American Airlines now limits passengers to two portable power banks, each no larger than 100 watt-hours, and says they must remain visible or otherwise within reach for the entirety of a flight. The tighter rules, which took effect on May 1, 2026, also ban recharging power banks using in-seat power and forbid stowing them in overhead bins. The airline says the change is a safety step after a rise in lithium-battery incidents and will apply to all American Airlines flights. Passengers should check the carrier’s passenger-facing guidance and restricted-items page before travel.

American Airlines has changed what travellers can bring and do with portable chargers onboard, capping the number of power banks per passenger at two and setting a 100 watt-hour limit for each unit. The new passenger-facing guidance, which the airline began enforcing on May 1, 2026, requires that portable batteries remain visible to crew while they're in use, and when not actively charging they must stay within the passenger’s reach rather than being stowed in overhead compartments.

What’s allowed, and what isn’t

Under the updated policy, passengers may carry up to two external power banks that plug into electronic devices, provided each one is 100 watt-hours or less. Consumers who own luggage with built-in lithium-ion battery charging ports are also covered by the rule, so some charging suitcases will fall under the same limits. The airline’s guidance is explicit that very large portable power banks and battery-powered generators remain prohibited from both carry-on and checked baggage on American flights.

The company also forbids recharging portable batteries using the aircraft power supply. That means if you plug your phone into a power bank while it charges from an in-seat outlet, the carrier’s guidance considers that recharging the battery aboard the aircraft and therefore not permitted. Multiple accounts of the policy clarify that power banks can't be tucked away in overhead bins while the aircraft is in the air, whether they're charging or not.

Why American changed the rules, and how other carriers compare

American framed the update as a safety measure following a recent uptick in lithium-battery incidents. Reporting cited Federal Aviation Administration data showing roughly 100 lithium battery incidents in 2025, and American referenced multiple in-flight battery events this year as part of its rationale for communicating the change to customers.

Industry precedent has shaped passenger expectations. Southwest introduced a similar limit last year that restricts customers to one power bank per person.

Mastheads

United updated its guidance earlier in 2026 to ask customers to keep portable chargers and vaping devices out of overhead bins and accessible to crew. Delta permits lithium batteries to be kept accessible but doesn't require them to be visible while in use, which coverage contrasts with American’s stricter visibility requirement.

American’s corporate statement, cited in coverage of the change, says the measures are intended to preserve passengers’ ability to charge devices while ensuring crew can respond quickly if a battery problem arises. The airline’s restricted-items web page continues to bar large portable power banks and lithium-ion battery generators from both carry-on and checked baggage, though that web text doesn't explicitly restate the two-device, 100 watt-hour limit now communicated in its passenger-facing guidance.

That difference has created an ambiguity for travellers. The restricted-items page forbids "large portable power banks" without listing a numeric cutoff, while the passenger-facing policy and media coverage specify the 100 watt-hour threshold and a two-device cap.

The two presentations overlap, but they don't reconcile the language, so passengers who rely only on the restricted-items page might not see the precise limits.

Practical questions follow for passengers packing for trips. If you normally tuck a power bank into checked luggage, the updated wording reiterates that very large portable batteries and generators aren't accepted in checked or carry-on bags.

If you use a charging suitcase, plan for it to be treated like other lithium battery devices. And if you rely on in-seat power to top up a power bank, you will no longer be able to do that on American flights.

The rules are intended to make crew intervention easier should a battery fault occur, by keeping batteries visible or within reach. Passengers should also be aware that other carriers have taken different approaches, so limits and requirements vary by airline. For the smoothest experience, check both the carrier’s passenger guidance and its restricted-items page before you fly.

Related Articles

The policy took effect on May 1, 2026. Passengers are limited to two portable chargers of 100 watt-hours or less, and those batteries must be visible to crew while in use or remain within reach at other times.

This article was created with AI assistance.