Hand luggage or suitcase? Powerbank on the plane? What you need to know

Can you take the powerbank on vacation? And where should you pack it? The most important questions and answers about the additional battery and what you should bear in mind for your flight.

It makes sense to indicate at the check-in counter that you are carrying a power bank with you. The staff may ask you about the capacity. At the security checkpoint, you should remove the power bank from your hand luggage and have it screened separately.

Powerbanks are allowed on the plane, but only in hand luggage. This is because the lithium-ion battery can cause a fire in the event of a short circuit. A fire can be noticed and extinguished immediately in the passenger cabin, but not in the hold. The power banks must not exceed a maximum capacity of 100 Wh (watt hours) or 27,000 mAh (milliampere hours). This is roughly equivalent to the power of nine Iphone 13s.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a maximum of two powerbanks per person may be transported in hand baggage as long as they do not exceed 100 Wh in total. Check with your airline in advance about their specific regulations.

Some airlines allow you to charge your power bank during the flight, but not during take-off and landing. Make sure that the power bank does not overheat. Many offer sockets or USB ports at your seat. At Swiss, it is not possible to charge batteries during the flight.

If you want to carry a power bank with a higher capacity, you must fill out a special form in advance. Swiss also states the following on its website regarding transportation conditions: "All batteries must have individually insulated connections to prevent short circuits. This is possible if the batteries are transported in their original packaging, exposed terminals are taped or each battery is packed in a separate plastic bag or protective bag."