Can You Fly with a 20,000mAh or 30,000mAh Power Bank? AirAsia vs Malaysia Airlines Rules
AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines both limit power banks, but treat units above 100Wh differently. Check Wh, cabin storage, onboard use and a practical pre-flight checklist.
Source: AirAsia PED carriage FAQ; Malaysia Airlines additional baggage restrictions
A 20,000mAh power bank may be fine in your cabin bag. A 30,000mAh unit may exceed an airline's limit—even if it looks almost the same size. The key number isn't simply mAh; it's the battery's watt-hour rating (Wh) and the airline operating your flight.
The answer first: AirAsia versus Malaysia Airlines
These are the airlines' published restrictions checked in October 2026. Rules can change, so recheck the carrier operating each flight segment before departure.
| Question | AirAsia | Malaysia Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum power banks per passenger | 2 | 2 |
| Up to 100Wh per unit | Permitted in cabin, subject to conditions | Permitted in cabin, subject to conditions |
| More than 100Wh to 160Wh | Not permitted as a power bank | Only with airline approval |
| Above 160Wh | Not permitted | Prohibited |
| Checked baggage | No | No |
| Overhead compartment | No | No |
| Charge a phone using the power bank inflight | No | No |
| Recharge the power bank inflight | No | No |
| During the flight | Keep accessible on your person, in seat pocket or under-seat bag | Keep accessible; in under-seat bag or seat pocket, in a protective pouch |
Important difference: AirAsia explicitly says its 100–160Wh allowance for certain spare lithium batteries is not an allowance for power banks. Do not use that other battery rule to justify carrying a 120Wh power bank on AirAsia.
How to check 20,000mAh and 30,000mAh
Look for a printed Wh value on the battery or in its official specification. If it is clear, use that figure. If you only see mAh and the nominal voltage V, the usual conversion is:
Wh = (mAh ÷ 1,000) × V
Examples at an assumed nominal cell voltage of 3.7V:
| Label | Illustrative calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000mAh | 10 × 3.7 | 37Wh |
| 20,000mAh | 20 × 3.7 | 74Wh |
| 27,000mAh | 27 × 3.7 | 99.9Wh |
| 30,000mAh | 30 × 3.7 | 111Wh |
That means a typical 20,000mAh / 3.7V unit falls below 100Wh, whereas a 30,000mAh / 3.7V unit would exceed AirAsia's power-bank limit. But another manufacturer may specify a different nominal voltage, and labelled capacity may use a different basis: do not decide from mAh alone. The airline or airport can also reject an unidentifiable, damaged or non-compliant unit.
What happens with a 30,000mAh power bank?
On AirAsia: If the unit is rated above 100Wh, it is not allowed as a power bank. An online claim that "160Wh is fine for every airline" is misleading.
On Malaysia Airlines: A unit rated over 100Wh and up to 160Wh is within a category potentially accepted subject to prior airline approval. That is not automatic permission. Contact the airline before travelling; if approval is not obtained, do not assume security will let it through.
On a connecting flight: Follow the rules of each actual operating airline, including return journeys and codeshares. The strictest applicable policy can determine what you can bring.
Where should it go in the cabin?
Both airlines prohibit power banks in checked luggage. Do not place one in a suitcase you plan to check at the counter. A power bank cannot go in the overhead bin during the flight either: keep it accessible, for example in a protective pouch inside an under-seat bag or the seat pocket as permitted.
Do not use it to charge your phone on the flight, and do not recharge it from the aircraft socket. Protect it from accidental short circuits. Never fly with a swollen or damaged power bank.
If cabin baggage is taken at the gate for checked transport, tell staff you have a power bank and remove it before the bag is checked.
Five cabin-baggage mistakes first-time flyers can avoid
- Checking a bag with a power bank inside. Remove it first; checked baggage is not the place for spare lithium power banks.
- Confusing mAh with Wh. Look at the actual specification before arriving at KLIA or another airport.
- Leaving it in overhead luggage. Cabin-approved does not mean overhead-approved.
- Using it in flight. Both AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines prohibit power-bank charging and use during the flight.
- Assuming other cabin rules are the same. Cabin weight, bag dimensions, liquids and other items have separate security and airline conditions. Check the operating carrier and departure/transfer airports, particularly for international connections.
Keep your passport or ID, important medication, travel documents and essential personal items in a practical under-seat carry-on, subject to the airline's cabin-baggage allowance and security rules.
Quick pre-departure checklist
Before packing: count your power banks (two maximum on these carriers), inspect for damage, check the Wh printed on each, ensure the correct airline approves the rating, and prepare an accessible protective pouch. If your unit is borderline or the label is unclear, ask the airline instead of making assumptions at the airport.
Official policies: AirAsia portable electronic devices FAQ · Malaysia Airlines additional restrictions.
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