In 2018, US-based airlines banded together to ban smart luggage from travel in or on their airplanes due to concerns over the risk of exploding lithium-ion batteries.
They did not ban the batteries themselves, and that’s a good thing since most laptops and tablets are powered by these cells. Instead, the airlines took direct aim at luggage with integrated, non-removable batteries–often referred to as “smart luggage.”
This smart luggage travel ban put consumers–and some luggage companies–in a tailspin. Pricey smart bags with built-in USB chargers, location tracking, LED lights, and other “smart” features included were suddenly on the no-fly list–unless the power banks could be removed by the passenger prior to flight.
Regardless of whether it was carry-on luggage or being checked in, any bag with a built-in battery that was not removable was grounded. Meanwhile, luggage with features like USB charging ports connected to removable batteries were and still are, approved by the FAA.
According to the FAA and the Transportation Security Authority (TSA), carry-on suitcases as well as checked baggage are cleared for takeoff, as long as passengers transport the battery pack with them in the airplane cabin during flight.
Today, power banks, backup battery packs and all other lithium-ion batteries continue to be expressly prohibited in the cargo area where luggage is held under the plane. Instead, passengers must remove any batteries from their checked luggage to be carried onboard with them in the cabin. Carry-on suitcases with chargers and removable battery packs are also good to go.