It can sometimes be hard to keep track of what is and is not allowed through the security checkpoint at the airport, and it sounds like TSA has begun cracking down on one item that is commonly carried by travelers.
Power banks and portable chargers are often must-haves when traveling to make sure all of your devices stay charged on all legs of your trips, especially if you’re flying on planes that are not equipped with AC power.
However, travelers will need to be careful going through airport security with their power banks, as it seems like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is becoming more strict.
All Power Banks Must Go in Carry-On Luggage
Earlier this year, the TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that all lithium and lithium-ion batteries must be kept in carry-on luggage and cannot be placed in checked luggage. This includes portable chargers and power banks.
The agencies explained that this is because “all lithium-ion batteries are capable of overheating” and undergoing a process called thermal runaway.
“Thermal runaway can occur without warning as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, or improperly packed. Thermal runaway can also occur on its own due to manufacturing defects,” the FAA wrote in its announcement banning lithium batteries in checked luggage.
Passengers may still bring the items aboard the plane, but they must be in carry-on luggage so that any potential fire from an overheated battery can be extinguished by the cabin crew.
“Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. When a carry-on bag is checked at the gate or at planeside, all spare lithium batteries and power banks must be removed from the bag and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin. The battery terminals must be protected from short circuit,” the FAA wrote.
Not All Power Banks Are Allowed
While portable chargers and power banks are allowed in carry-on luggage, not all of them fit FAA guidelines.
The FAA actually has a limit on the size and rating of the battery.
“Lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries are limited to 2 grams of lithium per battery. Lithium ion (rechargeable) batteries are limited to a rating of 100 watt hours (Wh) per battery,” the FAA wrote in a statement on its website.
While the FAA says that its limits “allow for nearly all types of lithium batteries used by the average person in their electronic devices,” larger power banks and portable chargers are increasingly common as travelers look to charge larger devices like laptops or larger devices.
TSA ‘Cracking Down’ on Power Banks
As Becca Blond of Travel + Leisure points out, the TSA has been “cracking down” on power banks and portable chargers at its security checkpoints, with TSA officers regularly pulling out power banks and portable chargers for further inspection to ensure they are not malfunctioning and comply with FAA regulations.
“In response to safety concerns surrounding lithium-ion batteries, the TSA has stepped up enforcement and is paying closer attention to power banks during security screenings,” Blond wrote for Travel + Leisure.
If your power bank does not comply with FAA regulations, it could be flagged for further screening or even confiscated by security officials.
