Power banks and electronic devices on planes: the rules

Power banks, spare lithium batteries and e-cigarettes must always travel in your hand luggage or on you, never in the hold; phones, tablets and laptops are also best kept in the cabin. That is the advice of EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, in its Safety Information Bulletin SIB 2025-03, issued after a rise in incidents involving passengers' batteries. Airlines can set stricter rules, so always check before you fly.

Why lithium batteries do not go in the hold

A damaged, faulty or short-circuited lithium battery can overheat and catch fire. In the cabin the crew can see smoke straight away and deal with it using the equipment on board; in the hold nobody notices in time. That is why EASA asks passengers to keep devices with them and keep an eye on them during the flight.

What goes in the cabin and what goes in the hold

If your cabin bag is taken to the hold at the gate, take out power banks, batteries and e-cigarettes first and keep them with you.

Power banks: the rules to know

• Cabin only, on you or where you can keep an eye on them, not buried at the bottom of your bag.
• Do not use them in flight: EASA strongly discourages charging them or using them to charge other devices during the flight, and some airlines may ban it.
• Lower charge is better: a battery with less charge carries less risk.
• Protect them from knocks and from switching on by accident.
• Check the watt-hours: the general limit per device is 100 Wh; between 100 and 160 Wh you need the airline's approval.

If your power bank only shows milliamp-hours, work out the watt-hours like this: mAh × volts ÷ 1,000. A 10,000 mAh power bank at 3.7 V is 37 Wh.

How to get your electronics ready for the flight

1. Read your airline's rules on its website: how many power banks you can bring and whether you can use them varies by airline.
2. Pack power banks and batteries in hand luggage, with terminals protected and away from perfume and lighters.
3. Keep your laptop easy to reach for security at Dublin, London or wherever you fly from.
4. During the flight only charge devices from the aircraft's sockets and keep them in sight.
5. If a device gets hot, smokes or swells, tell the cabin crew immediately.

For the other hand luggage rules, liquids included, read our guide to what you can bring in hand luggage.

If your flight is delayed

Whether or not your phone is charged, if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late, was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice or you were denied boarding, you may be owed €250, €400 or €600 per passenger. Take a screenshot of the arrival time: it will help. With DelayFlight24 you can check for free in 2 minutes: you pay nothing upfront and our fee is 25% + VAT only if you get compensated. Start from our delayed flight page.

Frequently asked questions about power banks and electronic devices

Can I put a power bank in my checked bag?

No. Power banks and spare lithium batteries are not allowed in the hold; carry them in hand luggage or on you.

Can I use a power bank during the flight?

EASA strongly discourages it and some airlines may ban it. Use the aircraft's sockets if there are any.

Can my laptop go in the hold?

It is not recommended: EASA advises keeping phones, tablets and laptops in the cabin.

What is the watt-hour limit for batteries?

Generally 100 Wh per device; between 100 and 160 Wh you need the airline's approval.

What about e-cigarettes?

Hand luggage or on you only, never in the hold, and charging them on board is forbidden.

Find out more

• Air passenger rights
• Delayed flight: when you can claim compensation
• Cancelled flight: refund and compensation
• Overbooking: what you are owed
• What our service costs

Article updated on 22/10/2026 by the DelayFlight24 editorial team.