Carry a permitted power bank in the cabin, never in checked baggage. Before packing, read its watt-hour rating and the operating airline's dedicated power-bank policy. Capacity, quantity, storage and use can all matter; a label below 100 Wh is only the starting point.
The rules changed during 2026, and different official pages describe different scopes. This general packing guide reflects sources checked on 24 September 2026. Use it to identify the questions for your operating airline; it does not establish every carrier’s policy.
Read the Wh label first
Look for a number followed by “Wh” on the power bank itself. This describes stored energy. A large “65 W” or “100 W” charging-output claim on the front is a different measurement and cannot answer the baggage question.
Where the battery's rated voltage and capacity are known, calculate watt-hours as voltage multiplied by amp-hours. Divide milliamp-hours by 1,000 first. The FAA provides this calculation in its lithium-battery guidance. FAA lithium batteries
Worked examples using a stated battery voltage of 3.7 V:
- 10,000 mAh equals 10 Ah; 10 × 3.7 = 37 Wh.
- 20,000 mAh equals 20 Ah; 20 × 3.7 = 74 Wh.
- 30,000 mAh equals 30 Ah; 30 × 3.7 = 111 Wh.
These examples are calculations, not approvals for particular products. Use the battery's rated voltage, not an arbitrary USB output voltage. Prefer a legible manufacturer Wh marking and keep the matching product specification available if anything is unclear.
What changed in March 2026?
IATA's operator guidance describes the ICAO addendum effective from 27 March 2026: power banks are separated from spare batteries, limited to two per person for personal use, and must not be recharged aboard the aircraft. It distinguishes that prohibition from the recommendation against using a power bank to charge another device. IATA 2026 operator guidance
The same document explains that national implementation affects enforceability. It also discusses a 100–160 Wh operator-approval provision during 2026 while its passenger table marks power banks above 100 Wh as forbidden, anticipating stricter guidance. That is not a sound basis for promising that a 111 Wh bank will be accepted.
The practical response is to seek the operating airline's explicit answer for your model and journey. Do not substitute the allowance for a spare camera battery for the rule covering a universal charging bank.
Why an FAA page may look different
The FAA's lithium-battery page, updated in August 2026, describes a general 100 Wh limit and approval provisions for larger spare lithium-ion batteries. It also warns that airlines may impose stricter power-bank quantity and energy limits. FAA capacity and airline conditions
Read that as US regulatory guidance with airline conditions, not permission to ignore a two-bank limit or a carrier's 100 Wh ceiling. When comparing sources, write down whether each paragraph concerns installed batteries, spare batteries or power banks.
A concrete airline example
Turkish Airlines' dedicated power-bank entry allows no more than two per passenger, each at or below 100 Wh, in the cabin only. It prohibits charging the bank or using it to charge other devices during flight. Banks belong under the seat in front or in the seat pocket, not overhead bins. Turkish Airlines restrictions
Its policy also addresses wireless banks: switch them fully off and keep them far enough from a phone to avoid unintended charging. A 111 Wh bank from the worked example does not meet this airline's limit, even though a general battery article might mention approval up to 160 Wh.
This example is not an AJet or Air France policy. For the latter's reference context, see Air France portable electronic devices, then check its current power-bank-specific instructions before travel.
Pack for a last-minute gate check
Put each bank in its own protective pouch or appropriate packaging, away from loose metal and damage. If your cabin bag is taken for the hold, remove the power banks before handing it over. The FAA explicitly requires this for gate-checked bags. FAA cabin-only packing
Make the removal easy: keep chargers together in an accessible compartment rather than under clothing. Before boarding, identify the small bag that will stay with you. This is particularly useful when you have planned to travel with a single cabin suitcase.
Do not pack a swollen, damaged or recalled bank that may generate dangerous heat. If a battery overheats, expands or smokes during flight, notify the crew immediately. FAA battery condition guidance
Questions to settle before departure
- What is the Wh rating of each bank?
- How many does the operating airline permit?
- Does its rule require prior approval for this model or capacity?
- Where must the bank be stored during flight?
- Can it charge another device, and can it itself be charged?
- Will another airline operate a connecting segment?
Save the applicable airline instructions with your travel documents. If two segments have different rules, plan for both before leaving home rather than hoping to repack at the connection.
Common mistakes
Using output watts as the capacity. Find Wh, not merely W.
Counting power banks as ordinary spare batteries. Read the separate entry where one exists.
Relying on last year's trip. The 2026 changes make an old successful journey weak evidence for a new one.
Assuming cabin permission means permission to use it. Those are separate conditions. Charge your phone before boarding and plan around the airline's onboard restrictions.