American Airlines Rules for Portable Chargers
American Airlines is implementing is updating its policy regarding portable chargers onboard. Starting May 1, 2026, passengers must follow new guidelines regarding the use and storage of power banks, as first reported by View from the Wing.
Portable chargers are now strictly limited to two per passenger, and each unit must not exceed a capacity of 100 watt-hours. The new policy also mandates that all portable chargers must remain “visible and within reach” throughout the flight.
While you can still use a power bank to charge your phone or laptop at your seat, you are no longer permitted to store a portable charger in an overhead bin or tucked deep inside a bag under the seat while it is in use. Keeping these devices close at hand allows passengers and crew to quickly identify and manage potential issues, such as overheating or smoke.
Starting May 1, a new ban also kicks in. You can no longer recharge the portable chargers themselves while onboard. Passengers are prohibited from plugging a portable charger into the aircraft’s seat outlets or seatback USB ports.
The airline distinguishes between “portable chargers” (integrated battery packs used to power other devices) and “spare lithium-ion batteries” (loose batteries not built into a device), but the safety restriction applies broadly to how these power sources are handled in the cabin.
This move aligns with broader aviation safety efforts to mitigate the risks associated with battery fires. However, it will be interesting to see how and if this is strictly enforced starting in May.
To add perspective, most portable batteries operate at 5 volts. 100 watt-hours / 5 volts = 20 amp-hours. AKA 20,000 milliamp-hours. AA allows you to have four of these in your carry on. AA allows you to have two in the range of 20k to 32k in your carry on. Above 32k, call special assistance.