Can You Carry Power Bank on Emirates Flights? (Answered by a Frequent Traveler)
These days, almost everyone travels with a power bank. Whether it’s for charging your phone mid-flight or keeping your camera alive during a layover, it’s one of the most useful travel gadgets you can own.
But if you’re flying with Emirates, there are a few important things you need to know about bringing your power bank onboard. I’ve flown Emirates several times, and each time, I’ve noticed they’re very clear about their battery safety rules – especially during online check-in.
So in this post, I shall take my time to break it all down for you.
1. Yes, You Can Bring a Power Bank on Emirates
You’re absolutely allowed to carry a power bank when flying with Emirates. However, it must be in your hand luggage, not in your checked-in bag.
That’s because power banks contain lithium batteries, and lithium batteries can easily overheat and catch fire in the aircraft’s cargo hold – where no one can deal with it quickly. For safety reasons, Emirates (and most airlines) require all power banks to be kept in the cabin with passengers.
2. The Power Limit You Need to Know
Emirates allows one power bank with a capacity of up to 100 Wh (watt-hours) per passenger. You’ll usually find this information printed on your power bank. If it’s not shown in watt-hours, look for mAh (milliamp-hours). Here’s a quick way to check:
Example: If your power bank says 20,000 mAh, 5V, that’s around 100 Wh, which is the maximum limit.
Anything larger than that might not be accepted. So before packing, it’s a good idea to check the label on your power bank.
During my Emirates online check-in for a recent trip to Dubai, I had to confirm that I wasn’t checking in any smart bags or loose batteries. Emirates makes it very clear that power banks must be carried in hand luggage and never in checked bags.
3. You Can’t Use or Charge It Onboard
Even though you’re allowed to bring a power bank, Emirates specifically says you cannot use or charge it during the flight. That essentially means the following:
- You can’t plug your power bank into your phone mid-air.
- You can’t recharge the power bank from the plane’s USB ports.
It’s purely for emergency use when you land or if you’re waiting at the airport.
4. Where to Keep It During the Flight
Emirates recommends keeping your power bank either:
- In your seat pocket, or
- In a bag under the seat in front of you.
Don’t leave it in the overhead bin or check it in with your luggage. Keeping it close ensures that if it gets unusually hot, the crew can handle it quickly.
5. What You Can’t Do
Emirates is quite strict about the following:
- You can’t pack loose batteries or power banks in checked baggage.
- You can’t check in smart bags (bags with built-in batteries) unless the battery is removed.
- And of course you can’t bring multiple large power banks or any that exceed 100 Wh.
If you’re unsure, just carry one standard power bank and keep it visible in your carry-on. I personally think that’s always the safest approach.
