Southwest Tightens the Rules on Your Travel Battery Pack

That portable charger you rely on to keep your phone alive at the airport just became a more serious piece of travel gear. Southwest Airlines is putting new, firm limits on the lithium-ion power banks passengers can bring aboard, effective July 1, 2025. The policy, which aligns with federal safety guidance, caps any single power bank at 100 watt-hours and bans all such devices from checked luggage.

This shift from suggestion to rule comes as reports of battery-related incidents on planes have increased. The Federal Aviation Administration noted over 60 cases involving smoke or fire from lithium batteries on U.S. flights in 2023 alone. A standalone power bank, often just a bare battery in a case, poses a unique risk if it's damaged or poorly made, capable of intense, hard-to-contain fires.

For most travelers, the change won't be an issue. Common power banks for phones, typically under 20,000 milliamp-hours, usually fall below the 100-watt-hour limit. The trouble comes with larger units meant for laptops or camping, which can easily exceed the cap. The real safety emphasis is on the checked bag ban; a fire starting in the cargo hold presents a severe danger.

Southwest's move signals airlines are getting stricter on a known risk. Other major carriers have similar policies on the books, but enforcement has been uneven. Now, with Southwest making it explicit, passengers will need to check their device's specs—usually found on the label—before heading to the gate. As summer travel peaks, the message is clear: keep your power bank with you, make sure it's within limits, and don't pack it in a suitcase.