It's summer season and for many millions of people, that means the great British getaway is upon us! Record breaking home weather conditions have become increasingly familiar with hot sunny conditions providing the perfect introduction to a home summer. But, despite these baking conditions at home, it seems there is an endless appetite to seek alternative destinations for a short break getaway or longer two week holidays to European or other destinations further afield. We only forsee that this trend will continue for years to come. However, as responsible travellers and tourists to other countries, we need to be aware of the regulations that must accompany all airlines flight travel plans.

As many people have questions regarding the regulations for traveling with portable power sources, at Illuminated Promotions & Branding, we have put together this helpful guide on the rules for taking power banks on flights from the UK.


Individual Airline Policies (Summer 2026)

British Airways: Allows power banks under 100Wh in cabin baggage without prior approval. For devices between 100Wh and 160Wh, you must obtain airline approval before traveling, with a strict limit of four per person. Anything over 160Wh is prohibited.

EasyJet: Allows power banks up to 100Wh in cabin baggage. Between 100Wh and 160Wh, you must obtain prior approval from the airline, limited to two per person. Power banks must not be connected to a device or in use during the flight.

Ryanair: Permitted in cabin baggage only, up to 100Wh. For power banks between 100Wh and 160Wh, prior approval is required, limited to two per person. Ensure the rating label is fully legible at security.

Virgin Atlantic: Allows power banks up to 100Wh in carry-on luggage. You must obtain permission in advance for power banks between 100Wh and 160Wh, with a maximum of two spare batteries allowed per passenger.

Emirates: Permitted in cabin baggage only. Power banks up to 100Wh do not require approval. Devices between 100Wh and 160Wh require prior approval from the airline, limited to a maximum of two.

As a general rule summary, we felt the below information guidance will be useful reading for travellers:

Hand Luggage Only
Power banks (lithium-ion batteries) must be carried in your hand luggage or on your person. They are strictly prohibited in the hold (checked-in luggage) due to fire safety risks.

Capacity Limits (Wh)
Up to 100Wh: Most standard power banks fall into this category and are generally permitted without prior approval from the airline.
100Wh to 160Wh: You usually need to seek prior approval from your airline before flying. Most airlines limit passengers to two power banks within this range.
Over 160Wh: These are typically banned on passenger aircraft and must be shipped via cargo.

How to Calculate Watt-hours (Wh)
If your power bank only shows Milliamp-hours (mAh), you can calculate the Wh using this formula: (mAh / 1000) x Voltage (V) = Wh (Example: A 20,000mAh battery at 3.7V is 74Wh).

Safety Tips For Power Bank Flight Travel

Keep the power bank in its original packaging or protect the terminals with tape to prevent short-circuiting.
Ensure the capacity label is clearly visible; if airport security cannot read the rating, they may have grounds to confiscate the device.

We always welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can tailor a selection of branded gadgets and corporate logo powerbanks to align with your upcoming corporate initiatives. Please let us know if you would like to review some samples or discuss a customised proposal by getting in touch with us at your earliest convenience.

At Illuminated Promotions & Branding we pride ourselves in being able to help deliver the best possible corporate marketing plans in relation to promotional branded products and your options are endless. Get in touch with a member of the team and discuss how a responsibly chosen branded portable gadgets and power banks marketing campaign might become the perfect choice of advertising to further enhance your corporate messaging outreach throughout the summer holiday season.