- The TSA now requires portable chargers and power banks to be placed only in carry-on luggage.
- This change is due to the risk of fire from overheating devices.
- Flight crews are trained to handle battery fires, and passengers should immediately report any overheating devices.
Flying is different now.
New Real ID rules are about to go into effect on Wednesday, May 7. Southwest Airlines will start assigning seats and charging for checked luggage. And now, the Transportation Security Administration has banned portable chargers and power banks containing lithium-ion batteries from checked luggage.
TSA recently publicized the new rules on social media to educate flyers ahead of the summer travel season. The TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration first issued the rule changes on flying with portable chargers and power banks earlier this year in guidance that was updated on Feb. 21.
Restrictions on portable chargers and power banks are being introduced because of the risk of fire from overheating devices. A power bank was blamed for a January fire on Air Busan Flight 391 in South Korea; at least seven people were injured, but no one died.
Here's what air travelers need to know about the new TSA rules on flying with portable chargers and power banks.
Can I carry a laptop charger in flight?
Yes, but only in a carry-on bag.
The new TSA rules cover items such as power banks, cell phone battery charging cases, rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium batteries, cell phone batteries, laptop batteries, power banks, external batteries and portable rechargers.
What is the largest power bank you can take on a plane?
Most lithium-ion batteries are limited to a rating of 100-watt hours per battery, allowing for "nearly all types of lithium batteries used by the average person in their electronic devices," according to the FAA.
Passengers may also carry up to two spare larger batteries with a rating between 101- to 160-watt hours, which covers extended-life laptop batteries and some batteries used in professional audio-visual equipment.
Batteries must be for personal use. Batteries carried for sale or distribution are not permitted.
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Why can't you pack a power bank in checked luggage?
Portable chargers and power banks can overheat or experience what's called thermal runaway, when a battery cell uncontrollably increases in temperature without warning.
The FAA stated that thermal runaway can happen if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged or improperly packed, or because of manufacturing defects.
Flight crews are trained to recognize and respond to battery fires when one occurs in an airplane cabin. The FAA urges passengers to notify their flight crew immediately if they have a battery or device that's overheating, expanding, smoking or burning during a flight.
Any batteries travelers fly with must be protected from damage and short-circuit, according to the FAA.
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached atMichael.Salerno@gannett.com.
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