Reminder to keep your powerbank in your hand luggage!

[nidarosa]

Just a quick tip or reminder to those who take a powerbank to keep it in their hand luggage on the flight. When I landed yesterday and picked up my suitcase, I thought the zips weren't where I left them, and when I came home and opened it, I found a note inside from the carrier to say they had opened it to check for unlawful items. They found my powerbank, which is on the prohibited items list, and promptly confiscated it. I am now trying to remember what make and model it was so I can buy a new one ...
So to avoid any delays etc, best keep it with you and as easily accessible as possible in case you get stopped at security and asked to dig it out and show them what it is. I didn't think about it when I ticked the box to say I wasn't carrying any lithium ion batteries! Lesson learned.

 

[Former member 92300]

Good reminder! Although, I must say - I found that I did not need a powerbank. At least - not on the Frances. It was easy to recharge at the albergue. And on the rare occassion I felt the need to recharge during the day - bar owners didn't mind having a paying customer plug in their phone to recharge. I only had to do that once, but I had friends who did it more often. It also helps to keep your phone on airplane mode when not in use. Or simply turn it off. I did use it when I walked to call my family to check in - but turning it on airplane mode preventing all the other calls and texts and emails from disrupting my journey. And on airplane mode - I could still access my music. Not hat I listened often, but when I wanted music I still had access to it (with headphones of course)

 

[VNwalking]

I just bought two powerbanks in advance of an expected power cut. So this post is well-timed. I was just wondering about that. Thanks, @nidarosa !

 

[Former member 91017]

Noted! moving to my carry-on.

I have a nice PB that has loads of ports so when I am charging it I generally invite 2 others, or 3 if there are enough different port users (I have a wireless pad on the face of it, 2 USB, one USB-C and the new oval lightening port) to charge their devices too.

 

[Lurch]

I tend to keep my phone, which I use for its camera, close to hand. I have no concern with charging my power bank overnight, if necessary, but have heard too many stories of disappearing phones.

 

[Lizhk]

I found the power bank very useful, especially if I was needing to recharge in a dodgy place where I wasn’t comfortable leaving my phone or where there wasn’t enough available outlets. My camino family could also use it as we were walking.
I would recommend taking a USB charge plug that is a fast charger and has two connections so you can share the outlet.

Buen Camino.

 

[AnotherMike]

"Lizhk" makes a good point about carrying a charge plug as well as a bank. I'd like to point out that not all charging plugs are the same.

My wife has an iphone 10, I have a Samsung Android. We've discovered that the rapid chargers are different between the two. So our car has two charging cords, and we have two different AC mains power charge plugs.

We will be doing the Camino next year, and I have already made sure that the wall outlet chargers are 120-140 volts AC and that the charger and cable will allow the phone to go into fast charge mode.

Mike

 

[C clearly]

I found that I did not need a powerbank.

Whether or not you need a power bank also depends a lot on how new your phone is and the condition of its battery. So, what one person needs may be different from another, even if they use all the same battery-saving measures.

 

[amrmeaner]

Just a quick tip or reminder to those who take a powerbank to keep it in their hand luggage on the flight. When I landed yesterday and picked up my suitcase, the zips weren't where I left them, and when I came home and opened it, I found a note inside from the carrier to say they had opened it to check for unlawful items and found my powerbank, which is on the prohibited items list. So to avoid any delays etc, best keep it with you and as easily accessible as possible in case you get stopped at security and asked to dig it out and show them what it is. I didn't think about it when I ticked the box to say I wasn't carrying any lithium ion batteries!

Yes you must carry power banks in your carry on luggage, there are also size limits which are approximately 20000mAh so make sure the you know the size of your power bank . I had two confiscated in by China airport as they were too large of capacity.
With all your electronic equipment make sure you test everything before you go. For example is the charger big enough to charge all your items, get a long charging cable so you can have your phone in your bed when charging.

 

[SuziK]

Just a quick tip or reminder to those who take a powerbank to keep it in their hand luggage on the flight. When I landed yesterday and picked up my suitcase, the zips weren't where I left them, and when I came home and opened it, I found a note inside from the carrier to say they had opened it to check for unlawful items and found my powerbank, which is on the prohibited items list. So to avoid any delays etc, best keep it with you and as easily accessible as possible in case you get stopped at security and asked to dig it out and show them what it is. I didn't think about it when I ticked the box to say I wasn't carrying any lithium ion batteries!

Thank you! I am sorry for your experience.

 

[Sue127]

Yes you must carry power banks in your carry on luggage, there are also size limits which are approximately 20000mAh so make sure the you know the size of your power bank . I had two confiscated in by China airport as they were too large of capacity.
With all your electronic equipment make sure you test everything before you go. For example is the charger big enough to charge all your items, get a long charging cable so you can have your phone in your bed when charging.

I had one confiscated when I came back from Morocco, only because the casing was slightly larger than the permitted size. I was told that it could be collected from the lost luggage when I arrived at the airport - (which didn't make a lot of sense). When I got there, they had no idea what I was talking about. Eventually, after numerous complaints via email, they agreed to pay for a replacement as they had told me that I would be able to collect it on arrival and I couldn't. The whole situation was rather bizarre!

 

[DBC]

Thank you! I am sorry for your experience.

Flying from where to where and which airline??

 

[DBC]

Just a quick tip or reminder to those who take a powerbank to keep it in their hand luggage on the flight. When I landed yesterday and picked up my suitcase, I thought the zips weren't where I left them, and when I came home and opened it, I found a note inside from the carrier to say they had opened it to check for unlawful items. They found my powerbank, which is on the prohibited items list, and promptly confiscated it. I am now trying to remember what make and model it was so I can buy a new one ...
So to avoid any delays etc, best keep it with you and as easily accessible as possible in case you get stopped at security and asked to dig it out and show them what it is. I didn't think about it when I ticked the box to say I wasn't carrying any lithium ion batteries! Lesson learned.

Flying from where to where, and which airline? Thanks

 

[amrmeaner]

Power banks must be less than 20000 mAh. even in hand or carry on baggage.