Travellers face the risk of having their battery packs confiscated when traveling to China, the world’s most populous country. Paul Goldsack was surprised to witness trays filled with confiscated power banks at Shanghai Pudong and Beijing Capital, China’s major airports. Security personnel at these airports check all power banks for a CCC-approved label, which stands for China Compulsory Certification. If a power bank lacks this certification, it is confiscated without exceptions.
China implemented a rule in June 2025 requiring all power banks on domestic flights to have a 3C certification label. This regulation means that most power banks sold internationally will be confiscated at departure for not meeting the Chinese certification standards. Additionally, power banks must not exceed 160 Wh and should be carried in hand luggage with their wattage and capacity clearly visible.
Acquiring a power bank in the UK with a CCC label is challenging, with limited options available on platforms like Amazon. Paul noted that it is easier to purchase CCC-certified power banks in China upon arrival. Power banks under 100 Wh are generally allowed, while those between 101-160 Wh require airline approval. Power banks exceeding 160 Wh are prohibited and should never be placed in checked baggage when flying to China.
Several airlines have recently prohibited the use of power banks on flights due to safety concerns. In a similar move, Taiwanese airlines EVA Air, UNI Air, and Tigerair now ban Bluetooth earbuds, including Apple AirPods, from being placed in checked luggage. These earbuds, like power banks, contain lithium batteries and pose a risk of fire when constantly charged.
The New Zealand Aviation Authority strictly prohibits packing AirPods and other wireless earbuds in checked luggage on flights under its jurisdiction. Passengers are advised to carry wireless earbuds and AirPods in their carry-on luggage and not in checked baggage. Each passenger is allowed a maximum of 20 spare batteries or power banks in their carry-on luggage, with the wireless earbuds/AirPods charger counted as one of these items.
Some airlines, such as Air New Zealand, specify in their conditions that wireless earbuds and AirPods chargers must only be carried in carry-on luggage and not in checked baggage.