Electronic devices and batteries
Personal electronic devices and batteries are considered dangerous goods, as they may generate heat, short-circuit and catch fire when damaged.
The transportation of defective or damaged personal electronic devices or batteries or devices or batteries which have been recalled by the manufacturer for safety reasons is not permitted. The list of electronic devices and batteries below is non-exhaustive and may be supplemented at any time.
Lithium-ion batteries’ output is specified in watt hours (Wh). For lithium metal batteries, the lithium content (LC) is indicated. Battery power conversion aid:
- Watt hours (Wh) = Ampere hours (Ah) x Voltage (V) or
- Watt hours (Wh) = milliampere hours (mAh) x Voltage (V) / 1,000
Allowed in checked baggage or as checked baggage (not recommended).
Allowed in carry-on baggage or as carry-on baggage.
Power restriction: max. 100 Wh or 2 g LC per device
Unit restriction: max. 15 devices with batteries per passenger
Portable electronic devices for personal use include:
- Laptops, mobile phones, tablets,
- electric toiletries (toothbrushes, shavers, etc.),
- electric children’s toys,
- drones, watches, pocket calculators or
- other electronic devices for entertainment or communication.
They should always be transported in carry-on baggage, where possible.
Transport regulations in checked baggage:
- A maximum of 3 devices larger than a smartphone
- Do not pack your device together with highly flammable materials (e.g., perfumes, aerosols, etc.).
- Switch the devices off completely and protect them from unintentional activation.
- Make sure that all applications, alarms and preset configurations are disabled.
- Protect your device with appropriate packaging or a sturdy bag with sufficient padding.
- If you are transporting several different devices, store your devices separately from each other (e.g., separate them with items of clothing or the original packaging).
Power banks are considered replacement batteries, not electronic devices. For information about taking power banks with you, see: “Power banks, replacement batteries and loose batteries.”
Please note:
- For photo and video equipment with a battery capacity greater than 100 Wh up to a maximum of 160 Wh, a transport permit from the airline is required.
- Please register devices and batteries requiring approval when you book your flight via the Discover Airlines Service Center.
Allowed in checked baggage or as checked baggage (not recommended).
Allowed in carry-on baggage or as carry-on baggage.
Portable electronic devices with batteries that do NOT contain LITHIUM (e.g., alkali manganese, zinc carbon, nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride) for personal use are:
- electric toiletries (toothbrushes, shavers, etc.),
- electric children’s toys,
- drones, watches, pocket calculators or
- other electronic devices for entertainment or communication.
They should always be transported in carry-on baggage, where possible.
Transport regulations in checked baggage:
- Switch the devices off completely and protect them from unintentional activation.
- Make sure that all applications, alarms and preset configurations are disabled.
- Protect your device with appropriate packaging or a sturdy bag with sufficient padding.
- If you are transporting several different devices, store your devices separately from each other (e.g., separate them with items of clothing or the original packaging).
Additional transportation conditions for leak-proof wet batteries:
- Power restriction: max. 12 V / 100 Wh per battery
- Leak-proof wet batteries (e.g., gel batteries) must not contain any free or non-absorbed liquids.
Power banks are considered replacement batteries, not electronic devices. For information about traveling with power banks, please refer to the section “Power banks, replacement batteries and loose batteries.”
Not permitted in checked baggage or as checked baggage.
Allowed as carry-on baggage or in carry-on baggage.
Transport permit required if over 100 Wh/2g LC.
Output and unit restrictions of lithium batteries:
Max. 2 g LC
* The unit limitation includes all battery types, i.e., leak-proof wet batteries, dry batteries, gel batteries and lithium batteries.
** Only for medical devices.
Conditions for transportation:
For all batteries, the connections must be individually isolated to avoid short circuits. This is achieved by transporting the batteries in their original packaging, covering exposed terminals with adhesive tape or packing each battery in a separate plastic or protective bag.
Output and unit restriction for leak-proof wet batteries:
- A maximum of 12 V / 100 Wh per battery
- A maximum of 2 replacement batteries
Please note:
- It is not permitted to charge power banks on board aircraft.
- A transportation permit from the airline is required for lithium batteries greater than 100 Wh up to a maximum of 160 Wh and greater than 2 g up to a maximum of 8 g LC.
- When booking a flight, please register power banks and batteries requiring approval via the Discover Airlines Service Center.
Not permitted to be transported.
This includes the following devices:
- Hoverboards
- E-bikes
- Pedelecs/S-pedelecs
- E-scooters
- Electric mono wheels
- Electric baggage rollers (e.g., Modobags or Airwheel)
- Dive scooters
- Segways
- Electric strollers or electric golf caddies
These are prohibited regardless of their power capacity and whether the batteries are permanently installed or removable; this also applies to battery-powered personal and sports transportation equipment with no built-in battery.
The examples cited above only represent a range of potential devices. In accordance with the IATA guidelines for dangerous goods, these items can only be transported in the hold.
Transportation permit required.
Due to reasons of safety and loading in the airplane, there are restrictions regarding:
- the battery output,
- the total weight and
- the size of the wheelchair or the mobility aid.
Please note:
- A transportation permit from the airline is required for wheelchairs and mobility aids.
- Please send us at your earliest convenience, but no later than 48 hours before departure, the required details (manufacturer’s technical data sheet or manual) for your wheelchair or mobility aid and send the completed form available below to specialservices.discover-airlines@lufthansa-group.com to be checked and approved.
Transportation permit required.
Output restriction lithium batteries: maximum 160 Wh or 8 g LC per device
Output restriction for leak-proof wet batteries: max. 100 Wh and 12 V per device
Please note:
- A transportation permit and medical clearance for use on board the airline is required for battery-operated portable medical devices.
- Please send us the details of your device (manufacturer’s technical data sheet or manual) to specialservices.discover-airlines@lufthansa-group.com no later than 48 hours before departure for advance registration and medical examination.
For travelers to and from the USA, the US Medical Desk can be reached at +1-516-279-1768 (Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CET).
Not permitted in checked baggage or as checked baggage.
Allowed as carry-on baggage or in carry-on baggage.
Unit restriction: only in quantities for personal use. The unit restriction applies to a total of a maximum of 15 portable electronic devices per passenger.
Output restriction lithium battery: max. 100 Wh or 2 g LC per device
Transportation restrictions in carry-on baggage:
- Use or charging on board is prohibited.
- The devices must remain stowed throughout the entire flight.
- It must not be possible to activate them accidentally.
Please note: In some countries, it is forbidden to travel with e-cigarettes or other inhalers.
Allowed in checked baggage or as checked baggage (not recommended).
Allowed as carry-on baggage or in carry-on baggage.
Transportation permit required over 100 Wh.
Unit restriction: max. 15 devices (including all electronic devices) with lithium batteries per passenger.
Max. 2 g LC
They should always be transported in carry-on baggage, where possible.
Transport regulations in checked baggage:
- Max. 3 devices larger than a smartphone.
- Do not pack your device together with highly flammable materials (e.g., perfumes, aerosols, etc.).
- Switch the devices off completely and protect them from unintentional activation.
- Make sure that all applications, alarms and preset configurations are disabled.
- Protect your device with appropriate packaging or a sturdy bag with sufficient padding.
- If you are transporting several different devices, store your devices separately from each other (e.g., separate them with items of clothing or the original packaging).
Power banks are considered replacement batteries, not electronic devices. For information on carrying replacement batteries, see: “Power banks, replacement batteries and loose batteries.”
Please note:
- For photo and video equipment with a battery capacity greater than 100 Wh up to a maximum of 160 Wh, a transport permit from the airline is required.
- Please register any devices or batteries requiring approval when booking a flight via the Discover Airlines Service Center.
Permitted in checked baggage or as checked baggage.
Allowed as carry-on baggage or in carry-on baggage.
Transportation permit required.
Unit restriction: max. 1 avalanche backpack per passenger
Please note:
- A transportation permit from the airline is required for avalanche backpacks.
- Please register any avalanche backpacks when booking a flight via the Discover Airlines Service Center.
The technical construction of avalanche backpacks’ release mechanisms may contain dangerous goods that are subject to official restrictions for transportation.
Dangerous goods restrictions in the release mechanism:
- Pyrotechnic release mechanism: net max. 200 mg explosive material of hazard subclass 1.4S.
- Lithium battery operated release: a maximum of 100 Wh or 2 g LC
- Release with a capacitor: Capacitors must not be charged, have short-circuit protection and be packaged in strong outer packaging to prevent any inadvertent activation.
- Release by integrated gas cartridges: The gas must correspond to hazard subclass 2.2.
Other transportation regulations:
- The backpack must be packed so that it cannot be accidentally activated.
- The air cushion in the backpack must be equipped with pressure relief valves.
- Gas cartridges of hazard subclass 2.2 are only accepted for transportation if they are integrated into the avalanche rescue backpack for release as specified in the design.
- Additional activation handles and replacement gas cartridges are not permitted.
- Flights from/to the USA: Avalanche backpacks with pyrotechnic release mechanisms or integrated gas cartridges are not approved for transportation unless the avalanche rescue backpack has no pyrotechnic release and the gas cartridge has been completely emptied.
Not permitted in checked baggage or as checked baggage.
Allowed as carry-on baggage or in carry-on baggage.
Transportation permit required.
Unit restriction: only in quantities for personal use. A unit restriction of a maximum of 15 portable electronic devices per passenger applies here.
Please note:
- A transport permit from the airline is required for diving lamps, soldering irons and heat-generating devices.
- Please register any diving lamps, soldering irons and heat-generating devices when booking a flight via the Discover Airlines Service Center.
Transportation restrictions in carry-on baggage:
- Devices must be switched off.
- In portable electronic devices that can produce extreme heat, batteries and heating elements must be isolated by removing the heating element, battery or other components.
- The regulations for transporting loose batteries or portable electronic devices with inserted batteries apply. You can find information on this in the sections “Power banks, spare batteries and loose batteries” and “Portable electronic devices with lithium batteries for personal use.”
Not permitted in checked baggage or as checked baggage.
Allowed as carry-on baggage or in carry-on baggage.
Unit restriction (including lithium batteries): 20 units per passenger. The unit restriction includes all battery types, i.e., leak-proof wet batteries, dry batteries, gel batteries and lithium batteries.
Examples of leak-proof wet batteries: Gel batteries or AGM batteries
Examples of dry batteries: Nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-cadmium, alkaline-manganese or zinc-carbon batteries
Transportation conditions for leak-proof wet and dry batteries:
- Leak-proof wet batteries (e.g., gel batteries) must not contain any free or non-absorbed liquids.
- It must be ensured that the batteries are protected from heat and cannot generate heat themselves.
- For all batteries, the connections must be individually isolated to avoid short circuits. This can be achieved by transporting the batteries in their original packaging, covering exposed terminals with adhesive tape or packing each battery in a separate plastic or protective bag.
Output and unit restriction for leak-proof wet batteries:
- A maximum of 12 V / 100 Wh per battery
- A maximum of 2 replacement batteries
Not permitted in checked baggage or as checked baggage.
Allowed as carry-on baggage or in carry-on baggage.
Transportation permit required over 100 Wh.
Power restriction: max. 100 Wh / 2 g LC
Transportation regulations:
- The battery must be removed from the luggage.
- Once removed, the battery must be transported in the cabin. For more information, see the “Power banks, replacement batteries and loose batteries” section.
- The suitcase may be transported as checked luggage without a battery.
Please note:
- For equipment with lithium batteries permanently installed in smart luggage, such as an electronic lock or electronic scale, you can find the output restrictions in the section: “Smart luggage - permanently installed lithium battery.”
- Information about baggage trackers or electronic baggage tags (EBTS) can be found in the section: “Baggage trackers” and “Electronic Baggage Tags (EBTS).”
- For a battery capacity greater than 100 Wh up to a maximum of 160 Wh, a transport permit from the airline is required.
- When booking a flight, please register power banks and batteries requiring approval via the Discover Airlines Service Center.
Permitted in checked baggage or as checked baggage.
Allowed as carry-on baggage or in carry-on baggage.
Power restriction: max. 2.7 Wh / 0.3 g LC
Please note:
- Items of smart baggage with permanently installed lithium batteries over 2.7 Wh or 0.3 g LC are prohibited for transport.
Permitted in checked baggage or as checked baggage.
Allowed as carry-on baggage or in carry-on baggage.
Power restriction: max. 2.7 Wh or 0.3 g LC per lithium battery
Transportation restrictions:
- Approved transmission functions: Low energy transmission functions such as Wi-Fi, UWB, Bluetooth or RFID
- The tracker must be stowed in the bag to avoid damage.
Permitted in checked baggage or as checked baggage.
Allowed as carry-on baggage or in carry-on baggage.
Baggage with electronic baggage tags (EBTS) with a routing display, e.g., BAGTAG and Rimowa Smart Bags, etc., which are used instead of printed thermal luggage tags, are permitted in checked baggage and carry-on baggage.
If you would like to take an electronic device or battery that is not listed above on your trip, please contact our service center.
Other transportation information:
- All lithium batteries must comply with the requirements of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, Section 38.3.
- If you transport electronic devices or batteries that are not approved for transportation, you run the risk of having the items confiscated at the airport. No liability is accepted for any confiscated items.
- These transportation guidelines comply with national regulations and the current IATA dangerous goods regulations for the safe transportation of electronic devices and batteries. Discover Airlines reserves the right to impose more restrictive measures for reasons of security.
- More restrictive country regulations may apply.
