30m
passengers expected to leave the UK in July and August
Summer flight check • reviewed 27 July 2026
Cabin, not hold.
Power banks belong in carry-on baggage, not checked luggage. The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s July warning gives holidaymakers a simple packing job before the airport.
This is a packing and buying checklist, not a guarantee of airline acceptance. Check the exact power bank, every airline and every flight leg before travel.
Why this matters now
The CAA’s 22 July warning, in four numbers
These figures come from the CAA’s summer-flight warning. They describe the scale and awareness problem; they do not predict the risk on a particular flight or certify a particular product.
49%
of travellers said they fly with a power bank
36%
were unaware of the danger of packing lithium batteries in checked baggage
Nearly 2×
the reported device incidents in 2025 versus 2024
The 20-second check
Five checks before the bag leaves your hand
01
Cabin, not hold
Carry power banks in carry-on baggage. Never put one in checked baggage, including a cabin bag that is taken from you at the gate and placed in the hold.
02
Maximum two
Current CAA guidance says a passenger can carry no more than two power banks. Your airline may apply additional restrictions.
03
Protect each one
Keep power banks protected from damage and short circuits. Do not travel with one that is swollen, damaged, changing shape or overheating.
04
Do not recharge it on board
The CAA says power banks must not be recharged on the aircraft and should not be used to charge another device on board. Follow crew instructions and your airline’s current policy.
05
Check the Wh label
Up to 100Wh is normally allowed without airline approval; 100–160Wh requires operator approval; more than 160Wh is prohibited in passenger baggage. Confirm the exact rules before every trip.
If a cabin bag is gate-checked
Remove the power bank before the bag goes into the hold.
A bag that began as carry-on can still be moved to the hold at the gate. Keep the power bank accessible enough to remove it, and follow the airline or ground crew’s instructions.
Stop condition
Do not fly with a damaged or swollen battery.
If a battery is bulging, changing shape, overheating or otherwise damaged, do not pack it. Use an appropriate local battery or electronics recycling route; do not place it in general waste.
Choose the next useful step
Safety check first. Product comparison second.
Read the dated news explainer
See what changed in 2026, what the CAA reported in July and how to check a power bank before travel.
Read the explainerRun the pre-flight checklist
Use a compact bag, battery and airline-rule check before comparing products.
Open checklistFind the right power-bank guide
Use the fit checker for device power, carry size and travel caveats. It does not guarantee airline acceptance.
Open Fit CheckerBrowse portable-power guidance
Start at the category page if you still need to compare travel, laptop, compact or everyday power banks.
Open categoryShare the check
Save or share the flight check
Choose the format that works for you. Each image summarises the same check and links back to the full guidance and official sources.
Facebook / link preview
36% were unaware of the lithium-battery checked-baggage danger
Ad | Flying with a power bank? The UK CAA says cabin, not hold. Check the two-per-person limit, Wh label and your airline’s current rules before the airport.
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Instagram / saveable checklist
The 20-second power-bank flight check
Ad | Save this before you fly: carry-on only, maximum two, protect each one, do not recharge it on board, and check the Wh label plus your airline’s current rules.
Open full-size image
Pinterest / saveable travel check
Cabin, not hold
Ad | Power bank flight rules for UK travellers: cabin baggage, maximum two, protect from damage, do not recharge on board, and verify Wh plus airline rules.
Open full-size imagePrimary sources
Check the source, then check your airline
UK Shortlists reviewed these official sources on 27 July 2026. Airline and airport rules can be stricter or change, so use this page as a prompt to recheck—not as permission to fly with a particular battery.
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