Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon be required to keep their portable chargers in plain sight while using them due to concerns about the growing number of lithium-ion battery fires in a new policy that other airlines may adopt.

Southwest Airlines mandates visible portable chargers during flights to enhance safety, addressing risks of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries.

The TSA already bans rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium batteries for phones and laptops from checked baggage. Carry-on baggage is fine, but Southwest Airlines will soon require those chargers to be outside of all bags and visible while in use during the duration of the flight.

One new rule, however, isn’t likely to draw much anger and, in fact, is almost certainly going to be adopted by other airlines as well. The new rule goes into effect May 28, 2025, and while it may cause minor inconvenience to passengers, it’s also an important change that will make flying a little bit safer.

Southwest Airlines is implementing a surprising new restriction on portable chargers to keep these notoriously incendiary devices from bursting into flame mid-flight. Starting May 28, passengers will be required to keep their power banks in plain sight, making the budget carrier the first to roll out a policy of this kind.

Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon be required to keep their portable chargers in plain sight while using them because of concerns about the growing number of lithium battery fires.