Five Gadgets That Can Stall You at Airport Security

A traveler's backpack got pulled aside at the scanner recently, and the culprit turned out to be five power banks packed for testing. The screening ended fine once agents saw what they were, but it was a useful reminder: certain electronics draw extra scrutiny, and knowing the rules in advance saves time at the checkpoint.

Power banks must ride in carry-on bags, never checked luggage, and most fall under the 100 watt-hour limit - a 20,000mAh bank at 3.7 volts works out to 74Wh. Lithium batteries stay with you because they can overheat and start fires. Larger batteries over 100Wh need airline approval and are capped at two per person. Standard AA lithium metal batteries are allowed up to 2 grams of lithium each, ideally left in their packaging.

E-cigarettes and vapes belong in carry-on only; Southwest limits passengers to two and bans charging or using them on board. Laser pointers are generally fine, though Air Canada prohibits them entirely. Smart luggage with chargers or GPS must have removable batteries if checked, and trackers like AirTags stay within limits. Hoverboards and ride-on bags are barred by several airlines, including American, Delta and Air Canada.

Electric toothbrushes travel in carry-on, but if one switches on accidentally mid-scan, agents may come investigating. As for phones, only the recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is banned outright. Expect to remove laptops, tablets and handheld consoles for screening, and be ready to power devices on if asked - a dead battery could complicate things.