Welcome to the airport, where things don’t make sense 90% of the time! You already know that there are some absurd rules at the airport. For example, you can’t bring water through airport security. On the surface, this may seem ridiculous, but there’s a key safety reason why that’s the case. Similarly, there’s a reason why your portable charger can’t be in your checked luggage. If it is, the TSA will either confiscate it at screening or pull you aside to remove it before your bag gets loaded.
Yes, your portable charger is a flight risk in checked luggage. But don’t worry, you can still travel with your charger. The TSA rules are simple: portable chargers need to go in your carry on bag. This isn’t a new rule, but the TSA has been cracking down harder on enforcement, especially during busy travel seasons. The reason comes down to one terrifying phrase: thermal runaway.
Lithium Batteries In Portable Charger Can Catch Fire Without Warning
Portable chargers use lithium ion batteries, which are capable of overheating and catching fire through a process called thermal runaway. This chain reaction happens when a battery cell short circuits, creating a burst of heat that triggers similar reactions in neighboring cells. Yes, it looks as scary as it sounds. Within seconds, temperatures can exceed 900°F, producing sparks and jets of flame that ignite nearby materials like clothing or luggage.
Thermal runaway can occur without warning due to manufacturing defects, physical damage, overheating, water exposure, or improper packing. In the cargo hold, where crew members can’t access burning items, a lithium battery fire becomes nearly impossible to control. It’s for precisely that reason that it’s best your portable charger stays in your carry-on.
Flight Crews Can Handle Cabin Fires
In the cabin, flight crews are trained to recognize and respond to lithium battery fires immediately. If your power bank starts overheating, expanding, smoking, or burning during a flight, crew members can contain it using specialized equipment. That’s why the FAA requires all spare lithium batteries, including power banks and phone charging cases, to stay in carry-on baggage where they remain accessible.
If your carry-on bag gets gate checked or moved to cargo at planeside, you must remove all portable chargers and keep them with you in the cabin. And honestly, it’s probably for the best. Imagine you’re watching a TV show on your phone and it dies. You’d prefer having your portable charger with you, right?
