Power banks and vapes on planes: new summer warning about poorly packed lithium batteries

The British aviation authority's fresh summer campaign warns passengers that power banks, vapes, and spare lithium batteries must not be placed in checked baggage. This topic is also important for Hungarian travelers, as the rule is not just a British peculiarity: the handling of lithium batteries in international aviation is becoming increasingly strict, and a poorly packed external battery can cause delays, luggage retrieval, or an onboard security incident.

During the summer travel peak, many focus on the same things: whether the passport is ready, how large the carry-on luggage is, whether liquids fit within airport rules, and whether they will arrive at the airport on time. Meanwhile, a less flashy but increasingly important question is easily pushed to the background: where do phones, laptops, power banks, vapes, electric shavers, smartwatches, cameras, and other battery-powered devices go before departure.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority, or the British civil aviation authority, launched a summer alert in late June with the message "Pack Right. Safe Flight." According to the authority, incidents related to lithium batteries now occur approximately twice a week, and reports of passenger devices overheating or malfunctioning nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025. The CAA also stated that packing lithium battery-powered devices in checked baggage became significantly more common in 2025, while many passengers still do not understand why this is risky.

This may seem like a British internal matter at first, but it is actually a useful signal for every air passenger. Many people fly from Hungary to London, Manchester, Edinburgh, or other British cities, often on low-cost flights with carry-on luggage. Those departing from Budapest airport or Vienna airport and transferring to British, European, or overseas flights encounter the same principle: spare lithium batteries and power banks must be kept in the passenger cabin, not in the aircraft's cargo hold.

Why have power banks become such a big deal?

Lithium batteries are the invisible companions of modern travel. Phones, tablets, laptops, cameras, wireless headphones, portable game consoles, drones, electric toothbrushes, and power banks can all place a passenger in the same security category: these are devices that use high-energy-density batteries. Under normal conditions, these are safe, but in case of damage, manufacturing defects, overheating, short circuits, or improper storage, the cells can heat up uncontrollably, smoke, ignite, or emit toxic fumes.

The main difference between carry-on and checked baggage is not that one has less risk, but that a problem can be noticed sooner in the passenger cabin. If a power bank begins to overheat, smoke, or emit a strange smell on board, the passenger and crew can react faster. If the same happens in the cargo hold, deep inside a suitcase, the situation is much harder to manage. This is why the CAA, IATA, EASA, and ICAO all emphasize that spare batteries and power banks must be transported in the passenger cabin, protected against short circuits.

According to recent CAA data, the average passenger now carries four lithium battery-powered devices on a trip. On a larger, full-capacity wide-body aircraft, this could mean thousands of batteries. The problem is not the number of electronic devices itself, but that misunderstandings of the rules quickly add up: someone puts the power bank in the checked suitcase, another packs the vape in the wrong place, and yet another forgets the spare battery in the carry-on luggage handed over at the gate.

What is now being asked of passengers?

The most important message of the British campaign is simple: power banks, vapes, and spare lithium batteries should be with the passenger or in carry-on luggage, not in checked baggage. The authority specifically highlighted that power banks must not be charged during the flight. Laptops, if they must be placed in checked baggage, must be turned off completely; it is not enough to leave them in sleep or hibernate mode. Mobile phones, tablets, and other battery-powered devices should be packed so that they are not damaged and do not accidentally turn on.

International amendments from ICAO effective from March 2026 also treat power banks separately. The general guideline is that a maximum of two power banks per passenger may be carried, these must be kept in carry-on luggage, protected against short circuits, and must not be recharged on board. According to the CAA's rule summary, most power banks up to 100 watt-hours can be carried without special airline permission, while devices between 100 and 160 watt-hours may require prior airline approval. Spare batteries over 160 watt-hours are generally not permitted on passenger aircraft.

The watt-hour value is not always written in large letters on the device, but many manufacturers include it. If only milliampere-hours and voltage are visible, the capacity can be roughly calculated: divide the milliampere-hour value by a thousand, then multiply by the volt value. For example, a 20,000 mAh, 3.7 volt power bank is approximately 74 Wh, which typically falls into the under 100 Wh category. This does not mean the condition of the device, whether there is visible damage, and what the specific airline's own regulations say are irrelevant.

What does this mean for Hungarian travelers?

From the perspective of Hungarian travelers, the most important lesson is that the packing of battery-powered devices should not be improvised in the airport queue. If someone flies from Budapest to London, from Vienna to a British or overseas flight, or even to another European hub, it is worth creating a separate small checklist for electronic devices before departure. In addition to checking Budapest live flight information and Vienna flight information, it can be equally useful to review what remains in the checked suitcase.

Handing over carry-on luggage at the gate is a particularly risky point. On many low-cost and full flights, larger carry-on bags are directed to the cargo hold during boarding. In such cases, the passenger must remove the power bank, spare battery, vape, and preferably every small device containing a lithium battery at the gate. If these remain in the bag, the crew may request a search or removal of the luggage, which can cause delays.

When traveling toward London, this can be a particularly common situation, as the London Heathrow and London Gatwick routes are used by many for short city visits, business trips, or overseas transfers. The rule does not mean that the power bank is a forbidden item, but that it is considered dangerous when packed in the wrong place. Most passengers can carry their usual capacity external batteries without trouble if they are in carry-on luggage, protected from short circuits, and comply with the airline's limits.

How should you pack before departure?

The safest practice is for the passenger to place all spare batteries and power banks in a separate, easily accessible carry-on pocket. Connectors should be covered or devices placed so that they do not touch keys, coins, metal objects, or other batteries. Power banks that are damaged, swollen, unusually overheating, or of unknown origin are not recommended for air travel. Vapes must also be kept in the passenger cabin, but they must not be used or charged on the plane.

• Do not put power banks and spare batteries in checked baggage.
• If carry-on luggage is taken at the gate, remove battery-powered spare devices from it.
• Do not charge the power bank on board, and always check the airline's own rules.
• Transport laptops in checked baggage only when completely turned off and protected against damage.
• Do not take damaged, swollen, or unknown capacity batteries on a plane.

It is also worth noting that rules may differ in detail between airlines. Some carriers may handle the onboard use of power banks more strictly, others may require separate marking of the capacity, and in some countries, further restrictions may apply to vapes. Therefore, after purchasing the ticket, but no later than before check-in, it is advisable to review the airline's page regarding dangerous goods and electronic devices.

Not panic, but prevention

The fresh warning is not about flying suddenly becoming dangerous. Aviation remains extremely safe, and the crew is trained to handle battery-related incidents. The message from the authorities is rather that some of the risks can be reduced at home during packing. The more electronic devices we carry, the more important it is to know where each one goes.

In the summer travel season, this is particularly essential because airports are already operating under heavy load. A suitcase retrieved due to a poorly packed power bank, subsequent inspection, or boarding dispute can cause an unpleasant delay exactly when every minute counts. Those who organize their battery-powered devices in advance not only make their own journey calmer but also contribute to the safety and timely departure of the other passengers on the flight.

The practical conclusion is simple: the power bank does not belong in the checked suitcase, the vape does not belong in the cargo hold, and spare batteries should be treated as actual flight safety items. If this routine is included in the pre-departure checklist alongside the passport, boarding pass, and liquids bag, many inconveniences can be prevented.