A woman tried to give her phone a charge two hours into a 10 hour flight. Then she got yelled at by a flight attendant the moment she brought out her power bank.
TikTok content creator Anna, who runs the travel account @annn_where_next and says she’s traveled to 41 countries, posted a video asking a question that hasn’t come up for her and many other passengers before: Are passengers allowed to use power banks? If not, why?
Anna may have been surprised to find that power banks weren’t allowed on her flight. But it turns out that’s a recent change for most international fliers.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced new rules and regulations surrounding power bank usage on flights on March 27. That includes not recharging devices during active air travel and limiting passengers to two power banks per person. This change comes after widespread criticism of lithium battery-powered device usage on flights, which can cause thermal runaways and start fires onboard.
The ICAO wasn’t the first organization to start banning power banks. Before its ruling, a large number of airlines banned power bank usage on flights.
Airlines began raising concerns after an Air Busan plane caught fire in January. Later findings concluded that the fire was likely caused by a power bank onboard. South Korea has moved to institute nationwide restrictions limiting power banks and e-cigarettes in cabins as a precaution.
For passengers traveling from the United States, the new ICAO ruling means they can no longer use power banks during international flights. It does not prohibit them from bringing power banks onboard however. They can still be brought onto flights as long as they’re limited, not in use, and safely secured.
These rulings also don’t affect domestic flights in the U.S., as a majority of U.S. airlines do not have these restrictions on power banks. One commenter even pointed this out, saying, “Literally just went to Florida and I distinctly remember during the safety overview, they said, ‘Keep power banks with you, they cannot go into the overhead bin. If your power bank starts overheating, please alert a flight attendant immediately.’… They’re very much allowed.”
The Federal Aviation Authority requires that power banks are taken onboard flights as carry-ons only. The FAA also specifically recommends that lithium batteries and other charging-related devices do not go in the overhead bins and instead stay near the passenger.
Comments on Anna’s post indicate that awareness of the new international power bank restrictions is inconsistent.
“This is literally the first time in my life I am hearing that we can’t use power banks on planes,” commenter kit kat said.
Martha May Whovier was among those who said she has routinely used the devices without issue. “I fly 30+ times a year and use a powerbank every time. No one has ever said anything to me,” she wrote.
Others, who potentially have flown internationally more recently, pushed back.
“It’s pretty common that you’re not allowed to use them during the flight,” whodinsk1 said.
Some blamed people for paying less than close attention to the flight crew.
“It’s CLEARLY explained in the safety measures at the beginning of every flight if you guys cared to listen for 5 minutes,” wrote one exasperated traveler.
Anna’s TikTok account does not accept direct messages from people she doesn’t follow. We’ve reached out to Anna via TikTok comment for more information. We’ll let you know if she responds.
@annn_where_next since when are you not allowed to use power banks??
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