The United States has banned these types of lithium battery power sources from the cargo holds of passenger flights.

Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation issued new regulations banning lithium batteries from the cargo holds of passenger flights.

This means that smartphones, backup power banks, tablets and other devices can’t be in checked luggage.

What does this mean for you? If you have gadgets powered by lithium batteries, you need to make sure you pack them properly before you head onto your flight. The rules are quite specific about what can and cannot be packed into your checked luggage, so you need to make sure to comply. The last thing you want to have happen is to be told that there is something in your checked luggage that is suspicious or that breaks the rules.

The new rule is meant to make sure that air passengers remain safe from the potential dangers associated with lithium ion batteries stored in a plane’s cargo hold.

What is the new rule regarding transporting lithium batteries when traveling by plane?

This new rule says that you can’t pack your full cell phone, portable phone charger, tablet, e-cigarette and other devices charged by lithium ion batteries. The rules also provide new guidance stating that lithium ion batteries on cargo-carrying planes can’t be charged to any level above thirty percent.

It may sound a bit fussy if you usually pack your gadgets, but the idea is to make sure that airline travel remains safe for everyone. It helps to avoid the risk of fires in the cargo hold.

“This rule will strengthen safety for the traveling public by addressing the unique challenges lithium batteries pose in transportation,” said Elaine L. Chao, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, when discussing the new rule.

That said, you can still pack all your devices to bring with you in your carry-on luggage. The new regulation doesn’t change the rules about the way lithium batteries are treated within the passenger cabin of planes. Therefore, if you have devices such as a phone, external battery pack, or other lithium ion battery, make sure to pack them in your carry-on luggage and not in your checked baggage, particularly if they are charged above 30 percent.