Virgin and Qantas to ban power bank use

[Quickstatus]

skiing as the cold ruins battery life.

I rubber band a hand warmer against the phone when skiing in subzero temps

 

[lovestotravel]

I rubber band a hand warmer against the phone when skiing in subzero temps

Wow thank you - Never thought of that, and it's a great idea

The kids grab so many of the handwarmers would be good to use some of them

 

[Quickstatus]

handwarmers

They are great though Mrs QS uses and swears by electric hand warmers and electric foot bed warmers,.

 

[VPS]

Just ban the damn things totally

Fail to see the need for them - I travel for work no issues with my phone going flat.

Holidays - Same thing, the only time I have to think about my battery on my phone is when skiing as the cold ruins battery life.

Any other time I'm on a train which has AC sockets or in a lounge with AC sockets or use my Tablet for hotspot/youtube etc which last 7-15 hours with the screen on.

We are all different - just saying that what works for you may not work for others. I regularly travel on transport that has no chargers and if they do they invariably don't work

 

[Quickstatus]

I think they are safe if properly regulated.

 

[exceladdict]

Fire on board. Imminent death.

I was thinking more like failure to follow directions of crew member instructions.

I have relied on a reputable brand's power bank many times on both long and short journeys, flights and otherwise without injury, and feel fires are related device quality issues as opposed to power banks specifically.

There are plenty of dodgy phones and laptops with batteries just as big as power banks and overheating issues.

I don’t think power banks are essential items to be used on board. If people have old devices that need constant charging they should consider buying new ones, or waiting until arrival.

Different strokes for different folks - some people read the magazine, others have no form of IFE without a device and streaming for longer than a few hours with no charge flattens many a battery.

 

[justinbrett]

I didnt say that other jurisdictions don't have regulatory standards regarding electronic equipment. Some of these including the AU regulatory tick is just a general regulatory certificate that (basically) tests for electrical safety, which is not the same as risk of LI-ion battery fires. I dont know what exactly what CCC tests for but lets assume for a moment that it is the same as all the other regulatory certificates for the purposes of this thread..

The difference is CAAC China have banned non CCC products entering aircraft in China and are actively surveilling for non CCC products at airports.

Thats the theory but lots of electrical equipment in australia lacks the tick

There are detailed AS/NZ standards that it must comply with. There are also international standards.

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Yes Australian airports don’t current enforce certification, but customs do. Time to crack down on all the Temu imports that are getting through unchecked.

There’s a YouTube video that I watched that shows how Singapore tests for its certification, it’s really interesting. It also basically said the vast majority of incidents are caused by batteries skipping certification (cheap illegal imports). I’ll see if I can find it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Different strokes for different folks - some people read the magazine, others have no form of IFE without a device and streaming for longer than a few hours with no charge flattens many a battery.

The ban will be effective 15 December, and once ICAO gets around to it, likely worldwide sometime next year. And that’s for airlines that don’t already ban the use of powerbanks inflight.

options will be to either upgrade to a new device, use the onboard charging, or limit use of the device to preserve battery.

The next step will be whether or not powerbanks are banned outright from aircraft. I guess we’ll wait and see the results after use is banned.

 

[Beano]

Just heard about this. It seems inevitable. I would agree with exeladdict. Get a new device or fully charge before boarding! I don't understand people who charge devices in aircraft when there are usually plenty of opportunities at airports to recharge your device.

Then again these days there are charging ports on aircraft.

On long haul I find the entertainment system adequate.

 

[RooFlyer]

China already has on August 2025
It is a government "China Compulsory Certification" or CCC
Certified items has the CCC mark

Confiscation of non CCC certified power banks have apparently occurred in Chinese airports


View attachment 482512

I guess there are pop-ups nearby which are selling CCC transfers?

 

[RooFlyer]

I don't understand people who charge devices in aircraft when there are usually plenty of opportunities at airports to recharge your device.

Sure, but what about at the other end? If you use your own device for entertainment it’s going to drain your fully charged battery and then you might have a full day on arrival, needing a full charge.

Certainly use on board charging but I’m just saying how a power bank can have a use on a flight

 

[justinbrett]

Just ban the damn things totally

Fail to see the need for them - I travel for work no issues with my phone going flat.

Holidays - Same thing, the only time I have to think about my battery on my phone is when skiing as the cold ruins battery life.

Any other time I'm on a train which has AC sockets or in a lounge with AC sockets or use my Tablet for hotspot/youtube etc which last 7-15 hours with the screen on.

I think there will come a time in the near future where they’re not needed. But not quite yet.

Still many aircraft lacking USB ports or those that have them are very low powered. I remember QF’s 744 in its last days, I couldn’t even maintain charge on my iPad while watching it, let alone charge it. But yeah, the newer aircraft can do a great job.

If they can design an iPhone that can last 24 hours of heavy use, that’s half the battle.

 

[Beano]

Sure, but what about at the other end? If you use your own device for entertainment it’s going to drain your fully charged battery and then you might have a full day on arrival, needing a full charge.

Certainly use on board charging but I’m just saying how a power bank can have a use on a flight

OK, so your power bank becomes depleted on arrival, but then if you don't use it on the flight then you can use it when you arrive.

 

[justinbrett]

I guess there are pop-ups nearby which are selling CCC transfers?

There has been an illegal CCC sticker scam going on.

Apparently when you go through security, a CCC mark isn’t good enough, they check the serial number in a database to see if it’s certified. The markings are just to advise the consumer. Having said that, apparently it can’t be a sticker anyway, it must be directly printed on the device.

I’m not sure how often they check but I’ve seen the photos of the confiscated items.

 

[Rayesfeg]

Just heard about this. It seems inevitable. I would agree with exeladdict. Get a new device or fully charge before boarding! I don't understand people who charge devices in aircraft when there are usually plenty of opportunities at airports to recharge your device.

I think the problem for many people would be for those (admittedly like me) who binge social media while waiting in the lounge. You would be surprised how much battery instagram reels/tiktok uses and if you have background apps like Flighty running, which is constantly checking for new data, it adds to the battery drain.
With battery packs inevitably being banned, a USB port is essential in flight.

 

[Beano]

I think the problem for many people would be for those (admittedly like me) who binge social media while waiting in the lounge. You would be surprised how much battery instagram reels/tiktok uses and if you have background apps like Flighty running, which is constantly checking for new data, it adds to the battery drain.
With battery packs inevitably being banned, a USB port is essential in flight.

Surely you are connected to a power point in the lounge? I am, and recharging a phone, tablet and laptop.

 

[Rayesfeg]

Surely you are connected to a power point in the lounge? I am, and recharging a phone, tablet and laptop.

Please reserve me a power point in the temporary Qantas lounge in Syd

 

[Beano]

Please reserve me a power point in the temporary Qantas lounge in Syd

Don;t know the temporary one. Only DOM J and INT J (temporary?) and F.

 

[NM]

For me, it’s about taking responsibility for managing MY device battery levels. If I know I need to use my device after the flight, then I stop using it during the flight to save sufficient charge for arrival needs. Using my device in-flight is optional and completely my decision and 100% within my control. In my personally experience there is never a situation that I NEED to use my device in-flight to the degree that I MUST charge it during the flight. It is my responsibility manage my device charge levels during the flight and it is 100% within my ability to do that.

 

[Ktan89]

It’s already illegal to import power banks that aren’t appropriately certified.

What about those who buy online from overseas. They get sent directly to customer.