Qantas & Virgin Ban Powerbank Phone Charging

Rules for travellers on Qantas and Virgin Australia and their use of powerbanks on board flights are changing after concerns about the risks of fire from damaged batteries.

While for some time it’s not been permitted for travellers to pack batteries in their checked baggage, taking batteries onto the plane in your carry-on has always been allowed, as has charging your phone or tablet while you fly. No More.

From December, Virgin and Qantas (including Jetstar) are imposing new strict limits on how powerbanks carried and used.

In simple terms, you can only have two power banks per passengers, you can’t use the power bank to charge your phone while you fly, and you can’t use the plane’s on-board power to charge your power bank.

Limits over the size of batteries have always been in place, but now you have a limit on how many batteries you take, how you use them and where you keep them.

The airlines want them stowed in the seat pocket or in your bag under the seat or kept on you. if that’s not possible Qantas say they can be in a “nearby overhead locker”.

Modern planes normally have a USB outlet or even a full power point, but for older fit-out planes that might not be the case.

On Qantas flights – From 15 December 2025, the following rules apply:

• The use of power banks on board is prohibited.
• Charging of power banks onboard is prohibited, including via in-seat power or USB ports (where available).
• Customers may carry up to two power banks (each not exceeding a maximum capacity of 160 watt hours) in their cabin baggage.
• Power banks, spare batteries and personal electronic devices (PEDs) should be with the passenger, including in the seat pocket or under the seat in front. If this is not possible, then in a nearby overhead locker.
• All power banks must display battery specifications.
• Lithium batteries that are part of a “smart bag” must be removed from the bag and taken as carry-on, and stowed in the same way as power banks.
• Power banks will continue to be prohibited from checked baggage.

For Virgin Australia flights – From 1 December 2025, the following rules apply

• Keep battery-powered items close onboard
• All batteries, power banks and small portable electronic devices carried in the cabin must be stowed in the seat pocket, under the seat in front, or be kept on you / in your hands
• Not use power banks on board the aircraft to charge another device;
• Not charge power banks on board the aircraft;
• Observe strict limits on the quantity of spare batteries, portable electronic devices, power banks; and
• Observe limits on the capacity of the batteries and power banks.

Tough changes perhaps, but the advice now is to charge your devices fully before you board, and make sure you’ve got all available cables to charge you devices from the seat!