If You’re Flying in the U.S., Don’t Put Your Power Banks or Spare Batteries in Your Checked Bags

For many travelers, packing an extra laptop battery or power bank for a trip is just good planning. In the eyes of the TSA, though, there’s a specific place for these items: your carry-on bags.

Carry, don’t check. That’s what the agency is instructing travelers do with devices that contain lithium batteries. It includes the following:

• Power banks
• Cell phone battery charging cases
• Rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium batteries
• Cell phone batteries
• Laptop batteries
• External batteries
• Portable rechargers

This rule also applies to carry-on bags that are checked at the gate or near the entrance to the plane due to issues like lack of overhead space. If you’re in this situation, the TSA asks that you remove the devices with lithium batteries from your now-checked bag and keep them with you in the cabin.

Additional restrictions. Besides not packing lithium batteries in your checked luggage, there are other limitations on these items.

For instance, you can only take lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that have a rating limited of 100 Wh per battery. Regulators say this limit cover nearly all types of lithium-ion batteries used by the average person in their devices. You’re also only allowed to pack batteries for personal use and are limited to two spares.

Images | I'M ZION | Kamil Switalski

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