A general lithium-battery table may mention 160 Wh while a separate power-bank section sets a 100 Wh ceiling. Read the section for portable chargers or power banks, not just the first battery table you find. This comparison reflects official pages reviewed on September 30, 2026; it does not imply that every rule was newly announced that day.
Several airlines now specify 100 Wh per power bank
American Airlines, Delta, British Airways and Qatar Airways each publish a maximum of two ordinary power banks per passenger, no greater than 100 Wh each. Their other conditions differ. For example, American requires visibility during use, while Delta bars use during taxi, takeoff and landing. Qatar allows supervised device charging only during non-critical phases. These are not interchangeable permissions.
Other carriers retain an approval route above 100 Wh
Qantas permits up to two banks, each no greater than 160 Wh, with approval above 100 Wh. Its rules prohibit using or recharging power banks on board. A larger bank accepted by one operator may therefore be unsuitable for a connecting flight on another.
What does that mean for 20,000 or 30,000 mAh?
At an assumed 3.7 V, 20,000 mAh works out to 74 Wh and 30,000 mAh to 111 Wh. The latter exceeds a 100 Wh cap. The assumption matters: use the printed Wh whenever available, especially for a bank close to a limit. USB charging output voltage is not the battery’s nominal voltage.
A quick comparison before packing
Check capacity, number of banks, permitted use, recharging and storage as separate items. Repeat for every operating airline on the trip. If the label is missing or unclear, a calculator cannot guarantee acceptance.
Sources and review date
Checked on . Requirements can change. Use the official links to check your route again before departure.
