Travellers face the risk of having their battery packs confiscated when traveling to China, the most populous country globally.
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 inspect all power banks for a CCC mark, as recounted by Paul to the Mirror.
Unlike the lax security at Gatwick Airport on their initial Air China flight, subsequent flights within China had airport authorities rigorously checking power banks. All Chinese airports strictly enforce the requirement for power banks to have a CCC-approved label; otherwise, they are seized without exception.
The power bank restriction in China mandates a 3C certification label for all power banks on domestic flights, effective since June 2025. International power banks lacking the Chinese certification are confiscated upon departure. Additionally, power banks exceeding 160 Wh are not permitted, and they must be carried in carry-on luggage with visible capacity information.
Paul mentioned the challenge of finding power banks with CCC labels in the UK, while it is more convenient to purchase them in China post-arrival.
It is crucial to note that power banks under 100 Wh are generally allowed, those between 101-160 Wh require airline approval, and those exceeding 160 Wh are prohibited. All power banks must be carried in hand luggage with visible capacity and certification marks to avoid confiscation by security.
Several airlines have banned the use of power banks due to safety concerns, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Emirates, and Cathay Pacific. Taiwanese airlines now prohibit Bluetooth earbuds in checked luggage due to similar safety concerns regarding lithium batteries.
The New Zealand Aviation Authority strictly prohibits packing AirPods and wireless earbuds in checked luggage under its jurisdiction. Passengers are allowed a maximum of 20 spare batteries or power banks in carry-on luggage, with wireless earbuds chargers included in this count.
Some airlines, like Air New Zealand, specify that wireless earbuds chargers must be carried in carry-on luggage and not in checked baggage to comply with their carriage policies.
