Southwest to limit power banks

Southwest Airlines will start limiting passengers to one portable charger or power bank per person on April 20, tightening its cabin rules for lithium batteries. (nytimes.com) The new rule also bars travelers from storing power banks in overhead bins or checked bags, and Southwest says the devices cannot be recharged with in-seat power during a flight. (nytimes.com) Southwest’s current public guidance allows up to 20 spare batteries, including portable chargers, in carry-on bags if they are 100 watt-hours or less and their terminals are protected from short circuit. (southwest.com) Federal rules already keep power banks out of checked luggage. The Transportation Security Administration says power banks must go in carry-on bags, and the Federal Aviation Administration says spare lithium batteries must stay with the passenger in the cabin. (tsa.gov) (faa.gov) The safety issue is heat that can build inside a damaged or defective lithium battery. The Federal Aviation Administration says that process, called thermal runaway, can start without warning and can produce smoke, fire, or extreme heat in the cabin. (faa.gov) The Federal Aviation Administration’s public incident log says it has recorded 709 verified lithium battery events involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat since March 3, 2006. News reports citing the agency said 95 were recorded in 2025 and 14 more had been logged by early March 2026. (faa.gov) (newsweek.com) Southwest is going further than the federal baseline on quantity. The Federal Aviation Administration says there is no general quantity limit for most spare lithium batteries under 100 watt-hours if they are for the passenger’s own use, while Southwest is moving to a one-device cap. (faa.gov) (nytimes.com) The airline has not banned portable chargers outright. Passengers can still bring one onboard under the new policy, but frequent flyers who carry separate battery packs for a phone, tablet, or laptop will have to repack before April 20. (nytimes.com) That leaves Southwest passengers with a simpler packing rule than before: one power bank, in the cabin, where crew members can reach it quickly if it overheats. (nytimes.com)