Check the label and your operating airline before flying.
Compare the published PAL and AirAsia Philippines power-bank rules, convert mAh to Wh correctly, and keep capacity separate from boarding permission.
What does your label say?
Use the printed Wh value. This compares capacity with PAL’s published limit; it is not permission to board.
The printed Wh rating takes priority over a generic conversion.
What does this mean
for your choice?
Use the label on the actual pack
Find the printed watt-hour rating first. If you need to convert, use mAh ÷ 1,000 × the pack’s nominal battery voltage. A 20,000mAh pack at 3.7V is 74Wh, but 3.7V is an example, not a universal assumption. The 5V or 20V USB output is not necessarily the internal battery voltage. Keep the capacity label legible; an online listing title does not replace the marking on the device.
Do not borrow the larger spare-battery allowance
A power bank has its own category. AirAsia’s April 2026 guidance explicitly separates power banks from spare batteries and other portable electronic devices. A 101–160Wh allowance for another device category does not override the 100Wh power-bank limit. Count all power banks you carry and confirm any separate batteries with the airline.
Capacity and in-flight use are different checks
PAL requires power banks to stay on your person or in the specified seat or under-seat locations, not overhead. Its carry-on page prohibits charging these items during the flight. AirAsia Philippines specifies seat-pocket or under-seat storage and excludes overhead and checked baggage. Follow the crew and the operating airline’s current use instructions; a capacity result alone says nothing about whether you may use a bank during the flight.
Recheck connections and the return journey
The airline selling a ticket may differ from the one operating a segment. Read the rules for every carrier, connection and return flight. A pack that falls within one airline’s published limit is not automatically accepted everywhere. Before leaving, inspect it for damage or swelling, check relevant recalls, and protect its terminals against contact with metal objects.
Read the label on the actual pack.
Check the capacity of each pack as well as quantity and any combined spare-battery limit.
Product specifications and boarding conditions are separate
Use the library for product specifications, then confirm the current rules with the airline operating your booked flight.
Check these points before leaving.
- ✓Printed capacity on the actual power bank
- ✓Maximum quantity for every operating airline
- ✓Separate rules for power banks and other batteries
- ✓Protected terminals and an undamaged pack
- ✓Accessible cabin storage following airline instructions
- ✓Current charging and use restrictions for each flight
Clear up the remaining questions.
Is a 20,000mAh power bank allowed?
The capacity alone is incomplete without voltage. At 3.7V the conversion is 74Wh, but use the exact pack’s printed rating. Quantity, condition, storage and airline instructions still apply.
Can I ask for approval for a 150Wh power bank?
Do not rely on a 101–160Wh allowance for other batteries. The PAL and AirAsia Philippines power-bank guidance cited here limits each power bank to 100Wh. Ask the operating airline about your exact item rather than assuming an exception.
Can I recharge the power bank on the plane?
PAL’s cited carry-on page prohibits charging power banks themselves during the flight. Check the current policy of every operating carrier; do not infer permission from an available seat USB port.
Does this checker approve my baggage?
No. It compares capacity with PAL’s published limit. It does not inspect the pack, verify its label or condition, or grant approval for any flight.