Sarah had been counting down the days to her flight from Frankfurt to New York. With a 14-hour journey ahead, she’d packed her trusty power bank, downloaded three seasons of her favorite show, and loaded her e-reader with enough books to last a month. Twenty minutes into the flight, her phone battery hit 30 percent, so she reached for her portable charger like she’d done on dozens of flights before.
“Ma’am, you can’t use that during flight,” the flight attendant said gently but firmly. Sarah looked confused – she’d been using power banks on flights for years. What she didn’t realize was that she’d just encountered one of the aviation industry’s newest and strictest rule changes, one that’s catching thousands of passengers completely off guard.
If you’re like Sarah and rely on your portable battery to keep your devices alive during long flights, you need to know about these new restrictions before your next trip. The changes are more significant than most travelers realize, and they’re spreading across major European airlines faster than you might expect.
Major Airlines Just Changed the Rules on Power Banks
The Lufthansa Group has completely overhauled its policy on power banks on flights, and the new restrictions are surprisingly strict. This affects every passenger flying with Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, Edelweiss Air, and Brussels Airlines – that’s millions of travelers across Europe and beyond.
Here’s what’s changed: you can still bring your power bank on board, but you absolutely cannot use it to charge any device during the flight. No exceptions, no special circumstances. The battery pack must remain switched off and unplugged for the entire journey.
“We’ve seen passengers getting genuinely upset when they realize they can’t charge their phones mid-flight,” explains aviation safety consultant Mark Richardson. “Many people have built their entire travel routine around having that extra battery power available.”
The old rules allowed passengers to use power banks during flight as long as the device stayed visible, typically on the seat tray table. You could plug your phone into the battery pack without any issues. Those days are officially over for these airlines.
But there’s another change that’s catching people off guard: you must keep the power bank on your person or within immediate reach. That means no storing it in your backpack in the overhead bin, even if it’s switched off. The battery needs to stay in your pocket, personal item bag, or at your feet where you can access it instantly.
What You Can and Cannot Do With Power Banks Now
The confusion around these new rules has led to a lot of misinformation on social media, so let’s clear things up with the facts:
| Allowed | Not Allowed |
|---|---|
| Bringing power bank in carry-on luggage | Using power bank to charge devices during flight |
| Keeping power bank in pocket or personal bag | Storing power bank in overhead bin |
| Power bank switched off throughout flight | Charging power bank from seat power outlet |
| Power bank capacity up to airline limits | Using power bank for any purpose in-flight |
The key restrictions for power banks on flights now include:
- Zero usage during flight – no charging devices whatsoever
- Must remain on your person or within immediate reach
- Cannot be charged from aircraft power systems
- Must stay completely powered down
- Standard capacity limits still apply (usually 100Wh maximum)
“The biggest misconception is that power banks are banned entirely,” says airline industry analyst Jennifer Torres. “They’re not banned – you just can’t use them once you’re in the air. It’s a significant practical difference that affects how people plan their entertainment and work during flights.”
Why Airlines Are Getting Strict About Portable Batteries
This isn’t just airlines being difficult for the sake of it. The changes stem from genuine safety concerns about lithium-ion batteries and their behavior at high altitudes.
Power banks contain densely packed energy cells that can malfunction under certain conditions. When these batteries fail, they can enter something called thermal runaway – essentially, they start heating up uncontrollably and can catch fire or even explode. At 35,000 feet, that’s not a risk any airline wants to take.
“We’ve had incidents where passengers’ power banks have started smoking or heating up during flight,” reveals former cabin crew member Lisa Chen, who worked for a major European carrier for eight years. “When that happens, we need immediate access to the device to deal with it safely. If it’s buried in luggage or actively charging something, that becomes much more complicated.”
The requirement to keep power banks on your person isn’t random – it’s so flight crew can quickly locate and isolate any battery that starts malfunctioning. If your power bank begins overheating while it’s stuffed in an overhead bin, precious minutes could be lost trying to identify the source and retrieve it.
Airlines have also noticed that passengers using power banks during flight sometimes don’t notice when their device starts warming up unusually, especially if they’re sleeping or distracted. Keeping the batteries inactive eliminates this risk entirely.
How This Affects Your Travel Experience
For frequent travelers who depend on power banks, these changes represent a significant shift in how you’ll need to plan your flights. Long-haul passengers are feeling the impact most acutely.
If you’re flying on any of the affected airlines, you’ll need to rely entirely on the aircraft’s built-in charging options. Most modern planes offer USB ports or power outlets at each seat, but older aircraft might leave you without options if your device battery dies.
Business travelers who need to work throughout long flights are particularly affected. Without the safety net of a power bank, your laptop or tablet needs to last the entire journey on its built-in battery.
“I used to feel confident about working through a 12-hour flight because I had my power bank as backup,” says frequent business traveler David Kumar. “Now I have to completely rethink how I manage my devices and maybe even which flights I book, prioritizing newer aircraft with reliable seat power.”
The changes also affect how you pack for travel. Since your power bank must stay accessible, you can’t just throw it in your main carry-on bag. It needs to live in a pocket or small personal item that stays with you throughout the flight.
For families traveling with multiple devices – phones, tablets, gaming systems, e-readers – the impact is even more pronounced. Parents who used to share a large-capacity power bank among several devices now need to ensure every device is fully charged before boarding and hope the plane’s power systems can handle their needs.
What Other Airlines Might Follow Suit
Industry experts believe this is just the beginning. When a major airline group like Lufthansa implements new safety measures, other carriers often evaluate whether they should adopt similar policies.
“Safety regulations in aviation tend to spread across the industry,” explains aviation consultant Richardson. “If one major carrier determines that unrestricted power bank use poses too much risk, others will likely examine their own policies. We could see this become a wider industry standard within the next year or two.”
The timing of these changes also suggests they’re part of a broader reassessment of lithium battery risks in aviation. With the increasing power density of modern batteries and the growing number of devices passengers carry, airlines are taking a more cautious approach to potential fire hazards.
Some regional European carriers have already begun reviewing their power bank policies, though most haven’t announced changes yet. The message is clear: if you’re planning flights in Europe, don’t assume the old rules still apply.
FAQs
Can I still bring my power bank on Lufthansa Group flights?
Yes, you can bring power banks on flights, but you cannot use them to charge devices during the flight and must keep them on your person.
Which airlines have banned power bank usage?
The Lufthansa Group airlines including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, Edelweiss Air, and Brussels Airlines have banned in-flight power bank usage.
What happens if my power bank is in my overhead luggage?
You must move it to your personal area immediately when instructed by crew, as overhead storage of power banks is now prohibited on these airlines.
Are there any exceptions for medical devices?
Medical device exceptions may apply, but you should contact the airline directly before your flight to clarify specific requirements and get proper authorization.
Will other European airlines adopt similar power bank restrictions?
While no other major carriers have announced similar changes yet, aviation safety experts expect more airlines may follow suit in the coming months.
Can I charge my power bank from the airplane’s power outlet?
No, charging power banks from aircraft power systems was already prohibited and remains banned under the new rules.
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