Switch that power bank off now!

Wanting to use a power bank during your flight on Qantas or Virgin Australia?

No go from next month after a series of incidents - including fires - on several carriers.

Australia’s big two airline groups are to ban the inflight use of all power banks, news hub Travel Mole reports. 

Virgin will start imposing restrictions from December 1 with Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar imposing similar restrictions effective from December 15.

Virgin says it will allow Ino more than two power banks to be carried - and they must be accessible and within sight during the flight.

They cannot be used or charged, and high-power devices (above) must get advance airline approval.

“Globally, more lithium battery-powered devices are now being carried by travellers, and while these items are generally safe, this move will minimise any potential risks,” Virgin COO Chris Snook said.

While power bank use is banned, the airlines said charging devices will still be permitted using in-seat charging ports where available.

Where available being the key.

Several international carriers including Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines have banned the use of power banks on board.

Image: Maksim Chernyshev, Scop.io 

Airlines crack down hard on power banks

It is always nice to arrive at your destination with both your mobile phone and power bank fully charged.

But airlines are cracking down on the use of power banks in flight due to the potential fire risks associated with the lithium-based batteries used by the charging devices.

Effective April 1, Singapore Airlines and Scoot customers will not be allowed to charge portable power banks via onboard USB ports, or to use power banks to charge their personal devices, throughout the duration of the flight.

Thai Airways and AirAsia have also joined the list of airlines which now ban the battery packs being used, or charged, during a flight.

The restrictions follow moves by airlines in South Korea and Taiwan, which have tightened rules on power banks due to the potential fire risks.

The SIA Group complies with the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations regarding the carriage of power banks, which are classified as lithium batteries.

This means power banks must be carried in cabin baggage on all SIA flights and are not permitted in checked baggage.

Customers may bring power banks with a capacity of up to 100Wh without special approval, while those between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval.

"We seek customers’ understanding that safety will always be our top priority," SIA said in a statement..

So make sure your phones are fully charged when you disembark. 

Which can be hard if you are using your phone to watch content, and even worse if your seat does not have a USB charging slot. Which still happens. 

Image: Solar power bank. scopi.io