Southwest Travelers Face New Power Bank Restrictions

If you regularly fly Southwest Airlines, a major policy change could impact what you bring on board starting this month.

According to a report from Newsweek, Southwest is preparing to significantly tighten its rules around portable power banks due to growing safety concerns tied to lithium-ion batteries.

What Southwest’s New Power Bank Rule Means For You

Under the airline’s current policy, passengers can bring up to 20 spare batteries, including portable chargers and power banks, in their carry-on bags. These devices have also been allowed in overhead bins when not in use.

That is expected to change.

The new policy will reportedly limit passengers to just one portable power bank per person, and it must be stored in a personal item under the seat instead of in an overhead bin. Passengers will also no longer be allowed to charge their devices using power banks during the flight.

Why The Policy Is Changing

The update is aimed at reducing the risk of lithium-ion battery incidents onboard aircraft.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there have been 709 verified lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat between March 2006 and April 2026. Of those, 278 incidents involved portable battery packs.

The FAA notes that those numbers likely do not represent every incident, meaning the actual total could be higher.

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When The New Rule Takes Effect

The updated policy is expected to go into effect on April 20, 2026, though Southwest has not yet publicly detailed the change on its website.

The airline has said it plans to continue expanding onboard power access for passengers, which could help reduce the need for portable chargers altogether.

For travelers flying out of nearby airports like Nashville or Indianapolis, it is a good idea to double check your carry-on before heading out.