Battery Packs on Planes: Here’s What You Can & Can’t Bring Onboard with You

Here’s my latest airport fear: I mix up the rules about bringing battery packs on the plane, and then my red light wand starts smoking mid-flight, leading to an emergency landing.

Does it sound like I’m being dramatic? That’s a fair point—I am dramatic. But maybe not this time around.

Forbes recently reported on a major landing due to an issue with a lithium battery, and it’s far from the first to occur in 2025. (It’s actually been an issue since 2017.)

The flight discussed in the article linked above was heading from Philadelphia to Phoenix and had to make an emergency landing due to a fire caused by a lithium battery in a passenger’s overhead bag.

Apparently, it’s become enough of an issue that the FAA even has a Lithium Battery Incident Tracker.

So, I think it’s time we talked about lithium batteries and other battery packs on planes. Which ones can you bring? Which ones might cause issues? And which battery packs on planes are banned outright?

Battery packs on planes: the basics

The main concern when it comes to bringing battery packs on planes is the lithium-ion batteries that power them.

Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable and highly efficient, energetically dense batteries that have become widely used over the last decade. They’re used in smartphones, laptops, tablets, and even hybrid vehicles.

But there’s one catch: when lithium-ion batteries heat up, they release flammable gases that can potentially catch fire and are hard to put out.

Worse, lithium-ion batteries are prone to an issue called thermal runaway on planes, which creates a high-heat chain reaction that can lead to smoke and even fires.

What causes thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries on planes? Unfortunately, simple problems ranging from damage to manufacturing defects to overcharging can contribute to thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries.

So, how can you make sure you’re following the right protocol when it comes to battery packs on planes—especially considering how ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries are?

A closer look at FAA & TSA rules regarding battery packs on planes

I’ve got some good news: according to the FAA, flight attendants and cabin crews are specially trained to spot smoke and fire from lithium-ion batteries. Given this has been an issue since 2017, that’s no surprise. Additionally, TSA agents are taught to look for lithium-ion batteries in checked luggage.

The TSA has also made it a requirement that passengers pack ALL lithium-ion batteries in their carry-on. The FAA has also laid out other rules that you might want to pay attention to:

All battery packs must be in a carry-on—and, ideally, should be within reach
Battery packs on planes should not exceed 100 Wh (or watt hours) per battery
Battery packs and devices must be fully powered off
Battery terminals (where you plug things in) must not be in contact with other metals
Damaged or recalled battery packs should not be packed at all
Use the FAA’s Lithium Battery Watt Hours Calculator to learn about your device’s Wh (watt hours)

Aside from battery packs, what are the main offenders?

As outlined above, lithium-ion batteries are in just about every portable electronic device used today. The FAA and TSA are mainly concerned with battery packs on planes, as these are prone to thermal runaway that can cause smoke and fires.

Aside from portable chargers and battery packs, other concerns include e-cigarettes and vape pens, smartphones, laptops, and even certain medical devices. However, according to FAA reports on lithium battery incidents on planes over the last two decades, portable chargers (aka battery packs) were responsible for almost 40% of all incidents.

So, what does that mean for you? How can you prevent the chances of a lithium-ion battery issue?

Keep all battery packs and other lithium-powered devices within reach on the plane
Invest in quality devices to avoid damage and malfunctioning
Double-check that you aren’t packing any lithium-powered devices in your checked luggage

The World Tour of Oopsies: Chapter 16—The Riots

[The World Tour of Oopsies is an ongoing series of travel stories about my first decade of travel. During these adventures and misadventures, I had to unlearn many things I thought I knew about life. Welcome to my miseducation.]

Catch up on my World Tour of Oopsies travel stories:

Part I / Bengaluru

My semester studying in Bengaluru, India, was the most chaotic of my life. It was difficult to study and apply myself while dealing with the most intense culture shock I’ve experienced in my life.

If you grew up in the US and have visited India, you understand; it’s a lush, colorful, and busy place that can feel like a fever dream, for good or worse.

Living smack in the center of Bengaluru (in Rajajinagar, specifically), a bustling city that’s now home to 14 million, was challenging enough. Toss in cultural milieu, and every day was its own mind-blowing experience.

Along the way, my classmates and I (around 15 of us total) made friends. These friends took us into the fold, showing us where to find great dancing and inviting us to their private go-kart tracks. At the time, it felt like everyone wanted to be our friend, and Indians are incredibly warm and hospitable to friends and family.

Cut to me and a few classmates deciding to see Swedish House Mafia in Mumbai. Swedish House Mafia was one of the first electronic groups to gain global fame during the late 2000s, pushing house music to the forefront. And they were going on their last world tour, with a stop in Mumbai.

We couldn’t miss it. And one of our friends, Nikhil, graciously offered an apartment in Mumbai where we could crash to catch the show. We packed our bags, booked an overnight bus, and scrambled to make the show.

Part II / Mumbai

Those three days we spent in Mumbai are incredibly memorable for a few reasons. First, I went on a slum tour, which had to be one of my lowest travel points.

As part of our coursework in Bengaluru, we visited a few slums while working alongside an organization that educates women in various artisanal crafts to provide them with work and financial autonomy.

So, I should have known better. But a taxi pulled up, offered us a slum tour, and I took it with a few friends. I highly recommend avoiding this type of tour if you’re ever offered; it turns poverty into a museum or, worse, entertainment. (Usually, you’d end up in a slum as a traveler if you’re a volunteer and have resources to share with locals.)

During our time in Mumbai, we also visited the Gateway of India and the famous Leopold Café from Shantaram. The Gateway of India was infinitely more memorable.

Most tourists in India are domestic, and it seemed like a crowd of over fifty people gathered when they saw me and my Western classmates. We were quickly surrounded and photographed en masse. We were even posed with certain groups.

Determined to be chill, we let the photoshoot run its course, which probably lasted around thirty minutes. Sometimes, I wonder where those photos are and how many people ended up sharing pictures that included me standing there with a confused smile on my face.

The last thing I remember about Mumbai before the riots started was finally applying my language studies from school. My partner and I took sleeper buses between Bengaluru and Mumbai, which I correctly identified from the bus stop.

The bus company was raja, Hindi for king and written like राज in Hindi script. That’s one of my proudest moments from this World Tour of Oopsies.

Part III / The mayor

Cut to the day of the concert. My friends and I had been enjoying some time off school in Mumbai while staying at our friend’s apartment. It was a massive, two-story place inside a large building with maybe 15 floors.

We were getting ready for the big night when news arrived: riots were starting in the streets of Mumbai.

From what I remember, earlier sentiments from the Azad Maiden riots had rekindled. To make a long and complex story short, riots from mid-August of that year had created ongoing tensions between the city’s Muslim and Hindu populations, which were still flaring up during our visit in November.

In short order, we heard news of a high-profile death, which was followed by violent riots. Then, our friend who owned the apartment called—he advised us not to leave under any circumstances.

And that’s how I spent 48 hours in a high-rise Indian apartment in Mumbai without seeing Swedish House Mafia. We stayed there for a few days, then packed up and headed back to school in Bengaluru.

TL; DR: You won’t get a refund from Swedish House Mafia if their show is canceled due to riots. Also, don’t do the slum tours.

Airport Cyberattacks Hit Europe on Sept. 20—What Do We Know?

On September 21, multiple airport hubs across Europe went down as a cyberattack grounded flights and disrupted operations.

Airports from Berlin to Dublin faced challenges as disruptions spread. Only flights at London’s Heathrow International Airport were canceled due to the attack, but the effects were immediate and widespread across the continent, disrupting travel between some airports throughout the weekend.

Many flights were delayed due to the cyberattack targeting various boarding and check-in software for multiple airlines. The main target of the malicious software was check-in automations. The actual software is a common hack called ransomware, which can only be reversed once criminals are paid in Bitcoin.

Since the attacks, which included previous incidents on Friday, September 19, agencies across Europe have narrowed down suspects. One article from The Guardian reports that a man from West Sussex has been taken into custody by UK authorities.

A closer look at Collins Aerospace

The cyberattack focused on Collins Aerospace software, a US company that provides services for various air travel groups in Europe, including check-in automations via their Muse product.

On Monday, Collins Aerospace asked its partners in Europe to cancel 140 of 276 outbound flights, as reported by the BBC. However, the company is referring to the attack as a ‘cyber incident’, and has taken painstaking steps to manually rebuild and relaunch systems, which can’t be done remotely.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the National Crime Agency has been on the hunt for suspects. On Tuesday evening, a suspect was arrested in West Sussex but has since been released on conditional bail.

Summer Travel Stats Say Canadians’ Visits to the US Are Down by 16.2%

According to statistical analysis from Uday Rana of Global News, Canadians have made it clear that they’re less interested in visiting the US than ever before.

Rana breaks down inbound and outbound travel stats from the country’s Statistics Canada database. It doesn’t paint an optimistic picture, as travel from Canada to the US has declined for seven consecutive months.

The news comes as one of many eye-catching travel headlines based in the US, from the apparent death of Vegas to other concerning travel topics. Canadian travel to the US has historically been important, largely for local tourist-focused economies but also in other broader cultural ways.

Unfortunately, it looks like Canadians are still avoiding travel to the US. In fact, based on recent reports from Statistics Canada, Canadian avoidance of the US is ramping up.

A closer look at the numbers—are Canadians really avoiding the US?

In July, 2.6 million Canadians headed south of the border to visit the United States. While that might not sound too shabby, it’s a 34.2% decline from the previous year. During July, 1.9 million Canadians drove to and from the US, which is 35.8% fewer than the previous year; air travel dropped by 16.2% for the same period.

In fact, numbers were down so far that the total number of Americans visiting Canada was larger than the reverse. According to Rana, that has only happened three times since June 2006 in terms of monthly comparisons.

Fewer Canadians are visiting the US, but that doesn’t mean they’re avoiding travel. During the same month, the number of Canadians returning from overseas travels rose by 8.3%.

Similarly, many from the Great White North have chosen to travel domestically this year. Many residents have been supporting the ‘Buy Canadian’ movement, which would include travel. Hospitality groups across Canada have opened the doors for domestic travelers, offering up deals and new ways to get to know their own country.

8 Offers & Programs from Virgin Voyages Cruises That Seal the Deal

What makes Virgin Voyages stand out from other cruises?

First, it’s adult-only. Second, its programming is heavily geared toward younger passengers—and I’m talking about how old you are at heart, not solely in years. Third, passengers don’t cover any gratuity—the cruise line takes care of its employees.

Those three elements are just the tip of the Virgin Voyages iceberg.

I’ve had Virgin Voyages on my radar since I started covering Caribbean and trans-Atlantic cruises. Recently, my brother and his partner embarked on Virgin Voyage’s Dominican Daze five-night Miami-Miami trip with stops in Bimini and Puerto Plata.

The pair are experienced, very active travelers who have been all over the world. They love to go all-in on their destinations, which is part of the reason they were attracted to the Virgin Voyages programs. They also know what they like and dislike, which is great when it comes to hearing honest feedback and opinions.

When the pair finished up their five-night trip, I had a few questions about the experience. I was a little nervous to ask, thanks to my high expectations and knowing that they wouldn’t pull any punches in their review, so to speak.

In the end, they shared a trove of photos and videos, then recounted their experiences. Based on their stories and pictures they shared, it was an experience for the books—and one that they’d go on again in a heartbeat.

So, what made the cruise stand out? And what types of onboard activities have sealed the deal when it comes to me booking my own Virgin Voyages adventure?

Based on the experience that my brother and his partner had, plus my own travel quirks and research, I’m covering the top ten coolest activities, programs, and offers from Virgin Voyages. (Special thanks to Adam and Jamie for their help!)

My focus is on the Dominican Daze cruise in the Caribbean, but know that you can find similar programming across most warm-weather Virgin Voyages routes. I’m going to start with the most basic experiences, then move into more unique territory.

8 of the coolest programs from Virgin Voyages

The more, the merrier, thanks to the Virgin Voyages group program

I noticed that some guests on the Dominican Daze cruise were there celebrating bachelor/ette parties. Recently, I actually recommended Virgin Voyages for any Jack and Jill parties. Part of the reason is the cruise’s fantastic onboard programming, which makes it easy to have fun pretty much all day.

But the company also has a solid group rate program that comes with a 10% discount (if booking 180 days in advance), a $300 bar tab per cabin, 1 VIP-style group dinner, and a 30-day price protection guarantee. Just contact their Groups Team to learn more.

You can book special romance packages with the Splash of Romance program

If you’re booking the cruise as part of a honeymoon or romantic getaway, you can also add a Splash of Romance—which is the name of the experience package. It comes with priority boarding and an exclusive Sail Away Hour.

During the cruise, you also get curated cold-pressed juices delivered daily, two three-hour thermal spa passes, a ‘Shake for Champagne’, and ‘sultry’ bites. I’m guessing those sultry bites involve chocolate, possibly strawberries.

Don’t have anything specific to celebrate? Virgin Voyages will still put on a party for you

The last package I want to mention is the ‘Add a Splash’ package, which is designed to turn any cruise trip into a next-level party. This package comes with a bottomless brunch experience at either The Wake or Razzle Dazzle. Don’t drink? No worries—they have many non-alcoholic picks for you.

In addition to that bottomless brunch pass, the Add a Splash program also comes with a dinner party with unique drinks and desserts, and complimentary Moet & Chandon bubbly.

There’s a pajama party

What did I tell you? Virgin Voyages might have perfected the adults-only but great-for-kids-at-heart programming. Nothing showcases that quite like the pajama party. The PJ Party is part of Virgin Voyages’ nightly entertainment schedule, which is repeated on all ships. From cozy pajamas to silk slip-ons, consider it your time to have fun slumber party-style.

There’s an onboard casino

This isn’t too shocking, as many cruise lines offer small onboard casinos. Once again, however, I have to point out that Virgin Voyages does things a little differently.

First, you can take gaming lessons to learn the ropes before you sit down to play blackjack or craps. Second, there’s a Sea Roller Rewards Program that gives you points every time you play a casino game. You can exchange these points for exclusive offers, from complimentary drinks to cash advance fees waived.

Dinner-shows have entered the chat

Virgin Voyages’ latest vessel, Brilliant Lady, has a brand new lineup of interesting nightly entertainment in the form of dinner shows and games. There’s a vintage-style music show over dinner called Up With a Twist, along with a murder-mystery themed escape-room-style event called Murder in the Manor.

There’s even a casual, immersive disco party called Disco Reimagined. Just a little casual entertainment innovation. (These shows are only offered on Brilliant Lady.)

A fitness center that’s not like other fitness centers

Group workout, anyone? While you won’t catch me lifting a damn finger on vacation, Virgin Voyages has a fantastic ‘health is wealth’ approach onboard—one that beautifully balances out its other boozier, noisier adventures.

You might already know about the famous Runway, a bright-red, 255-meter track that wraps around the ship.

Passengers can also join group workouts for a range of fitness levels. There are stand-up paddleboarding on the beach, enjoy specifically curated hikes during day trips, and even enjoy guided meditations between high-intensity workouts.

The idea is that both on the ship and at port, Virgin Voyages has well-thought-out programs that let you stay as active as you want.

There’s a tattoo parlor on board

Sailors were some of the first people in the Western world to get tattoos—so it’s not wildly out of the question that a cruise ship would offer a tattoo parlor. The Squid Ink tattoo parlor isn’t just any old studio, either. It hosts some of the world’s top tattooers from Soho Ink, Freshly Inked Magazine, and beyond.

What is the Schengen Area? Your Guide to the Schengen Countries & Borders

Heading to Europe? You probably have a few questions about the region’s Schengen area.

Though many Americans know that most of Europe is part of the Schengen zone, it’s a layered and confusing topic. Similar to Nordic countries and the British Isles, the intricacies of the Schengen area can get confusing quickly.

Want to learn the basics of the Schengen area? Take a shortcut with me today—just in time for the program’s 40^th anniversary. (Happy birthday, Schengen area!)

I’m covering the basics of how Schengen works, along with answering questions like which countries are part of the club and how that might impact your travel plans.

Welcome to the Schengen area

Before I dig into the nitty-gritty, I’m going to lay out why Schengen is a thing. Europe is home to 44 countries. Some are tiny nation-states, like Monaco, Andorra, and the Vatican. Others have highly politicized borders that are still up for legal debate.

Those two factors (amongst many others) created an impetus for Europe to streamline its border-crossing practices and regulations after WWII. In other words, countries wanted their citizens to be able to move across borders with less paperwork and confusion.

The Schengen project was started in 1985 amongst a small coalition of five countries that wanted to streamline border crossing practices. The idea quickly expanded until it was officially ratified and launched in 1990.

Uniquely, that’s three years before the European Union was formally established via the Maastricht Treaty, meaning the Schengen area is older than the European Union.

The goal of Schengen in the 1980s and 90s was to eliminate internal borders in the EU to make it easier for people to get around. That might sound straightforward enough, but I think it’s worth mentioning that a big part of the Schengen push in Europe was to foster unity and peace in a post-WWII, Cold War era.

Today, the Schengen area lets around 450 million Europeans move freely across many parts of the continent.

Which countries are part of the Schengen area?

Not all 44 European countries are part of Schengen. As of 2025, 29 countries are part of the Schengen area. That includes 25 members of the EU, along with four non-EU countries. (More on this below.)

Currently, Cyprus is in the process of joining Schengen, but still has border crossings in place. Ireland also selectively participates in some Schengen practices. In 2024, Romania and Bulgaria joined the Schengen agreement.

These countries are in the Schengen area: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (pending), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Swizterland, and the Vatican.

The total number of Schengen countries is 29, but that number is 33 if you count Europe’s four nation-states of Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, and the Vatican. These were automatically added to Schengen during its formation.

**Remember: the Schengen area is not the same as the EU**

Here’s where things can get a little tricky. The goal of Schengen is to make movement throughout Europe easier by eliminating almost all border controls. However, just because a country is part of Schengen, that doesn’t mean it’s part of the EU.

Four countries that are part of Schengen are not part of the EU. That includes Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

How long can Americans stay in the Schengen area?

Americans can stay inside the Schengen area for 180 days per year. That range is on a rolling basis, meaning you can’t leave the EU to reset it like with some other regions. In other words, that 180-day range starts one year ago today. If you’ve spent 160 days in Europe since this date last year, you only have twenty days available to you now.

Do Americans need a visa to enter the Schengen area?

Not yet—but it’s coming. The EU has been famously delayed over the last five years in rolling out its new digitized EES or electronic entry system. The EES is set to launch later this year. Once it’s functional, Americans will then be responsible for completing an ETIAS.

The ETIAS is an electronic travel permit, similar to the UK’s ETA and the US’s ESTA. As of September 2025, the ETIAS will cost around $22 and last for three years.