Travellers heading away with easyJet have been given a reminder about an item many holidaymakers now consider essential
A maximum of two per passenger is permitted aboard easyJet flights(Image: Getty Images)
Whether you’re heading away for a weekend break or a longer holiday, keeping your phone alive can be a priority once you’re through the airport. But passengers carrying certain everyday gadgets need to be aware that airline safety rules can be stricter than they might expect.
EasyJet has issued a reminder to passengers about the number of a particular item they can carry when flying with the airline. The rule applies to each individual passenger and also determines where the items must be kept throughout the journey.
The item is a power bank, and easyJet currently permits a maximum of two per customer. They must be carried in cabin baggage only, with the airline recommending that they are kept somewhere they can be monitored.
Passengers are also not allowed to recharge the power banks during the flight or use them to charge other devices. easyJet says they must be individually protected, including by placing them in their original retail packaging or a plastic bag.
The restrictions come amid increased scrutiny of lithium-powered devices on flights. The Civil Aviation Authority says power banks must be carried in carry-on baggage, must be individually protected when not in use and cannot be recharged on board.
It also advises against using power banks to charge other portable electronic devices during a flight. Official guidance dictates that the maximum number that can be carried is two per person, although power banks above 100Wh can require operator approval and cannot exceed 160Wh under the applicable rules.
That could be particularly useful to know before leaving home, as power banks cannot simply be moved into a checked suitcase if you have more than the permitted number. easyJet’s rules specifically state that power banks are prohibited in hold luggage and must be carried in the cabin.
The airline’s latest travel information also groups power banks alongside laptops and e-cigarettes in its safety notice covering lithium-powered devices. It says the devices should remain in hand baggage, while the power-bank rules specifically prohibit charging them or using them to charge another device during the flight.
For anyone travelling with easyJet, checking the contents of your cabin bag before leaving home could save an unwanted problem at the airport. Two is the maximum number of power banks allowed per passenger, and they should remain accessible rather than being packed into hold luggage.
The rules do not mean passengers have to leave their portable chargers at home, but they do need to pack them correctly.
Keeping them protected, carrying them in the cabin and avoiding their use for charging other devices during the flight are the key points easyJet passengers need to remember.
