On a recent flight to Orlando, I noticed the captain making an announcement I'd not heard before - something specifically about batteries and power banks. It was brief, but it stuck with me, partly because it felt new and partly because it came with an unusually firm tone. After landing, I looked into it, and sure enough, British Airways had issued updated guidance on power banks and external batteries.
If you've flown with me in spirit through my BA World Traveller economy review or my World Traveller Plus premium economy review, you'll know I've spent a fair amount of time on British Airways long-haul. This is the first time I've noticed a specific in-flight announcement about power banks, which suggests the airline is now actively pushing awareness.
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Why Airlines Are Tightening Up on Power Banks
Power banks are a thermal risk - particularly the cheaper ones that have flooded marketplaces like Amazon in recent years - you know the ones, brand names that look like someone was typing with Mickey Mouse gloves on. With well-known brands there's at least some level of scrutiny over safety standards - with a no-name (or silly-named) brand, it's often harder to know what checks, if any, have been done. As power banks have become cheaper and more widely used, the number of incidents on aircraft has increased. Worth adding though: even if a power bank does malfunction, cabin crew are trained to deal with it. The real concern is power banks left in the hold, where nobody would know if something went wrong.
A recent example: an easyJet flight from Hurghada in Egypt to Luton had to divert to Rome after a passenger admitted to the crew that he'd left a power bank in his checked suitcase that was actively charging a device. The flight was diverted as a precaution. These incidents are why airlines are now taking further action.
The Key Points from British Airways' New Guidance
Here's what the updated guidance says:
No Power Banks or Spare Batteries in the Hold - Full Stop
Spare batteries and power banks are now forbidden in checked baggage. If your cabin bag gets gate-checked at the last minute (which happens more often than you'd think), you must remove any power banks before it goes into the hold and carry them with you.
Where You Can Store Them During the Flight
This is the one that the captain was specifically referencing on my Orlando flight. Power banks must be stored in your seat pocket or in a bag placed under the seat in front. They cannot be in the overhead locker during the flight. The reasoning is that if there is a thermal event, crew need to be able to reach it quickly.
You Cannot Charge a Power Bank In-Flight
The seat power supply is for personal electronic devices only - laptops, phones, tablets. You cannot use it to charge a power bank. If you were planning to top up your power bank during the flight so you land with a full battery, that's no longer permitted.
How Many Can You Bring?
Up to two power banks per person, with a maximum of four spare batteries in total across all types. The power bank must display its capacity rating - if it doesn't have any markings, it shouldn't be travelling with you.
The 100Wh Limit
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh (watt-hours). Most consumer power banks fall well under this, but if you've got a large capacity bank - the kind marketed for charging laptops or multiple devices - it's worth checking before you fly. The Wh rating is usually printed on the battery itself or listed in the product specs.
Packaging and Protection
Spare batteries should be in their original packaging where possible. If not, they need to be individually protected from short circuits - a plastic case, a strong zip-lock bag, or electrical tape over the terminals all count. Loose batteries rattling around in a bag pocket do not.
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What This Means in Practice
For most passengers, the adjustment is fairly minor. The two rules that will actually catch people out are the overhead locker rule (muscle memory for most travellers is to shove everything up there) and the no-charging rule.
The bigger concern is gate-checked bags. On busy routes - and Orlando in peak season is absolutely one of them - it's not unusual for overhead locker space to run out and for the gate team to check bags into the hold at the last minute. If your power bank is in that bag, you need to pull it out before it goes. Worth knowing before you get to the gate.
Full British Airways Guidance Summary
For reference, here's the complete picture of what British Airways currently states on ba.com:
- Spare batteries are forbidden in checked baggage and must be carried in the cabin
- If a cabin bag is checked in or gate-checked, all spare batteries and power banks must be removed and carried in the cabin
- Maximum of 2 power banks per person
- Power banks must display a capacity rating
- Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
- Maximum of 4 spare batteries per person in total (of which up to 2 may be power banks)
- Batteries must be kept in original packaging or individually insulated to prevent short circuits
- Lithium metal batteries must not exceed 2g lithium content
- Lithium-ion batteries must not exceed 100Wh
- Power banks must be stored in the seat pocket or under-seat bag during the flight - not in the overhead locker
- Aircraft seat power supplies are for personal electronic devices only, not for charging power banks
As always, check ba.com before you fly for the most up do date policies.
