangerous-goods or restricted-baggage policy under power banks. Separate rules can apply to spare camera batteries and batteries installed in a device. Note the maximum Wh per unit, how many power banks are permitted, and whether they can be used or recharged in the cabin.
The IATA passenger guidance for 2026, page 7 lists at most two power banks of up to 100 Wh each in a section discussing tighter measures. The US FAA’s passenger guidance describes an approval route for up to two larger spare batteries, including power banks, at 101 to 160 Wh. That is not a worldwide permission. For example, Emirates’ policy allows one clearly rated power bank up to 100 Wh and does not allow passengers to use or recharge it on board. For an itinerary with different airlines, choose a unit that satisfies every leg.
Keep it with you if the bag goes in the hold
Protect the unit from damage and short circuits, for example with its original protective packaging or a suitable separate pouch. Keep it away from loose metal objects. Do not travel with a damaged or recalled battery. Put it somewhere you can reach without unpacking your entire case, and follow the carrier’s cabin stowage instructions.
If a member of staff tags your cabin case to go in the hold, take the power bank out before handing over the case. The FAA’s gate-check guidance specifically covers that moment. If you realise too late, tell staff immediately. If the battery becomes unusually hot, swells or gives off smoke on board, alert the crew at once. Plan to board with your phone already charged so you do not depend on permission to use the power bank during the flight.
Sources checked on 5 November 2026.