- AirTags remain fully permitted in 2026 for both carry-on and checked baggage under federal rules.
- The small CR2032 batteries bypass strict lithium limits due to their extremely low lithium metal content.
- Smart luggage and power banks face tighter restrictions and screening compared to non-rechargeable tracking devices.
AirTags remain fully permitted in both carry-on and checked baggage under 2026 TSA and FAA rules, giving travelers a green light to use the Apple trackers as airlines and airports tighten scrutiny of other battery-powered items.
The small devices, which rely on Apple’s Find My network to help users locate luggage and other belongings, stay within federal limits because each AirTag uses a single CR2032 coin cell battery with 0.109 grams of lithium content. That is below the FAA threshold of under 2 grams of lithium per battery for both baggage types.
Travelers can place AirTags in carry-on bags or checked luggage, but the battery must stay installed in the device for checked bags. Spare CR2032 batteries are carry-on only and must be protected against short circuits, including by taping terminals or keeping them in original packaging.
Why AirTags Avoid the Tightest 2026 Battery Rules
The allowance leaves AirTags largely untouched by the broader battery restrictions that have tightened in 2026. Regulators and airlines have focused instead on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, including power banks and smart luggage batteries, after thermal runaway incidents pushed authorities toward stricter handling rules.
Under IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations effective Jan 1, 2026, lithium batteries shipped alone or in equipment must be at or below 30% state-of-charge. AirTags bypass that requirement because they use non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries rather than lithium-ion cells.
TSA and FAA rules still draw a sharp line between AirTags and spare lithium-ion batteries. Power banks remain prohibited in checked bags. Smart luggage batteries must be removable. For carry-on use, lithium-ion batteries under 100Wh are allowed, while batteries from 101-160Wh are limited to two with approval, and anything over 160Wh is banned.
Screening, Screening Technology, and Placement
That distinction matters as airports expand screening technology. TSA and FAA enhancements in 2026 place more emphasis on “enhanced visibility”, with AI-driven CT scanners at U.S. airports detecting non-compliant items with near-100% accuracy, up from 2025.
AirTags do not face quantity limits under the rules described for installed devices. They may still draw attention during screening, and travelers may need to make them accessible, much as they would other small electronics.
For carry-on screening, travelers can keep AirTags in a clear, quart-sized bag with chargers and other small accessories. TSA officers may scan or remove them, similar to phones, and travelers can speed the process by keeping the devices easy to inspect.
For checked baggage, guidance centers on placement rather than prohibition. Travelers can put AirTags in an interior pocket or pouch so the tracker does not shift during rough handling, while still giving a location signal through the Find My network if a bag goes missing.
The FAA’s PackSafe guidance allows Bluetooth trackers like AirTags in checked baggage if lithium content is no more than 0.3g or lithium-ion energy is no more than 2.7Wh. AirTags exceed neither threshold.
Why Travelers Are Using AirTags More Often
That has helped make the trackers more common as baggage delays and mishandling continue to trouble air travel. U.S. airlines are reporting over 1.2 million daily passengers in 2026, while the lost luggage rate at major hubs remains 0.5%.
Against that backdrop, AirTags have become a common way for passengers to keep tabs on checked bags in real time. Their appeal comes from a simple combination: a small battery, broad airline compliance, and a tracking system that relies on nearby Apple devices in the Find My network.
U.S. airlines including Delta, United and American mirror TSA and FAA rules and allow AirTags in both carry-on and checked baggage. No bans are reported for those carriers.
Delta and United also expanded Find My integration for their bags in 2025, complementing personal trackers and pushing recovery performance higher. Over 90% of lost bags are now recoverable within 24 hours, and Delta and United integrations boost recovery to 95%.
AirTags and Broader Carry-On Enforcement
AirTags also sit outside another area of tighter enforcement in 2026: carry-on size rules. Airlines are applying stricter checks to the standard 22″x14″x9″ limit, including wheels and handles, and oversized carry-ons can face fees up to $100.
That bag-size scrutiny affects travelers at the gate, but the trackers themselves do not trigger flags under the rules described. Travelers facing gate checks are still advised to remove all batteries to the cabin, a precaution aimed at batteries more broadly.
International Airline Policies
International carriers follow the same basic logic on AirTags, though wider battery policies vary more sharply. Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian allow AirTags, while applying bans on power bank use during flights. Emirates, Singapore and Cathay Pacific treat trackers as compliant, with carry-on preferred and checked baggage allowed if the item meets battery rules.
In Canada, CATSA matches TSA policy, allowing lithium metal batteries under 2g in both carry-on and checked baggage. For travelers on international itineraries, the airline named as the operating carrier can matter, which is why passengers should check their e-ticket for “operated by”.
Rules outside the United States have tightened most around rechargeable batteries rather than tracking tags. In the EU and UK, EASA aligns with IATA on lithium-ion state-of-charge limits. In Asia and Australia, carriers including Qantas and Jetstar ban power bank use, while allowing trackers.
Those in-flight restrictions have spread across several major airlines in 2026. Lufthansa, Emirates and Singapore Airlines now require power banks to remain in carry-on baggage, forbid charging devices from them or recharging the banks onboard, and direct passengers to store them under the seat rather than in the overhead bin.
AirTags avoid those restrictions because they are not rechargeable and do not function like large external batteries. Devices remain inactive without motion, minimizing the fire risks that have driven the latest regulatory changes.
Screening Changes and Practical Packing Tips
Screening practices have changed in other ways. All devices face the 3-1-1 liquids rule, though that has been relaxed at scanner-equipped airports, and electronics may need to be removed for bins. AI scanners rolling out in early 2026 can see through bags and instantly flag lithium-ion batteries above 100Wh.
For travelers carrying multiple battery-powered items, that means AirTags are among the least complicated to pack. Installed in a bag or tucked in a clear pouch, they fit comfortably within TSA and FAA rules while larger batteries face more careful inspection.
Loose lithium metal batteries remain more restricted. Travelers can carry them on board if they protect the terminals, but they cannot place them in checked baggage. Multi-device travelers can bring no more than 15 spare lithium-ion batteries in carry-on baggage, with terminals taped.
That leaves AirTags in an unusual position: widely accepted at a time when many other travel electronics face tighter oversight. Their non-rechargeable design sets them apart from products that have drawn airline concern, especially as incidents involving lithium-ion batteries rose 20% in 2025.
The result is a simple set of practical steps for passengers. In carry-on bags, AirTags can go in a clear pouch with chargers and other small electronics for quick screening access. In checked luggage, travelers can place the tracker in an interior pouch with the battery installed and turn on lost mode before departure.
Updating firmware and pairing the AirTag before a flight is also recommended. On international trips, travelers should review airline-specific battery rules the night before departure and avoid onboard power bank charging where bans apply.
Those measures come as airports and airlines enforce more rules on what passengers pack and where they store it. Carry-on sizers have become stricter, weight caps of 8-10kg remain common on international flights, and overhead-bin pressure continues at busy hubs.
AirTags have benefited from that pressure. As travelers try to avoid losing sight of bags in crowded terminals and on connecting flights, the trackers offer precise geolocation, unknown tracker alerts and a 1-year battery life without crossing the limits that govern more powerful batteries.
For passengers wondering whether they can pack an AirTag before a trip, the answer under 2026 TSA and FAA rules remains straightforward. The trackers are allowed in both carry-on and checked baggage, and their small CR2032 battery keeps them on the compliant side of a battery regime that has grown stricter almost everywhere else.
