Heads up, travellers: Southwest Airlines limits power banks to one per person

Who here never leaves home without a power bank in their backpack? I’ve lost count of how many times a portable charger has saved my day – whether it’s a night out that stretches across town or a tight connection between flights. Well, if you’re planning to fly with Southwest Airlines (or any other airline in the coming months), you need to know about a change that’s caught everyone off guard: from now on, only one power bank per passenger. No more stashing a stash of extra batteries in your carry-on.

Why has Southwest decided to tighten the rules?

This isn’t a new story, but the trigger came from recent incidents on board aircraft. Lithium-ion batteries overheating, catching fire… you’ve seen the videos. Southwest Airlines decided to act before it turned into a tragedy. Now, each traveller may carry only one single battery charger during the flight. And don’t think you can hide a second one in your pocket or checked luggage – because items with lithium cells are banned from the hold. The rule applies to all types, from humble emergency models to the beefed-up beasts.

If you’re the type who carries an Apple MagSafe Battery Pack for your iPhone plus a generic power bank for your other devices, you’ll have to choose. Or convince a friend to carry the spare for you. Enforcement is set to be strict, especially on US domestic flights, and other major airlines are likely to follow suit later this year.

And what about those popular transparent Ankers?

Now here’s where it gets interesting. Lots of people ask me about those models that have become a hit among tech enthusiasts – the Anker Power Bank A1664h21 10000mAh Transparent and the Anker Powerbank 737 Gen2 Display 24k 140W Transparent. They’re gorgeous, powerful and show off their internals like a Swiss watch. But under the new rule, you’ll have to settle for taking just one of them into the cabin.

Which one to choose? Here’s a tip from someone who’s travelled halfway round the world: if your goal is to charge a laptop and several devices at once, the 737 Gen2 140W is unbeatable – with a screen showing real-time power output and 24,000 mAh of pure energy. If you want something more compact and transparent for daily use, the 10,000 mAh A1664h21 handles 90% of your needs and still fits in your trouser pocket.

• Traditional power bank: up to 100Wh (around 27,000 mAh) is allowed, but only one per person.
• MagSafe portable charger: counts towards the same limit. If you’ve already brought an Anker, forget the Apple.
• Built‑in batteries in laptops or phones: don’t count, so don’t worry. The rule only applies to detachable accessories.

What about in Brazil?

ANAC hasn’t yet commented on such a radical measure, but airlines that fly to the United States – Latam, Gol, United, American – tend to adopt the rules of the country of origin. So if you board a Southwest flight from Orlando or Miami, be prepared to show your single power bank at security. My seasoned traveller’s advice: leave the extra models in your checked luggage? Not allowed, because they’re banned. So better to share them with your travel companions or, simply, bring the most versatile one.

Another golden tip: test your charger before you travel. Old batteries or ones from dodgy brands are the ones that cause the most incidents. Invest in a reliable model like the transparent Ankers – they have protection against short circuits, overheating and overcharging. And of course, respect the one‑per‑passenger limit. Nobody wants to be the person who delays the flight because their power bank started smoking in the middle of the aisle.

Finally, keep an eye on updates. Southwest has promised to review the rule in 90 days, but the aviation industry is already moving towards a global standard. Until then, travel light, travel safe, and keep your single portable charger within easy reach – but never in your back pocket, okay? Have a good trip!