Apr 10, 2026
Planning to fly Southwest Airlines in the near future? You'll need to pay more attention to what you toss in your carry-on starting later this month.
The carrier rolled out new rules on April 20 that limit passengers to one lithium battery-powered portable charger or power bank. Those, also, will no longer be allowed to be stored in overhead bins. Rather, passengers will be required to store them under the seat in front of them or on their person.
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And if you're thinking about using the in-seat outlet to recharge that charger, forget it. That won't be allowed either when the new rules go into effect, according to an internal memo sent to Southwest employees and shared with Moneywise.
"At Southwest Airlines, Safety and Security are core values," Dave Hunt, Southwest's Vice President of Safety and Security, wrote in the memo. "This new policy, along with our existing standards for lithium batteries used in mobility assistive devices, is part of our 2026 Safety and Security Objectives, which focuses on improving our Safety and Security Culture while reducing injuries, damage, and Security events."
The limit on batteries is a notable change to the rules Southwest already has in place. Before April 20, passengers could bring as many as 20 spare batteries (1) and power banks on board. They could not, however, be put in checked luggage — and passengers were forbidden from charging their devices in their bags or in overhead bins.
Fire protection
The new rules are being implemented as a precautionary measure.
Since March 2006, there have been 709 verified in-flight incidents involving the batteries — and the Federal Aviation Administration (2) notes that figure is likely much higher.
This year alone, through April 1, there have already been 14 verified incidents with lithium batteries on planes. Those incidents involved smoke, fire or extreme heat. Another seven incidents are pending verification.
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The overheating is a process called thermal runaway — and the FAA says there's often no way to know it's about to happen.
"Thermal runaway can occur without warning as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, or improperly packed," reads a post on the FAA website (3). "Thermal runaway can also occur on its own due to manufacturing defects."
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Notifying passengers
Passengers will be notified about the new policy in the days leading up to their flights and when they check in at the airport. Anticipating possible pushback, the carrier says it will make it easier for passengers to charge their devices directly on the planes soon.
"Access to onboard power will continue to expand," Hunt wrote. "By mid-year 2027, our entire fleet will feature in-seat power, reducing reliance on portable chargers and supporting a more consistent, convenient inflight experience."
So far, no other carriers have followed Southwest's lead with limitations on battery packs, but the airline industry often moves as a pack. After United announced plans to raise the price of its checked luggage fees (4), Southwest and Delta both increased theirs, as well.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
Southwest Airlines (1); Federal Aviation Administration (2),(3); Business Insider (4)
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Chris Morris is a veteran journalist with more than 35 years of experience at many of the internet's biggest news outlets. In addition to his activities as a writer, reporter and editor, Chris is also a frequent panel moderator and speaker at major conferences, including CES and South by Southwest.
