Before the next flight, passengers are required to inspect their luggage to avoid costly mistakes. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States has recently updated its guidelines, prohibiting portable chargers from being checked in with luggage and requiring them to be placed in carry-on bags.
Due to recent incidents of lithium-ion battery explosions or damage, the TSA advises passengers not to pack portable battery chargers in checked luggage. These electronic products include power banks, cellphone battery charging cases, rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium batteries, cellphone batteries, laptop batteries, portable chargers, external batteries, and portable chargers.
Although TSA recently announced new regulations on social media to educate passengers before the peak summer travel season, these rule changes were actually implemented as early as February, as reported by AZCentral.
A TSA spokesperson told Travel + Leisure magazine, “TSA does not ‘ban’ power banks. However, they must be placed in carry-on luggage.”
The good news for passengers is that they can still carry power banks in their carry-on bags onto the plane, making it more convenient and accessible during the flight, and allowing for monitoring of the power bank to prevent any damage.
TSA recommends, “Lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cellphone battery charging cases, must be placed in carry-on luggage.”
The agency further explains that just because passengers have checked their luggage doesn’t mean there are no issues. If a passenger must check-in a charger at the gate due to luggage size or full overhead bins, they must remove such chargers from their luggage before checking them in and bring them onto the plane.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states that lithium batteries must undergo safety testing, as all lithium-ion batteries can overheat and experience thermal runaway. Thermal runaway can occur without warning due to various factors, including battery damage, overheating, exposure to water, overcharging, or improper packaging. It can also occur spontaneously due to manufacturing defects.
Cabin crew members are trained to identify and respond to lithium battery fires onboard. If a passenger’s lithium battery or device overheats, swells, smokes, or catches fire, they should immediately notify the cabin crew.
According to information on the TSA website, for passengers who disregard these guidelines, TSA has the authority to impose civil penalties of up to $17,062 per person per incident. Another consequence for violations could be a temporary or permanent suspension from expedited security screening programs, such as TSA PreCheck. In some cases, in addition to fines or program suspensions, TSA may refer the case to local or state law enforcement for criminal prosecution.
The TSA has also established a list of prohibited items, detailing what items are allowed to be checked in or carried on board. The agency states that any length of cutting tools, including spring-loaded knives, are not allowed on planes and must not pass through TSA security checkpoints.
Furthermore, the agency recommends consumers regularly check the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website for any wireless portable power banks that may be subject to recall. On April 17, 2025, the agency recalled 429,200 Caesly power banks due to fire and burn hazards.