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Japan to ban in-flight use of power banks starting in April (www.asahi.com)
submitted 1 month ago by throws_lemy@reddthat.com to c/world@lemmy.world
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[-] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The new rule will limit passengers to a total of two spare batteries, including power banks.

While there is no limit on the number of spare batteries below 100 watt-hours, carrying power banks exceeding 160 watt-hours will remain prohibited.

Power banks will be capped at two units regardless of power capacity.

Do you need to be intellectually challenged to understand this?

Political class whore: "Should we regulate the corporations producing these faulty batteries?"

Corporate Lobbyist: "nah, let's just ban consumers from using them when they need them the most"

Political class whore: "yes, master"

[-] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

They're doing that too:

Anker Japan Co., a major Chinese-affiliated mobile battery manufacturer, has issued another round of recalls for certain products sold over the last few years. Following an expansion of its recall scope, the economy ministry has requested the company to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all products sold in Japan.

The concern driving this ban is primarily centered around defective units already in circulation, and the acceptance that they cannot realistically be certain about their ability to prevent manufacturers in other countries from shipping in more potentially defective units. Most modern airplanes I have seen have in-seat USB charging ports, which at least cuts down on the need some, and a few hours without a charged device is not going to end the lives of anyone traveling (especially since this rule has carve outs for medical devices, I'm told).

[-] pivot_root@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

Most modern airplanes I have seen have in-seat USB charging ports

You probably shouldn't trust those to actually work. Or even to be safe enough to not kill whatever you plug into them.

[-] feannag@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

Also you shouldn't plug your phone into random USB ports, although i guess carrying a charge pass through adapter is an option.

[-] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

If you're that worried about it (and don't have at least a passthrough charging cable), you can just turn your devices off and bring a book. I don't know why you'd be worried about it killing your devices though, if a plane's electrical system has failed so badly it's going to fry things on the USB bus then you've got much bigger problems.

[-] deranger@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

Just use your regular charger, there are typically outlets under the seat in front of you on B737/A320 and larger. Even many regional jets have them these days. I never plug into a random USB port.

[-] lps2@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago

And they're so loose that's it's a miracle if your charger stays in. Maybe if there were updates and changes to prevent this I would understand but as someone who's working 99% of the time while traveling, it's a surprise when the ports work and I rely on battery banks heavily

[-] possumparty@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 month ago

shit you're lucky to get paid wifi on a crj, let alone an outlet.

[-] SpeedRunner@europe.pub 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Shockingly, when I travel abroad I'm usually out and about for the most days. And that's where power bank is needed.

If can't have them in my checked luggage and and I can't have them in my carry on, am I expected to buy a power bank every time I fly and then throw it away?

On the topic of in-seat charging ports: your luck may wary. Even if you do find a plane which has these and they actually work, the power is not usually enough to charge more power hungry devices - bigger phones, tablets, steam deck. Don't get me started of you actually want to use your laptop during the flight.

Yes, if you fly business there are usually power sockets which you can use, but who has money for that?

[-] socsa@piefed.social 1 points 1 month ago

It's almost like the whole issue is that airports involve passengers crossing borders where the laws are different.

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip 0 points 1 month ago

If you really really need to charge your phone on a plane, all modern ones have AC and USB.

[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

Have you tried using them though..? Half of the time they’re broken/unpowered for some reason or the internal retention springs are so utterly fucked that it doesn’t maintain consistent contact with the plug and your charger just falls out.

In my experience, the USB plugs are even more uncommon, and USB-C ones doubly so - and they’re always low power ones, so you’re fucked if you’re trying to drive a laptop off of that.

[-] frongt@lemmy.zip -1 points 1 month ago

Yes, I haven't had any issues like that.

And if you can't charge your laptop off the USB port, that's what the AC outlet is for.

[-] Hawk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month ago

I'd be wary of just plugging your phone in a random USB port.

[-] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

all modern ones

laughs in outdated aircraft that always run my route

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

angry spirit airline noises

[-] Tja@programming.dev 0 points 1 month ago

What flights are you on that you need a powerbank? Any decently modern phone will last for 24h on flight mode playing video. I've done 12-13h flights (Germany to Singapore) with 60% of battery remaining.

[-] hraegsvelmir@ani.social 1 points 1 month ago

What flights are you on that you need a powerbank?

As @SpeedRunner@europe.pub said in another post, it's not necessarily just about the time on the flight, but when you might need them after. Later this year, for example, I'm planning on heading to Europe and will attend a music festival while I'm there. I'll be out all day, and would like to be able to use my phone to stay in touch with my travelling buddies, take pictures, maybe get a cab back to the hotel, or whatever else. It would be pretty nice to have a powerbank to keep my phone charged then, as well as for other days where I'm planning on being out sightseeing all day. If you're already forbidden from storing them in your checked bag, and now you'll be banned from bringing them in your carry-on, what exactly are you meant to do, then? Buy a new powerbank every time you travel? Just for my trip and travel group, we'd need to purchase and discard 4 of them on this trip, as we'll be staying a few days in one country for sightseeing before hopping on a plane to the opposite corner of Europe for the remainder of the vacation. That's a lot of added e-waste and expense.

[-] Tja@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

If you need them after: you can take two powerbanks on you, just not use them in the air.

[-] BlindFrog@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago

"It's not the corporations' fault for producing and selling fire hazards under lax regulations -
it's the consumer's fault for not spending money on brand-name products every three financial quarters!"

[-] Tja@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

Of course it's the corporations fault, but once they are sold we cannot just rely on thoughts and prayers, we need to regulate the world we have and prevent people from using them on planes. The world is not America.

[-] baka@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 1 month ago

Older phones, game boy advance, faulty batteries don't last as long.. noisecancellation headphones don't last 12 hours.. What if I didn't charge my phone to 100 before getting to the plane.. Are you dense?

[-] Tja@programming.dev 0 points 1 month ago

Noise canceling headphones don't last 12h? My 5 year old Microsoft Surface last 12h easy. Nowadays some cheap Anker ANC last 40h. Use a realistic argument at least...

What if you didn't charge your phone? What if you didn't bring your passport? What if you bought the wrong ticket? What if my grandma had wheels?

[-] baka@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 1 month ago

Muh airpord pros

[-] Tja@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

Good news: Those you don't need a powerbank to charge!

this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2026
14 points (100.0% liked)

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