Free toolAustralian airline rules · November 2026
Can I fly with my power bank? And how many charges?
Enter the mAh on your power bank and pick your phone. You’ll get its watt-hours, whether Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia let it on board, and roughly how many full charges it holds.
Common sizes at a glance
Which power banks can fly?
Rules for Qantas, QantasLink, Jetstar and Virgin Australia, checked November 2026. Every power bank goes in carry-on, two per person, and stays off during the flight. Check your airline before you go: rules change.
| Capacity | Watt-hours | Can it fly? | iPhone 16 charges | Galaxy S25 charges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000mAh | 18.5Wh | Yes | ~1 | ~1 |
| 10,000mAh | 37Wh | Yes | ~2 | ~1.5 |
| 20,000mAh | 74Wh | Yes | ~3.5 | ~3 |
| 27,000mAh | 99.9Wh | Yes | ~4.5 | ~4 |
| 30,000mAh | 111Wh | Only with approval | ~5.5 | ~4.5 |
| 40,000mAh | 148Wh | Only with approval | ~7 | ~6 |
| 50,000mAh | 185Wh | No | ~9 | ~8 |
Questions
Power banks on planes: the short answers.
Yes, in carry-on on Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia (74Wh). Keep it in your carry-on, never in checked bags. Two per person, and you can’t use or charge it during the flight.
27,000mAh is the largest common size under 100Wh, the line every Australian airline accepts without asking. From there up to 160Wh (about 43,000mAh) you need approval: apply through Qantas before flying Qantas or Jetstar, and declare it at check-in on Virgin Australia. A 50,000mAh bank is 185Wh, which no Australian airline allows.
Multiply the mAh by 3.7 and divide by 1,000. A 10,000mAh bank is 37Wh. If the label prints a Wh figure, use that one: it is what airline staff check.
About 2 full charges of an iPhone 16, or 1.5 of an iPhone 16 Pro Max. Never the full 10,000mAh: some energy is lost converting voltage and as heat, so expect about 65% to reach the phone.
No. Since December 2025 Qantas, QantasLink, Jetstar and Virgin Australia don’t allow power banks to be used or charged on board, even from the seat’s USB port. Keep it in the seat pocket, under the seat or on you. Virgin doesn’t allow it in the overhead locker.
Need a power bank before your trip?
Pick one up at Riverwood Plaza, or order online. We'll tell you which ones fly.