Check device count, watt-hours and the operating airline’s rules before packing a power bank. ICAO’s changes of 27 March 2026 limit personal power banks to two per person. Carry them in the cabin according to airline instructions, do not recharge them aboard the aircraft and do not treat an old allowance table as automatic approval.
Why older tables need a second check
ICAO’s official explanation separates power banks from other spare batteries. The two-unit limit applies to the combined number of power banks, including smaller and larger devices. The document prohibits recharging power banks aboard aircraft and recommends against using them to charge other electronic devices.
The sources differ in age. The Garuda baggage page contains an older table allowing up to 20 smaller units. Do not use that figure to disregard the 2026 ICAO change. Garuda’s page remains useful for capacity labels, the Wh calculation and its prohibition on inflight use. Ask the operator for current instructions if your booking information conflicts.
Lion Group’s February 2025 notice also predates that change. It says power banks belong in cabin baggage, cannot go in checked baggage and cannot be used during the flight. One older notice should not be treated as a complete account of every restriction on every sector in 2026.
A packing decision table
| What you find | What to do next |
|---|---|
| Readable label, up to 100 Wh | Check the airline’s quantity and storage conditions |
| Above 100 and up to 160 Wh | Obtain operator approval rather than assuming permission |
| Above 160 Wh | Do not plan to carry it as a passenger power bank |
| Missing or unclear capacity label | Ask the operator to assess it; your calculation is not a replacement label |
| Damaged or swollen casing | Do not pack it for the flight; ask the manufacturer about handling |
| More than two units | Reduce the number; small capacity does not exempt a device from the count |
ICAO still gives examples allowing power banks above 100 and up to 160 Wh with operator approval. “Every power bank above 100 Wh is prohibited” is therefore also an inaccurate summary. Airlines can apply stricter limits, and approval from one operator does not automatically cover the next operator.
Read Wh rather than mAh alone
The calculation is Wh = cell voltage × mAh ÷ 1,000. Use the stated cell voltage rather than an arbitrary USB output figure. If the manufacturer already marks the Wh rating, compare that information with the airline’s rules.
For arithmetic only, not a product recommendation: 20,000 mAh at a cell voltage of 3.7 V gives 74 Wh. The same mAh figure at 5 V gives 100 Wh. This is why “27,000 mAh is always allowed” is insufficient without voltage, labelling, condition and quantity checks. Do not attach a homemade label to replace missing manufacturer information.
Keep a record for each flight sector
Write down the operating airline, travel date and the answer about your device for every sector. A domestic flight to CGK followed by an international flight needs two checks if the operators differ. Record whether approval is required, how to obtain it and where the device must be kept during the flight.
If staff ask to check a cabin suitcase at the gate, tell them it contains a power bank and remove the device before handing over the suitcase. Have a smaller bag that stays with you. Follow crew instructions on storage; do not assume the overhead compartment is acceptable simply because ordinary cabin luggage goes there.
Charge your phone before boarding. Keep boarding passes and arrival QR codes offline so you do not have to rely on a power bank in flight. For an international arrival, use the All Indonesia checklist once the flight details are correct.
A checklist for families and migrant workers
- Count each traveller’s devices, including those left inside a laptop bag.
- Photograph capacity labels to help when asking the airline, while keeping the original labels on the devices.
- Separate devices so terminals do not touch keys or other metal objects, following airline instructions.
- Keep operator approval where required and check it again after a flight change.
- If a device becomes unusually hot, emits smoke or smells abnormal aboard the aircraft, alert the crew immediately and follow their instructions.
A power bank’s capacity is separate from your suitcase weight allowance. Read the PMI baggage guide for ordinary luggage and use the trip planner to record each sector’s operator. Migrant-worker status, cabin class or an Umrah journey does not automatically exempt you from battery rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 20,000 mAh power bank always allowed?
The mAh figure is not enough. Check Wh, cell voltage, a readable label, device condition, quantity and each operating airline’s rules.
Can a power bank stay in a suitcase checked at the gate?
Remove the power bank before handing the suitcase over as checked baggage. Tell staff and keep it in the cabin according to airline instructions.
Why not follow an older 20-unit table?
ICAO’s 2026 addendum limits power banks to two per person. An older table is not confirmation of current rules; check directly with the operating airline.