Despite being a travel staple for many, portable chargers are in fact not allowed in checked luggage. This is due to their risk of catching fire, which could prove deadly if it happened in the plane’s hold.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) warns: “Poorly manufactured, faulty and misused lithium batteries and those which have not been protected against short circuit can experience something called ‘thermal runaway’. This results in them getting so hot that they can catch fire, explode and ignite other nearby batteries.”
This means that lithium batteries must be carried in the hand luggage, which allows them to be less of a threat, as a fire would be spotted much quicker than in the hold luggage.
Acknowledging a similar incident would still be dangerous even if it happened in the hand luggage, the CCA said: “Similarly, if such an event occurred in the passenger cabin it could cause serious injury to a passenger or crew member. Accordingly, Controlled portable electronic devices (C-PEDs) are subject to safety design and operational standards.”
One airline even took this ban a step further, with a South Korean airline banning power banks even from the overhead locker.
Air Busan has said that passengers need to keep the devices on their person at all times.
This rule was introduced after a fire broke out on one of the airline’s planes in January 2025.
Portable chargers are not the only surprising item not allowed in checked-in luggage.
Christmas crackers are also banned from the majority of airlines, due to their flammable nature.
