Starting tomorrow, travellers flying on Emirates will no longer be allowed to use portable power banks inflight. You can still bring one power bank under 100Wh in your carry-on, but it must not be used at all during the entire flight—no charging your phone from it, and no plugging the power bank itself into the seat power supply.
The rules are straightforward:
- One power bank per passenger, under 100Wh.
- It must stay in the cabin (seat pocket or under the seat), not in checked bags or overhead bins.
- It cannot be used to charge devices or be recharged during the flight.
Why the new rule?
Lithium batteries in power banks are prone to overheating or “thermal runaway” if overcharged or damaged—leading to fire risks. Emirates says the safest approach is to stop their use onboard and make sure they’re stored somewhere crew can reach quickly if a problem arises.
The airline points out that every seat already has charging available, but still advises passengers to top up devices before travel, especially for long-haul trips.
How to check if your power bank can be brought onboard
Not sure if your power bank is under 100Wh? Check the label on the power bank. Unfortunatetly, these are often difficult to read with tiny fonts and faint print. If the label only shows mAh and voltage, just multiply the two and divide by 1,000 — that gives you the Watt Hours. Most everyday power banks (10,000–20,000 mAh) come in well under the limit.
Bottom line
From 1 October 2025, keep your power bank stowed and your devices charged before boarding.
Airport lounge access becomes more valuable from tomorrow – particularly before long-haul flights. Check out the cards which offer complimentary lounge access when flying Emirates.