It has become an essential item for every traveler, whether for a weekend getaway or a longer adventure. Nowadays, phones have all the features: GPS, camera, reservation confirmation emails, boarding passes… So, it’s impossible to run out of battery.
In fact, power banks have become a key item on our packing list, because with them, even if you’re lost in the middle of nowhere, you have the guarantee of staying connected to civilization. However, some airlines now prohibit these little devices.
A handy item but not without risks
While they charge your various electronic devices, during the flight, power banks can overheat.
can cause a fire. This was notably the case in January 2025: in South Korea, an Airbus A321 caught fire on the tarmac due to overheating of an external battery.See this post on Instagram
To prevent this type of dramatic situation, some airlines have simply banned charging electronic devices with an external battery during the flight. Since May 2025, for example, Lufthansa no longer allows you to charge your phone with an external battery or...to connect this last one to the aircraft's outlets.
An item allowed in the cabin but turned off
However, this does not mean that the external battery must be placed in the hold; quite the opposite. Paris Airport clearly reminds us that any item containing “ a lithium battery, incapacitating and paralyzing products, toxic or corrosive materials, compressed gases, or even explosives ” is prohibited in the hold to “ prevent risks during the flight, especially fires, explosions or dangerous emissions .”
So you have the right to have...You can bring your external battery with you in the cabin, but it must remain turned off and must not be used or charged. Air France had already put this measure in place. The airline reminds us that they can be present in the cabin, but “ only if they are under your supervision and if they are quickly accessible .”
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