Federal Aviation Administration bans lithium batteries in checked luggage

Key Takeaways

• FAA bans most lithium battery-powered items from checked luggage on all U.S. flights for safety reasons.
• Power banks, spare lithium batteries, and charging cases must stay in carry-on bags only.
• Business travelers need to pack all backup batteries and power sources in their cabin luggage to comply.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), working together with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), has now enforced a new ban affecting travelers throughout the United States 🇺🇸. The rule is very clear: most items powered by lithium batteries are no longer allowed in checked luggage for any U.S. flight. This new step focuses on safety but has important results, especially for business travelers who rely on electronics to work during their journeys.

Let’s break down exactly what this rule means, the reasons behind it, who it affects, and how you can change your travel habits to stay safe and follow the law.

What Does the FAA Ban Mean for Travelers?

The Federal Aviation Administration has updated its rules about what goes in your checked luggage and what must stay with you in the cabin. The reason is simple: lithium batteries are in so many personal items—your phones, laptops, power banks, and portable chargers. But there have been incidents where lithium batteries exploded or caught fire in the cargo hold of airplanes. That risk is much higher in checked baggage, where the crew cannot spot or handle fires quickly.

Which Items Are Banned from Checked Luggage?
– Power banks
– Portable chargers
– Spare (loose) lithium-ion batteries for electronics like phones, laptops, and cameras
– Spare lithium-metal batteries
– Battery charging cases for cellphones
– External battery packs
– Any portable rechargers

These items must go exclusively into your carry-on bags—not checked luggage. The only exception is if the battery is installed inside a device such as a laptop or camera, but even then, you should check your airline’s specific rules. The key takeaway: if the battery is spare and not installed, it cannot go in your checked suitcase.

Why the Focus on Lithium Batteries?

The danger comes from the way lithium batteries can act under the wrong conditions. Lithium batteries can overheat, especially if they are damaged, have a defect from the factory, or are placed with metal objects that might cause a short circuit. If a lithium battery short-circuits, it can get very hot very quickly—a process called “thermal runaway.” This can cause a fire, an explosion, or both.

If a fire breaks out inside the aircraft cabin, the crew can handle it right away. But if the fire starts inside the belly of the plane, in the checked luggage area, it’s much harder and slower to reach. That delay can make a bad situation much worse. So the FAA, joined by the TSA, decided the safest approach is to keep these high-risk items within sight during any flight.

This move follows several reported incidents in which lithium batteries started fires while stored in the hold, putting passengers and crew at risk.

How to Follow the New Regulations

If you are flying within or from the United States 🇺🇸, here’s what you need to know to stay in line with the law:

• Put all power banks, spare batteries, and portable chargers in your carry-on bag. You cannot check these items, even if you put them inside your luggage at the ticket counter or at the gate.
• Protect battery terminals. Keep spare batteries in their original packaging, put tape over the exposed ends, or store them in a protective case. This step keeps them from rubbing up against other metal items, which could short them out.
• Do not pack broken or recalled batteries. Only batteries without visible damage or warnings are allowed.
• If your carry-on bag is checked at the gate (because of full overhead bins): Remove all lithium-powered spare batteries or power banks before handing over the bag. Carry those items with you on board, always.

Battery Limits for Passengers

The FAA has also set limits on the kind and size of batteries you can bring, mostly to prevent passengers from bringing commercial quantities meant for resale. Here’s what’s allowed for personal use:

(*) Unlimited only for devices you use personally, not for selling or giving out to others.

All batteries, even ones built into devices, must follow safety rules. Typically, you can put electronic devices with built-in batteries in checked luggage only if they are completely powered off and the airline says it’s allowed. Always double-check the airline’s latest guidance before your trip.

For the most up-to-date information, you can check the FAA’s page about lithium batteries in baggage.

How Does This Affect Business Travelers?

People traveling for work often carry extra electronics and power sources. Many are used to bringing backup batteries, charging cases, or power banks for use during long days on the road. This ban forces them to pack differently.

• Backup power? It must go in your carry-on.
• Short trips or long layovers? Pack carefully and keep everything that can run out of power—and its spare battery—at your fingertips in the cabin.
• Carrying smart luggage? Some modern suitcases have GPS, chargers, or built-in batteries for tracking or charging. If those batteries are not removable, or if they are over the size limit, the bag can’t be checked. Only smart bags with easily removable batteries may be accepted in checked luggage, but the battery itself must stay in the cabin with you.

Not following the rule can lead to trouble at the airport. Your spare batteries or power banks might be taken away at security, or airline staff might ask you to remove them from your checked bag at check-in or the boarding gate. This can make you late or even miss your flight.

Safety and Industry Support

The main goal of this FAA rule is the safety of all passengers and crew members. It’s rooted in real problems that have happened on airplanes carrying lithium batteries in their cargo holds.

In some cases, batteries shorted out, sparking fires that took a long time to find. When these fires start in the cabin, flight staff can act fast—using special fire extinguishers or covering the item with a fireproof bag. In the cargo area, time is lost before anyone notices the problem, and fire can spread and cause even more damage.

Airlines and aviation safety groups support this ban on lithium-powered items in checked luggage. As reported by VisaVerge.com, industry experts point out that this rule does not keep travelers from carrying their electronics as needed. Instead, it simply changes how these items are packed and where they travel on the plane. This compromise avoids banning vital business tools but puts safety first.

The FAA says:
“Keeping lithium-powered items in the cabin allows for faster response in case of emergency, ensuring safer air travel for everyone.”

Quick Reference: What to Pack Where?

Here’s an easy summary table to help you remember what goes where.

‡ Installed device batteries may be checked ONLY if switched fully off. Never put spare or loose batteries in checked luggage.
* Always double-check with your airline, as some have extra rules.

What Travelers Need to Do Next

If you’re planning a trip by air, especially for business, check all your items before you leave home. Take the following steps:

1. Gather all your power banks, spare batteries, and charging cases.
2. Make sure nothing is broken, damaged, or has been recalled.
3. Place all loose batteries and power banks in your carry-on bag, not your checked suitcase.
4. Put tape over battery terminals or keep each battery in its own case or bag.
5. If traveling with a smart bag, confirm the battery is removable and keep it with your carry-on even if you must check the bag.

By following these steps, you can avoid headaches at the airport, keep your electronics safe, and—most importantly—help prevent fires on board.

Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

• Forgetting to move spare batteries before check-in: Before you check your bags, double-check pockets and compartments where you might have stashed spare batteries or power banks.
• Not protecting the terminals: Even in your carry-on, unsecured batteries can rub against other things, creating a hazard. Always cover the battery ends or use the original packaging.
• Not knowing your battery size: Know how much power (watt-hours) your batteries have. Larger batteries (over 100 watt-hours) require approval and may be limited to two per person.
• Assuming “smart bags” are always allowed: Only bags with batteries that come out easily can be checked. The battery itself will still need to fly with you in the cabin.

Looking Ahead: Long-Term Effects

This FAA decision may seem like just another airport rule, but it could shape the future of air travel—and even the design of electronic devices. Manufacturers may start labeling batteries more clearly with watt-hour ratings to help travelers. Airlines might offer better guidance, reminders, and even new carry-on policies to adapt to more travelers carrying power banks and other devices on board.

For business travelers and those who depend on “mobile offices,” the effect is mostly about careful planning and making sure all electronics are always at hand. The flight experience may change, with more passengers needing access to charging devices during the journey. Airlines might respond with more charging ports and safer storage solutions inside the cabin.

At its heart, this is a safety-first rule. While it puts some extra work on travelers, it could help prevent the rare—but serious—fires that put hundreds of people at risk thousands of feet above the ground.

Stay Informed

Travel rules can change fast, so it’s smart to always check the latest guidance before you pack. The official FAA Pack Safe page on lithium batteries gives full details, including what is allowed, where it goes, and how to stay compliant. Keep this site handy, and review your airline’s website for any special instructions.

If you’re moving to or from the United States 🇺🇸 for work and need to bring electronics, always plan ahead and know the latest guidelines. Following these simple steps will help you travel smoothly and avoid any surprises.

Conclusion

The Federal Aviation Administration’s ban on lithium batteries in checked luggage is a direct response to real dangers, aiming to make flying safer for travelers everywhere. For business travelers and frequent flyers, the biggest change isn’t in what you use, but how you pack and carry it. All power banks, spare lithium batteries, and charging cases should move into your carry-on, and extra care must be taken to protect and check every battery.

By understanding and following these rules, you keep your trip safe, your electronics within reach, and help make air travel more secure for everyone on board. For all the latest official details, you can always visit the FAA’s Pack Safe website.

The next time you fly, remember: lithium batteries belong in your hand luggage, not your checked bag. This small change is a big step for safety in the skies.

Learn Today

Lithium Batteries → Rechargeable or disposable batteries used in phones, laptops, and portable chargers; sensitive to heat, damage, and short circuits.
Checked Luggage → Bags given to airline staff at check-in and transported in the airplane’s cargo hold, not accessible during flight.
Carry-On Bag → A small piece of luggage passengers keep with them in the airplane cabin for personal use during the flight.
Thermal Runaway → A rapid overheating process in lithium batteries which can cause fire or explosion when short-circuited or damaged.
Smart Luggage → Suitcases equipped with built-in electronics, such as GPS or charging ports, often powered by removable lithium batteries.

This Article in a Nutshell

The FAA, alongside the TSA, has banned most lithium battery-powered items from checked baggage nationwide. Travelers must pack power banks, loose batteries, and charging cases in their carry-ons. The move prioritizes flight safety, especially for business travelers relying on electronics. Always check updated airline and FAA rules before flying.
— By VisaVerge.com

Read more:

• New Rules Set to Change How Portable Batteries Fly With You
• TSA bans power banks in checked bags after in-flight fire incident
• Business Aviation Propulsion Surges With Tech Breakthroughs
• Reno-Tahoe Slammed by Wild Flight Disruptions
• JetBlue flight to Nassau declares emergency after portable charger fire