Travelling with lithium batteries and lithium battery-operated devices

Below is a quick list of battery examples, if they're allowed to be carried and where to pack them. All you'll need to know is your battery or device's power rating. Find out how to locate this. 

If your battery is allowed on your flight, it's important to make sure it is packed securely, meeting our requirements.

• ✘ = prohibited
• ✔ = allowed

Lithium-ion (polymer) batteries exceeding 160 Watt hours (Wh)
Lithium metal batteries exceeding 8g lithium

Often used in e-bikes, self-balancing boards and some skateboards. These large batteries pose an unacceptably high risk. We cannot accept them on board.

Lithium batteries provide a lot of power from a small size. They're used for everything from small electronic devices to electric cars.

• Lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries are rechargeable. We rate their power in Watt hours (Wh).
• Lithium metal batteries can't be recharged. We rate their power by their lithium content, in grams.

Lithium batteries can discharge their power very quickly if they short-circuit. This can happen when unprotected, spare battery and power bank terminals contact other metal items e.g. coins, keys etc.

The more powerful the battery, the bigger the risk. That's why we limit the size and number of batteries you can bring when you fly with us.

If you can recharge your device, it almost certainly uses a lithium-ion battery.

Chargers that only work when plugged in to a power socket don't contain a battery.

These devices will almost always contain lithium batteries:

• Cordless hair straighteners/flat irons
• Phones
• Tablets
• e-Readers
• Laptops
• Cameras
• Video cameras
• Gaming consoles
• Power tools

Most everyday lithium metal batteries look like silver coins or buttons. They're often used in watches, calculators, cameras and remote car lock fobs.

If a device's batteries can't be recharged, it probably has a lithium metal battery.

• See "high Watt hour (Wh) rating or lithium content batteries" above for details
• Loose batteries, battery packs or power banks in your checked-in bags. You can bring them in your carry-on bags
• Personal battery-powered vehicles such as ebikes and some eScooters
• "Smart bags" with non-removable lithium batteries rated higher than 2.7Wh or 0.3g of lithium

Devices in your carry-on bags

We recommend that you pack your devices in your carry-on bags. You can travel with up to 15 battery-powered personal electronic devices in total, but the batteries listed below must be declared when you check-in:

• Lithium ion batteries exceeding 100Wh up to 160Wh
• Lithium metal batteries for medical devices only, exceeding 2g up to 8g of lithium metal

Devices can include: 

• Battery-powered, cordless hair straighteners/flat irons may be carried in carry-on or checked bags if the battery is removed and placed in carry-on baggage, or if the hair straighteners have a flight mode and the flight ready tag is removed. Read more about travelling with cordless, battery-powered hair straighteners.
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Mobile phones
• eReaders such as a Kindle
• Personal gaming consoles
• Power tools
• Diving heat lamps that can generate extreme heat must have the battery or heating element removed and carried separately.
• e-Cigarettes, Vaping equipment etc. - must be in carry-on bags only, must not be activated or charged on board.
• Note: all alternative smoking products (above devices etc.) are not permitted for carriage to/from Hong Kong. Penalties apply if they are carried. 

Important

• All rechargeable AirPods, AirBuds, hearing aid cases or similar devices with a charging case (see next section)
• Cameras
• Medical devices e.g. defibrillator, glucose monitor, insulin pump etc.

Please pack your devices so they are protected from damage.

If you use a battery powered wheelchair or mobility aid, see our special assistance section. 

A pacemaker doesn't count towards your electronic device limit. 

Batteries in your carry-on bags

You can pack up to 20 spare batteries and power banks. They must be in your carry-on bags.

• AirPod/AirBud cases are considered a power bank as their only function is to charge the airpods, airbuds inside.
• Power banks and battery packs are considered a battery.
• Pack your batteries and power banks carefully. Protect them from being damaged. Keep them away from metal objects like coins, keys, jewellery and zippers. Pack each battery in its own plastic bag, or cover its terminals with tape.
• Your batteries must be for personal use.

Devices in your checked-in baggage

You can travel with up to 15 battery-powered personal electronic devices in total. We recommend that you pack your devices in your carry-on bags. If that isn't possible, you can pack them in your checked-in bags.

• Protect your device from being damaged.
• Devices containing lithium batteries exceeding 2.7Wh or 0.3g of lithium metal e.g. laptops, mobile phone etc. must be:
  • turned off completely e.g. cannot be left on 'Sleep' or 'Standby' mode
  • protected to prevent accidentally turning on e.g. secure on/off switches in the off position with tape.
• Devices containing lithium batteries not exceeding 2.7Wh or 0.3g of lithium metal can remain 'ON'. e.g. majority of bag trackers.
• Portable battery-powered fridges:
  • Battery carriage restrictions apply, and either of the following limits must not be exceeded:
    • Any non-flammable refrigerant gas (e.g. R134a): maximum 12 kg
    • Any ammonia solution (UN 2672): maximum 12  L
• You cannot pack devices with batteries rated higher than 160Wh, 2g of lithium metal for non-medical devices or 8g of lithium for medical devices.
• All spare batteries must go in your carry-on bags.