Brits warned as four EU countries have little-known ban on popular luggage item

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a stark warning to British holidaymakers preparing to jet off across Europe this summer due to a little-known luggage ban
Sun-worshipping Brits gearing up for their summer getaway have been hit with a stern warning over a common travel accessory.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is cautioning holidaymakers jetting off to Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy against stowing portable chargers in their hold luggage, citing significant safety concerns. The body states these popular items - which can give your phones and tablets an extra boost of charge - shouldn't be packed in your check baggage due to the potential fire hazard they pose.
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Should a portable charger malfunction or sustain damage, it could trigger a severe fire that would be unmanageable within the aircraft's cargo area, reports the Express. While this isn't a new rule, and has actually been in place since 2016, many travellers are still unaware of the ban.
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"Poorly manufactured, faulty and misused lithium batteries and those which have not been protected against short circuit can experience something called 'thermal runaway'," CAA states. "This results in them getting so hot that they can catch fire, explode and ignite other nearby batteries."
If you can't live without your portable charger, don't worry. Most airlines will allow you to bring the device onboard - as long as they're stored in your hand luggage and left completely switched off (and not just left in standby mode).
It's always better to play it safe, and check your airline's T&C's before taking your device onboard. There are still restrictions based on the power bank's wattage (which tends to be capped at 100 watt-hours) as well as how the device is stored.
For example, EasyJet allows passengers to bring power banks in their hand luggage, but they must be individually protected to prevent short circuits. This can be done by taping the terminals or placing each power bank in a separate plastic bag. There is also a limit of two power banks per passenger and the capacity of each power bank must not exceed 100 Wh.
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The same restrictions apply to smart luggage in the cabin. For safety reasons, the airline requires that lithium battery/power banks for smart luggage be disconnected.
"Items containing damaged/defective lithium batteries must not be carried," eastJet states on its website. "Devices must be 12 V or less and 100Wh or less. A maximum of two spare batteries may be carried."
British Airways also allows batteries of up to 100Wh, including power banks, to be carried only in cabin luggage but they must be insulated from contact with metal. On this airline, passengers are allowed a maximum of two spare lithium-ion batteries with a Watt-hour rating between 100-160. Any power bank built into smart luggage must be disconnected before being brought into the cabin.
South Korean airline Air Busan has taken the ban even further - after banning portable charges from being kept in the overhead locker. According to reports, passengers must now keep the device on their person at all times.