Once you hand your suitcase over at the check-in counter, you won’t see it again until the baggage carousel, if everything goes well. It can be delayed, lost or tossed around, and a few items aren’t allowed in it at all, which makes what not to put in checked luggage worth knowing before you pack.
Baggage rules come from a mix of national regulations, international aviation standards and individual airline policies, so an item allowed on one itinerary may face different restrictions on another. You’ll find versions of them in airports from Johannesburg to Manila to Nairobi to New York. Here’s what to keep out of your checked bag and in the bag you carry on board.
Items banned or restricted in checked bags
1. Power banks and spare batteries
Spare lithium batteries, including power banks and battery charging cases, must go in your carry-on only. The FAA puts it plainly: they’re prohibited in checked baggage. Lithium batteries can overheat and catch fire, and in the cabin, the crew can see and put out a fire. In the cargo hold, no one can.
New in 2026: Under international rules that took effect on March 27, 2026, passengers are limited to two power banks, and power banks can’t be recharged during the flight, according to IATA guidance.
IATA also recommends against using a power bank to charge other devices on board, and some airlines don’t allow it at all, so check your airline’s rules before you fly.
Don’t fly with a damaged or recalled lithium battery, either. The FAA says damaged or recalled batteries and battery-powered devices shouldn’t be transported unless the battery has been removed or the device has been made safe.
2. Vapes and e-cigarettes
Like power banks, vapes run on lithium batteries, so they’re carry-on only. Keep them protected from being switched on accidentally. According to IATA, they must not be used or charged during the flight, and some airlines don’t allow them at all.
3. Smart luggage with the battery still in
Many smart suitcases have a built-in battery for charging your phone. The FAA says a smart bag has to travel in the cabin unless the battery is removed, so take out a removable battery and carry it on board.
If the battery can’t be removed, the bag can only be checked if the installed battery is very small: 2.7 watt-hours or less for a lithium-ion battery, or 0.3 grams or less of lithium for a lithium-metal battery. Otherwise, the airline may require you to carry the bag on or refuse it. Location trackers get no special pass, since their batteries have to meet the same limits. The same applies if you have to gate-check a smart carry-on.
Items that are allowed, but not worth the risk
4. Laptops, tablets and cameras
Technically, you can check a laptop, tablet or camera if it’s completely powered off, not just asleep, and protected against accidental activation and damage. But the FAA recommends keeping these devices in your carry-on, where a battery problem can be dealt with more easily. Check 

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