There's no denying that air travel used to feel a lot simpler. As long as you had your passport, your boarding pass and bag, you were normally ready to board the plane. However, most of us don't just travel with a bag containing clothes, books and maybe one electronic gadget these days. In fact it's said that the average passenger now boards or at least plans to board with up to five lithium-powered devices.
Airlines have noticed this upturn in the number of lithium battery devices people are bringing on the plane with them and are now taking another look at the rules. Changes are coming in now that battery-related fires have become one of the biggest safety risks in the world of aviation. If you break the rules, you could be starting your journey under a lot of stress, and you could be penalised when you're going through security or when you're at the gate.
If you are planning to fly over the next few months, it's really important to find out what you can and can't add to your cabin bag. Keep reading to find out more about why new rules are being brought in, how to avoid breaking them and how choosing the right bag can make the process of traveling with tech so much smoother and safer so you can take the stress out of the situation.
Why Airlines Are Suddenly Tightening Their Rules
Lithium batteries are used to power so many of the things that we travel with today. These items can include phones, e-readers, tablets, laptops, headphones, vapes, cameras and even electric toothbrushes. They've become really popular due to how lightweight and powerful they are, but if they fail they can overheat very quickly and cause intense smoke or fire. It's said that UK fire services are now responding to incidents that involve lithium-ion batteries once every five hours, and their dangers haven't gone unnoticed by the airlines.
Some devices have been banned by certain overseas-based carriers. These items have included power banks, and some carriers have stopped travellers from taking AirPods on board with them. UK airlines haven't gone this far yet, but some are tightening their limits on how many gadgets and spare batteries people can take with them on the plane. The rules can vary a lot from one airline to another, so it's very important that you check before you travel with any specific carrier.
New rules are being introduced after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) offered new guidance to airlines earlier this year to help them reduce the chances of battery-related fires breaking out.
The guidance recommends that power banks aren’t charged on board or stored in overhead lockers. It says spare batteries need to be protected individually by being placed in tape, in a pouch or in their original packaging. Batteries over 160Wh are banned from flights, whilst you need approval to travel with a battery between 100 and 160Wh.
Specific UK Airline Lithium Battery Rules
Here is what to expect if you’re planning on travelling with specific UK-based airlines and want to take a lithium battery with you.
Jet2
Jet2 is currently one of the most generous when it comes to number of gadgets you can take with you. Passengers are allowed to travel with "up to 15 lithium battery-operated PEDs (personal electronic devices)”.
You can also take up to 20 spare or loose lithium batteries (each under 100Wh or 2g lithium), up to two spare batteries between 100–160Wh (which must be individually protected) and up to two power banks per person (up to 160Wh).
However, you can’t use or charge power banks on board and all your gadgets will need to be in your cabin luggage only.
British Airways
British Airways has a limit of 100Wh for most devices, and you'll need approval from them if you want to take a battery up to 160Wh. You can take up to four spare batteries under 100Wh and you need to make sure all your batteries are carefully protected from damage. You're allowed to travel with a maximum of two power banks.
EasyJet
EasyJet has strict but simple rules. All your lithium-ion batteries, spare batteries and power banks must be in your cabin hand luggage, and you need approval for batteries between 100 and 160Wh. All the items need to be protected from short-circuiting.
Ryanair
Ryanair is also keeping it simple. Lithium batteries and power banks up to 100Wh are allowed in your hand luggage only. You can take up to 20 spare batteries or power banks under 100Wh but you can't charge anything on board and everything needs to be protected individually.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air's rules are close to Ryanair's but you can only take 2 spare batteries when you travel with this particular airline. Over 160Wh is banned and you'll need authorisation from the carrier for batteries between 100 – 160Wh. Spare batteries need to be in your cabin luggage.
How To Pack Lithium Devices
There’s no doubt that most of us depend hugely on our lithium battery devices and that the new rules may leave some travellers feeling a little more restricted and even worried about the safety of flying with them.
If you are concerned about the safety of lithium devices and want a little more peace of mind, here’s what to do.
First of all, make sure that you keep your power banks easy to access in case something does go wrong. This means you need to be storing them in front pockets or top compartments. Use small pouches, tape or cases for your spare batteries as loose batteries can be risky.
Don't bury your laptop at the bottom of your bag. You'll need to take it out when you go through security anyway and it just makes it more difficult to access when you need it. A clamshell-opening bag will make things run smoothly so you can easily pop it in and out. You need to keep your chargers tidy too when you're on the move. Loose cables can easily get snagged or damaged when you travel, but a small organiser pouch will keep them nice and neat.
You also need to make sure you're not travelling with swollen batteries. If your battery looks and feels bigger than it should, the airline will most likely take it off you before you board and it is almost certainly time to dispose of it anyway for your own safety.
Cabin Max Bags That Make Travelling with Tech Easier
Choosing a quality cabin bag can make travelling with tech so much easier, especially when you have multiple devices to carry. Here are a few Cabin Max best-sellers that work really well when you're travelling with lithium battery devices.
This lightweight 0.7kg bag meets 55x40x20cm airline limits and gives you a spacious main compartment, organiser pocket and ergonomic design. It’s made from recycled RPET polyester, it’s durable, showerproof and it’s ideal for electronic devices. It also comes with a 3‑year warranty.
Cabin Max Manhattan Underseat Cabin Backpack
The Manhattan Underseat bag fits Ryanair’s 40x20x25cm free allowance and delivers 20L of organised space for tech including a padded 13” laptop pocket ideal for tech users. It weighs just 0.5kg and you can wear it as a backpack or shoulder bag. It’s got 3D internal pockets, eco‑suede detailing and a 3‑year warranty.
Cabin Max Anode 30L Hard Shell
The Anode 30L fits many airlines’ free under‑seat allowance and offers a lightweight 2.2kg ABS hard‑shell design that protects your tech brilliantly. It has a spacious interior that includes zipped dividers and pockets ideal for chargers and accessories. The spinner wheels, a two‑stage handle and a 3‑year warranty mean it’s a durable, tech‑safe travel option.
Why Cabin Max Bags Work So Well with Today’s Travel Rules
Airline rules change regularly but you can always depend on Cabin Max to design bags around today’s travel needs. We focus on lightweight materials, smart organisation and airline‑specific sizing to make sure you’re much less likely to get caught out at the gate.
If you‘re one of the millions of UK travellers carrying multiple devices onto planes in 2026, the clamshell openings, front organiser pockets and structured designs you’ll see when you browse our catalogue mean Cabin Max bags will serve your needs brilliantly. These bags are lovingly built for the way tech‑heavy yet budget‑conscious people travel today.
How To Contact Cabin Max
If you want to find out more about airline compatibility, explore more models, get more advice on which of our bags is right for you or ask about sizing, our customer service team are quick to respond and more than happy to help. You can reach them through the live chat feature on the website or by sending an email to info@cabinmax.com. Let us guide you toward the perfect bag for your airline, your budget, your devices and the way you like to travel.