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Flying with drones, power banks and lithium batteries

How to pack drones, spare batteries, power banks and laptops for a flight: carry-on rules, 100/160 Wh thresholds, gate-check and short-circuit protection.

General safety baseline only: the operating airline, route, airport security and national rules can be stricter. Obtain required approval before travel and recheck the airline shortly before departure.

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Drones, cameras and laptops

IATA treats these as portable electronic devices. Cabin carriage is preferred, but the item must also meet the airline’s baggage size, weight and battery conditions.

Spare batteries

Loose batteries must travel in carry-on baggage and be protected individually against short circuits. Original packaging, insulated exposed terminals or a separate protective pouch can provide that protection.

Power banks

Power banks count as spare batteries. IATA’s 2026 guidance limits them to two units not exceeding 100 Wh and allows airlines to impose stricter carriage and onboard-use rules.

Checked and gate-checked bags

Remove lithium devices and batteries before a cabin bag goes into the hold at the gate. A device accepted in checked baggage must be completely off and protected from damage and accidental activation.

The 100 Wh and 160 Wh thresholds

These are the IATA 2026 passenger-framework categories, not a promise that every airline will accept the item.

  • ≤ 100 Wh

    Common consumer-device range

    • An installed battery in a personal electronic device can travel in carry-on baggage under the IATA baseline.
    • Spare batteries are carry-on only and do not require operator approval under the baseline, although airline quantity limits can be stricter.
    • IATA’s 2026 guidance limits power banks to a maximum of two.

  • > 100 to ≤ 160 Wh

    Airline approval range

    • An installed battery or up to two spare batteries for a device require advance operator approval.
    • Power banks in this range are forbidden by the IATA 2026 passenger table.
    • Be ready to provide the Wh rating, battery count and whether each battery is removable.

  • > 160 Wh

    Not passenger baggage

    • The IATA passenger framework requires these batteries to be prepared and transported as regulated cargo.
    • Do not use this summary for medical devices or mobility aids; separate provisions and advance airline coordination apply.
    • The operating airline and national rules may be stricter at every level.

Travel-ready battery check

Use the battery label, the packed device and the operating airline’s current policy—not a generic assumption.

  1. Identify every battery

    • Read the Wh rating on each battery or device label; do not guess the rating.
    • Count installed batteries, loose spares and power banks separately.
    • Check the operating airline for the exact route, including codeshare flights.
    • Request approval before travel whenever the rating or quantity requires it.

  2. Pack for short-circuit protection

    • Keep spare batteries and power banks in carry-on baggage only.
    • Protect every loose battery individually in retail packaging, a separate bag or pouch, or by insulating exposed terminals.
    • Protect devices from impact, crushing and accidental activation.
    • Do not travel with a battery that is swollen, damaged, defective or subject to a safety recall.

  3. Prepare for the gate and cabin

    • Remove lithium devices, spare batteries and power banks if a cabin bag is taken for gate-check.
    • Keep power banks accessible rather than buried in an overhead locker.
    • Follow the airline’s current restrictions on using or charging power banks onboard.
    • Tell airport staff or cabin crew immediately if a device becomes hot, damaged, smoky or gives off an unusual smell.

Questions travellers actually ask

Can I take a drone in carry-on baggage?

A drone with an installed battery can generally travel in the cabin under the IATA battery framework. It must still fit the airline’s cabin-baggage allowance, and the operating airline can set stricter battery, route or quantity conditions.

Must I remove the battery from the drone?

An installed battery may remain in a device carried in the cabin. Loose replacement batteries must be packed separately in carry-on baggage. If the drone itself is to be checked, use the airline’s exact instructions instead of assuming the installed battery may stay in place.

Do I have to tape battery terminals?

The requirement is protection against short circuits. Taping exposed terminals is one method; original retail packaging or an individual plastic bag or protective pouch can also be suitable. The airline may publish a more specific packing method.

Does the drone or laptop have to be switched off?

A device accepted in checked baggage must be completely switched off, not left in sleep or hibernation mode, and protected from accidental activation and damage. In the cabin, keep it protected and follow crew instructions.

Is a LiPo safety bag mandatory?

The IATA baseline requires individual short-circuit protection but does not make one specific branded bag universal. A protective pouch can be a sensible method; an airline or local authority may impose a more specific requirement.

Can I use or charge a power bank during the flight?

Do not assume that you can. IATA’s 2026 guidance says power banks must not be recharged from the aircraft supply and should not power devices during taxi, take-off or landing. Some airlines prohibit use throughout the flight.

What happens if my cabin bag is checked at the gate?

Remove lithium-powered devices, spare batteries and power banks before the bag goes into the hold. Keep them with you in the cabin and within the airline’s permitted baggage arrangement.

Can I fly with a swollen or damaged battery?

Do not pack it for a flight. Damaged, defective, overheating or recalled lithium batteries can create a fire risk. Follow the manufacturer’s and local authority’s safe handling or disposal instructions instead.

Does permission to carry a drone mean I may fly it at my destination?

No. Airline carriage rules are separate from import, registration, insurance, privacy and no-fly-zone rules at the destination. Check the responsible aviation and local authorities before operating the drone.

Official sources

The summary was independently written from the following passenger-safety material. Airline-specific acceptance always takes precedence.