Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment Switch 2 Pre-Orders Best laptops Best Mattress Wordle Today Recommended reading This $19 travel gadget was such a lifesaver during my vacation, my friends tried to steal it Best smart luggage in 2025 to keep connected on the go Over 400,000 phone chargers recalled due to fire risk — what to do now Online Security New ChoiceJacking attack lets hackers steal data from your phone using public chargers — how to stay safe A port-free iPhone is fine with the EU — and if it happens, I’m ready for it I ditched all my phone chargers for this amazing MagSafe power bank — and it also charges my laptop I've been using this 3-in-1 wireless charger for 2 weeks — and it's a must-have for travel The first major US airline has changed the rules around portable chargers and batteries — what you need to know Scott Younker 29 May 2025 Southwest follows several international carriers with similar policies. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Getty Images) With anxiety of in-flight fires on the rise, airline carriers around the globe are changing policies surrounding portable batteries and chargers. In the United States, Southwest Airlines is the first of the four biggest American carriers to introduce new restrictions. Starting today (May 29), the airline will require you to have portable chargers visible at all times when using them. The new policy requires "customers to keep portable charging devices visible while in use during flight," a Southwest spokesperson told Tom's Guide. You may like This $19 travel gadget was such a lifesaver during my vacation, my friends tried to steal it Best smart luggage in 2025 to keep connected on the go Over 400,000 phone chargers recalled due to fire risk — what to do now (Image credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco) "Using portable charging devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted," they added. The spokesperson cited recent fire incidents around the world. The U.S. carrier is following in the footsteps of airlines from South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong which introduced similar policies after a fire destroyed an Air Busan plane in South Korea this past January. Investigators have blamed a power bank for that fire. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Different policies for different airlines Incidents involving lithium-ion batteries (which make up most portable chargers) on aircraft have been on the rise. Federal Aviation Agency data cited 89 reports for 2024 and at least 22 through the month of May this year, nearly double from previous years. Currently, the FAA only requires that lithium-ion devices be kept in carry-on baggage. The European Union has similar rules. However, policies range between airlines. Southwest lets you keep your battery as long as its visible. (Image credit: Getty Images) "In the rare event a lithium battery overheats or catches fire, quick access is critical," the Southwest spokesperson said. "Keeping power banks in plain sight allows for faster intervention and helps protect everyone onboard." By comparison, the low-cost Irish airline, Ryanair requires passengers remove the batteries before storing bags. After the Air Busan fire, South Korea introduced a law that mandates passengers keep portable chargers within arm's reach and out of bins. Several other Asian airlines introduced similar rules or local governments like Hong Kong have regulations going into place. The problem with lithium-ion batteries (Image credit: Shutterstock) Lithium-ion batteries have been banned from cargo holds of passenger plans since 2016, after regulations from the International Aviation Organization of the United Nations were introduced. The batteries can overheat or expand which can start fires, especially if the battery is damaged or improperly protected.. "Flight crews are trained to recognize and respond to lithium-ion battery fires in the cabin," FAA resources read. "Passengers should notify the flight crew immediately if their lithium-ion battery or portable electronic device is overheating, expanding, smoking, or burning." Tom's Guide has reached out to the other big airlines (American, Delta and United) to see if they are considering implementing a similar policy. We will update this story if they respond. More from Tom's Guide You can outsmart airline pricing with Google Gemini — here's how I tried this gadget that lets any Bluetooth headphones work on planes — and now I'll never fly without it again I spent 6 hours trying to get cheaper flights with a VPN – and I'm underwhelmed Back to Mobile Cell Phones Storage Size Refurbished Showing 10 of 185 deals Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB White) $1,379View Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra $1,040View Google Pixel 9 Pro $999.99Preorder Google Pixel 9a $479.99View Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max $1,199.99View Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra $1,280View Google Pixel 9 Pro Google Pixel 9a Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max $1,199View Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra $1,299.99Preorder See more Phones News Scott Younker Social Links Navigation West Coast Reporter Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. 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