Attention travellers: Southwest Airlines limits power banks and portable chargers 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 was a night out that stretched across town, or a tight connection between flights. Well, if you’re planning to catch a Southwest Airlines flight (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 packing that stash of spare batteries in your carry-on.

Why has Southwest decided to crack down?

The story isn’t new, but the trigger came from recent incidents onboard 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 can carry only one single battery charger during the flight. And don’t bother hiding 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 the humble emergency model right up to the beefed-up beasts.

If you’re the type who carries an Apple Magsafe Battery Pack charger for your iPhone plus a generic power bank for other devices, you’ll have to choose. Or convince a mate to carry the extra for you. Enforcement is set to be strict, especially on US domestic flights, and the trend is that other major airlines will follow suit within this half of the year.

What about the trendy transparent Ankers?

Now here’s where it gets interesting. A lot of people ask me about those models that went viral among tech lovers – the Anker Power Bank A1664h21 10000mah Transparent and the Anker Powerbank 737 Gen2 Display 24k 140W Transparent. They’re gorgeous, powerful, and show off the internal bits like a Swiss watch. But with the new rule, you’ll have to settle for taking just one of them in the cabin.

Which one to choose? Here’s a tip from someone who’s travelled half the world: if your goal is to charge a laptop and several devices at once, the 140W 737 Gen2 is unbeatable – with a screen showing real-time power output, 24,000 mAh of pure energy. But 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.
• Portable Magsafe charger: counts towards the same limit. If you’re already carrying 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 New Zealand?

Our local aviation authority hasn’t yet commented on such a radical measure, but airlines that fly to the US – like Air New Zealand, American, United, Delta – often adopt the rules of the departure country. That means if you board a Southwest flight from Orlando or Miami, get ready to show your single power bank at security. My old‑road‑warrior advice: leave the extra models in your checked bag? Not allowed – because it’s prohibited. So better to redistribute them with your travel companions, or simply take the most versatile one.

Another golden tip: test your charger before you travel. Old batteries or off‑brand ones are the most likely to cause 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 aisle.

Finally, keep an eye on updates. Southwest has promised to review the rule in 90 days, but the aviation industry is already moving to standardise something globally. Until then, travel light, travel safe, and keep your single portable charger within easy reach – but never in your back pocket, OK? Safe travels!