Charge your phone before your flight! Southwest will now limit how many portable chargers passengers can bring on board

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.

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."