Power banks on planes: what Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and CASA allow

Finding the watt-hours on your power bank

A watt-hour (Wh) measures how much energy a battery holds, and it’s the number every airline here uses for its limits. Virgin Australia asks for the rating to be clearly displayed, so look on the case, often in small type near a milliamp-hour (mAh) figure. The mAh number on its own doesn’t tell you the watt-hours, because you need the battery’s voltage as well.

If yours only shows volts and mAh, CASA’s formula is simple: multiply the voltage by the mAh, then divide by 1,000. A bank marked 3.7V and 20,000mAh works out at 74Wh. Keep the label readable, too, because Emirates only takes a power bank whose rating is clearly visible on it.

Why it travels in the cabin

The lithium batteries inside can overheat and catch fire, so Qantas wants them in the cabin, where the crew can reach them. On Qantas, if staff find a power bank in a checked bag, they’ll confiscate it or throw it away. Check the side pockets of your suitcase before you drop it off.

On Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand, an earbud case can catch you out. Both count a charging case for earbuds as a power bank, and both allow two power banks per person. So if you pack an earbud case and two power banks, that’s one more than you’re allowed.

Using it on the flight

Bringing a power bank on board doesn’t mean you can use it there. You can’t use or charge it during a Qantas flight, even from the USB port in your seat, and Jetstar doesn’t allow onboard use or charging either. On Virgin Australia you can’t charge the bank on board or use it to charge another device, and Emirates bans both as well. Air New Zealand’s rule is narrower: you can never recharge it from the plane’s power, and you can’t use it to charge anything during taxi, take-off and landing.

Qantas, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand and Emirates all want it in the seat pocket or under the seat in front of you. On Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Emirates, where you can’t use it in the air, top up your phone at the gate and keep the power bank for after you land.

Packing it so it gets through

CASA asks you to protect each spare battery’s terminals, the metal contacts, from touching anything that could short them. There are three ways to do it: keep it in its original packaging, tape over the terminals, or give it its own plastic bag or case. Don’t take a bank that’s swollen or damaged: Jetstar won’t carry one, and CASA says to stop using a battery that shows signs of damage.

A big bank between 100Wh and 160Wh is still allowed on Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia, but it takes some planning. Jetstar handles approvals through Qantas and suggests asking at least five business days before you fly, then telling a Jetstar team member at the airport. Qantas and Virgin Australia want it approved before you travel and declared at check-in.

A bank under 100Wh skips all of that. The three in our guide to power banks you can fly with all sit well under it.

Flying with another airline

Airlines can set their own limits on how many spare batteries and power banks you carry, so check with yours before you fly. Emirates is the clearest example: it allows one power bank each, while Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia allow two. If your trip uses more than one airline, pack for the strictest rule on your booking, and you’re covered on every leg.