Air Travel with Batteries
Phones, laptops, tablets, power banks
Who this applies to
Staff, students and researchers travelling for fieldwork, conferences or other University business where battery-powered equipment is carried.
Watt-hour (Wh) limits — at a glance
Most airlines follow IATA/ICAO rules. Always check with your specific airline before travel — limits can vary.
|
Battery size |
Cabin baggage |
Checked baggage |
Notes |
|
Up to 100 Wh |
Permitted |
Permitted (installed in device) |
No approval required for most airlines |
|
101–160 Wh |
Airline approval required |
Spare batteries prohibited |
Max 2 spare batteries per person |
|
Over 160 Wh |
Generally prohibited |
Prohibited |
Contact airline and Fire Safety Team |
|
Spare batteries (any size) |
Cabin only |
Prohibited |
Must protect terminals from short circuit |
|
Not sure of the Wh rating? Check the battery label or manufacturer's website. For lithium-ion cells: Wh = voltage (V) × capacity (Ah). Contact the Fire Safety Team if you need help calculating this before travel. |
|
✓ Do • Carry all spare batteries in cabin baggage only • Check Wh limits with your airline before travel • Protect terminals with tape or individual bags to prevent short circuits • Declare specialist or research batteries to the airline in advance |
✗ Do not • Pack spare batteries in checked baggage • Travel with damaged, swollen or defective batteries • Assume limits are the same for all airlines or routes |
Research and specialist equipment
|
High-capacity or specialist research batteries require advance planning. Contact the Fire Safety Team before booking travel if you are carrying batteries over 100 Wh, experimental cells, LiPo packs, or any battery not in a standard consumer device. |
Some research batteries may require shipping as cargo under IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) rather than being carried as passenger baggage. The Fire Safety Team can advise on this process.