Airport bosses issued an alert on Friday(Image: Getty)
Airport bosses at London Gatwick have issued an alert to those taking checked baggage with them while travelling. The UK’s second busiest airport, which handles around 43 million passengers each year, is urging holidaymakers and other travellers to “pack right [for a] safe flight”.
In a new post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday airport chiefs said: “Power banks, spare batteries and vapes should always travel in your hand luggage, not in checked baggage. If damaged or overheated in the hold, they can pose a fire risk.”
Before flying travellers should: “Carry power banks and vapes in your hand luggage, keep spare batteries protected from short circuits, and check your airline’s rules before travelling”. The alert added: “A safer journey starts with careful packing.”
Further information found on the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website explains that vapes and power banks can overheat and cause a fire. It adds that you can only take two power banks per person, and that these should never be re-charged onboard the aircraft.
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“You may be asked to put power banks in your seat back pocket rather than in an overhead locker. Phones, tablets and laptops should normally be taken with you in the cabin unless they are completely turned off and protected from damage.”
Travellers should also pack their own bags, avoiding any restricted or banned items, and keep essentials such as medicine in hand luggage.
Economy passengers will continue to receive a complimentary beer or wine served with their main meal, but will now be required to pay if they want additional alcoholic beverages
04:15, 20 Jul 2026Updated 04:15, 20 Jul 2026
TUI Airlines has changed its rules on alcohol(Image: Getty Images)
A carrier has changed its rules concerning alcohol on board flights, leaving passengers with mixed responses.
TUI Airlines offers economy passengers up to three free alcoholic drinks on long-haul flights, but passengers will now have to pay for drinks from November 1.
Adults with existing bookings affected by the change will receive a £12.50 refund per flight, each way.
Passengers in the premium cabin will not be affected.
Passengers took to social media to respond to the change.
One Tiktok user said: “Good, I am glad. I sat on a 10-hour flight to Mexico last year, a wedding group of about 20 adults where absolutely pissed before even getting on.
“TUI still served them for about 7 hours. I was fuming; it was like a flight to Ibiza with 18-year-olds.”
Another user said: “All alcohol should be banned from airports and aeroplanes, it causes too much trouble.”
Others were angered by the change, with one Tiktok user saying: “TUI are dead to me.”
Another said: “It shouldn’t have to be a blanket ban for everyone. People just need to have more control. Many just enjoy one or two drinks, and I don’t see an issue with that.”
“Sadly, some people ruin it for everyone else.”
Earlier this year, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary told The Times that airports should be banned from serving alcohol to passengers prior early flights to reduce disruption.
A Ryanair spokesperson subsequently told Metro: “The problem is not drinking on board one-hour flights; the excessive drinking occurs in airport terminals where no limits are placed on alcohol consumption, especially during flight delays.
“Ryanair have several processes in place to manage disruptive passengers onboard, including crew’s discretion to limit the number of drinks permitted to be purchased inflight.”
Ryanair introduced a €500 fine for disruptive passengers in June 2025.
Intoxication is a regular cause of trouble on aircrafts. Civil Aviation Authority statistics for 2019 showed that there were 390 occasions when airlines reported “difficulty in controlling intoxicated, violent or unruly passengers”.
By 2023, the number had risen to 1,245 incidents, and in 2024 it remained over 1,000.
Being drunk on a plane is a criminal offence and can be punished by a fine of up to £5,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
Several major airlines including Ryanair, TUI, easyJet, British Airways and Jet2 ban this item
Make sure you don’t pack this item(Image: Greggory DiSalvo via Getty Images)
Preparing for a summer getaway can seem like an endless to-do list, particularly if you’re jetting off for a birthday, wedding or other special event. However, one budget-friendly item many holidaymakers pop into their suitcase could wind up being seized before they even step onto the aircraft.
Multiple major airlines, including Ryanair, TUI, easyJet, British Airways and Jet2, ban passengers from bringing party poppers. Leaving them behind could spare you needless hassle and hold-ups at the airport.
The item in question is party poppers, and despite appearing innocent, they are forbidden on most commercial flights. They may only set you back a few pence at around £2 for a pack of 20, but they must never be packed in either hand luggage or checked baggage, and doing so could lead to your bags being inspected, with the items likely seized.
This ban exists because party poppers contain a small explosive charge used to create the popping effect. Although the quantity is minuscule, aviation safety regulations classify them as explosive articles and forbid them from being transported on aircraft.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) includes party poppers among the dangerous goods that passengers must not carry in either cabin baggage or hold luggage. The regulations also extend to other novelty explosives, including sparklers, fireworks and flares.
If security personnel find banned items during checks, they may confiscate them from your baggage before departure. Depending on the situation, travellers could also experience hold-ups while bags are inspected or further security procedures are undertaken.
Airport security regulations can differ marginally between nations and carriers, but dangerous goods rules are extensively implemented throughout the aviation sector. Passengers are therefore urged to verify both their airline’s luggage policy and official government advice prior to flying.
Party poppers are frequently packed by mistake following birthdays, weddings or other celebrations, especially when families are travelling with youngsters. While they might appear like a harmless addition to your suitcase, they are handled in the same manner as other banned explosive items under aviation safety regulations.
The government also reminds travellers that security personnel have the ultimate say on whether an item is allowed through screening. Even where an object seems innocent, it can still be confiscated if it is deemed a safety hazard or violates airport security rules.
Inspecting your baggage before heading to the airport could help prevent needless delays, extra security checks and the frustration of having belongings seized before your relaxing holiday away even gets underway.
Travellers have reacted with anger after the change was made to services on flights
09:38, 09 Jul 2026Updated 10:40, 09 Jul 2026
TUI passengers have been told their bookings have changed – and offered a small refund(Image: Getty)
TUI has emailed passengers telling them of an ‘important change’ to holidays already booked. Travellers have reacted with anger after the change was made to services on the flight – with alcoholic drinks off the menu.
In messages posted on Facebook pages from holiday travel companies, it emerged TUI is making the change from November 1. Anyone travelling long-haul with the company has been told that complimentary drinks will no longer be service in economy class.
Instead travellers will receive one complimentary beer or wine with the main meal. All other drinks will now have to be paid for – however, passengers travelling in Premium will continue to receive complimentary alcoholic drinks as part of their experience.
Anyone already booked is being offered a small amount of money back: “If you’ve already booked and paid for a long-haul holiday departing after 1st November, TUI has announced a £12.50 per person, each-way goodwill refund for affected customers.” Many have been sent an email with the subject in caps saying ‘IMPORTANT NEWS REGARDING A CHANGE TO YOUR HOLIDAY’.
The travel operator said: “Everyone will have their own opinion, but for some travellers this could take away a little of that ‘holiday starts on the plane’ feeling.”
Jamie thought it was a good thing: “Probably a good thing with the number of alcohol related incidents onboard these long-haul holiday flights. “ However, Nigel was taking his trade elsewhere: “Plenty saying book with another airline, good luck with that, particularly if you do not have easy access to London airports.” One user said: “That is a tiny amount of refund.”
Some have not had nice experiences. Charlotte said: “Last time we did long haul paid premium it wasn’t loads of drinks it was moderated and disappointing for the amount of money we spent and rudeness of staff.” A user added: “It would make me consider another airline first. But I’ve had issues with TUI when we were supposed to go to Jamaica last year so already not in my good books. If the £12.50 was ongoing, that’s actually reasonable, but to have to pay for drinks moving forward sucks a bit.”
Graeme added: “This is a total joke.” Olive said: ”TUI can ram that nonsense. The whole idea of long haul is getting smashed.”
June added: “The drinks were never ‘free’…they were complimentary. There’s a difference. The complimentary drinks were meant to be limited, but people just take the proverbial’ **** Not surprised it’s been pulled.”
TUI responded to one user: “Thank you for your comment. We’re sorry to hear of your disappointment with the changes to our long-haul service. This change helps us focus on the things that matter most, like keeping fares competitive, maintaining great value overall, and giving customers more flexibility in how they spend onboard.
“Soft drinks will remain free, customers will still get a complimentary beer or wine with their main meal, and there’ll be a wider range of alcoholic drinks available to buy, so people can choose exactly what they want during their flight. Thanks!”
Last month, it emerged that TUI Airways was ranked among the worst airlines for UK flight punctuality, with one route having an average delay of more than three-quarters of an hour.
The leisure carrier’s departures from UK airports were an average of 20 minutes and 24 seconds behind schedule in 2025, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.
The least punctual of its routes with at least 100 flights was from Birmingham to the Greek island of Zante, which had an average delay of 46 minutes.
Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said it was “unacceptable” that airline passengers “continue to face unreliable service” amid fare rises. He went on: “Airlines must do more to support travellers during delays, including clearly communicating their rights and eligibility for compensation.
“It’s worth putting in a claim with your airline if you think it’s responsible – and escalating the complaint if it refuses to pay.” TUI Airways is owned by TUI Group, which also operates the UK’s second-largest package holiday company.
Many of its holiday customers use the airline, which serves more than 20 UK airports.
The punctuality analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by the 34 airlines which operated more than 2,500 of these flights last year. Cancelled flights were not included.
Aage Dunhaupt, TUI Group’s director of communications, said: “We fully understand that for holidaymakers, every minute counts. Minimising delays remains a top priority, and our teams work continuously to improve operational performance across our network.”
Mr Dunhaupt said the airline makes “a conscious choice” to operate flights “wherever possible, even if they are delayed, rather than cancelling them”, as this ensures passengers reach their destination “rather than facing the risk of extended disruption”.
He added: “If we were to follow broader industry practices of cancelling flights more readily, our punctuality ranking would improve significantly.
“However, this would come at the expense of our customers.”
Hundreds of easyJet and Ryanair flights have been hit by delays today following an issue at the National Air Traffic Services, with 30,000 Ryanair passengers said to be impacted
Air traffic control issues have caused delays (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Hundreds of UK flights have been delayed due to an issue at the UK’s air traffic control (ATC).
There was widespread disruption across UK airspace this morning after an issue at the Met Office meant the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) didn’t receive weather information.
As a result, Ryanair saw 155 of its flights delayed, impacting almost 30,000 passengers, with delays of up to three hours. EasyJet was hit harder, with 253 flights delayed – 13% of its total number of planned departures today.
“A Met Office technical issue overnight meant that we were not receiving vital weather information into our NATS systems this morning. Accurate weather information is vital for air traffic controllers and pilots in managing flights safely,” a spokesperson for NATs said
“As a result, some air traffic restrictions were put in place early this morning and these have now been removed. We continue to work with the Met Office, who are working to fully resolve the problem.”
The Met Office has been contacted for comment.
“Nearly three years after NATS catastrophic 2023 system meltdown, UK passengers are once again being delayed because NATS’ systems have failed,” Ryanair Chief Operations Officer, Neal McMahon, said.
“Today’s outage delayed 155 Ryanair flights and disrupted almost 30,000 Ryanair passengers. Families travelling on holiday, people travelling for work and thousands of visitors to the UK have once again paid the price for NATS’ failure.”
Back in August 2023, a technical problem experienced by NATS saw very significant delays and cancellations across the UK. An outage resulted in hundreds of flights being delayed or canceled. In some cases, passengers waited several days for alternative flights. More than 700,000 passengers suffered cancellations and delays.
An investigation into the incident found that an engineer was unable to correct the fault from home, and so arrived at work more than three hours after the incident began in a bid to fix it.
A single flight from Los Angeles to Paris triggered the failure at 8.30am BST on Monday 28 August, the Civil Aviation Authority previously said. The air traffic control system had been confused by a duplicate code – DVL – which represents both Deauville in France and Devil’s Lake in North Dakota, USA.
Despite the engineer’s best efforts to resolve the problem on site, he was unable to do so. The system was eventually restored at 2.30pm after its manufacturer, Frequentis Comsoft, found the fault.
Following an independent review, Jeff Halliwell, Chair of the Independent Review Panel, said: “The incident on 28 August 2023 represented a major failure on the part of the air traffic control system, which caused considerable distress to over 700,000 aviation passengers, and resulted in substantial costs to airlines and airports. Our report sets out a number of recommendations aimed at improving NATS’ operations and, even more importantly, ways in which the aviation sector as a whole should work together more closely to ensure that, if something like this does ever happen again, passengers are better looked after.”
Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, added: “This final report gets to the heart of what went wrong in August 2023 and sets out a number of recommendations that are sector-wide in their scope. It is vital that we learn the lessons from any major incident such as this. I would personally like to thank the Panel for all of their efforts in producing a thorough and wide-ranging report, that will help improve the UK’s aviation system for the future.”
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a warning to passengers about the dangers of packing power banks in hold luggage after a surge in lithium battery incidents on UK flights
13:34, 26 Jun 2026Updated 14:16, 26 Jun 2026
BBC News showed footage of the power bank fire breaking out in the overhead locker of a flight(Image: Getty Images)
UK-based airlines have prohibited a common electrical device labelled the ‘number one safety risk to aircraft’ after footage emerged showing it erupting into flames inside a cabin. Passengers on flights are being urged not to place power banks or vapes in their checked luggage as the busy summer holiday travel season gets underway across parts of the UK.
Several carriers have begun implementing outright bans on power banks that travellers use to charge their phones and tablets amid mounting safety concerns. Generally, power banks are permitted only in hand luggage, not checked baggage, because of worries they could explode and catch fire mid-flight.
Power banks house rechargeable lithium batteries, which pack a considerable amount of energy into a compact space, and when defective can trigger fierce fires that spread rapidly.
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On BBC Breakfast today, correspondent Katy Austin described it as a ‘terrifying situation’ on a recent flight. She said: “Flames broke out in the overhead baggage compartment of an Air China plane last October. The cause is thought to have been a lithium battery. They’re in loads of commonly used devices like laptops, vapes, phones, and power banks. They can store a lot of energy in a small space, but if they overheat or are defective, this video of a test in a lab shows just how quickly a fire can start.
“Last year, UK authorities were informed of 643 incidents where lithium batteries were detected packed in hold bags. That’s nearly twice the number the year before. Reports of devices overheating or malfunctioning also nearly doubled to more than 200. Most were in the cabin where crew could deal with the situation. The fear is that incidents in the hold could not be discovered until it’s too late to control.”
“It contains a lot of energy in a very small space, which is fantastic for, you know, our devices. It means we can use them for longer. But the problem with that is when things go wrong, the fires can be quite ferocious and you can’t put these fires out in the way you can with a normal fire that you might have because these fires are like self fueling.
“The advice for plane passengers is to take items like mobile phones, vapes, and power banks on board with you. Never charge power bank on a flight and turn off laptops completely if they’re going to be put in check-in bags.”
The CAA revealed that reports of passenger devices overheating or malfunctioning last year were almost double the figure from 2024. Instances of lithium battery-powered gadgets being wrongly packed in hold baggage surged by 91% during the same timeframe.
CAA director of aviation safety Giancarlo Buono said: “Pack right for a safe flight, and that means don’t put your batteries in your checked bag. Take them into the cabin with you. This simple tip will make your flight safer for you, and the other passengers you’re flying with.”
Research involving airline passengers revealed that 36% have no idea about the risks associated with packing batteries in hold luggage.
easyJet
EasyJet enforces stringent rules stipulating that all lithium-ion batteries, spare batteries and power banks must be carried in cabin hand luggage only, with a blanket ban on hold luggage due to the risk of fire. Power banks below 100Wh (approximately 27,000mAh) are permitted without prior approval; those between 100-160Wh require authorisation from the airline.
Portable electronic devices containing batteries must be transported exclusively as carry-on baggage.
Should any of these items find their way into checked baggage, steps must be taken to prevent accidental activation and to safeguard the devices from harm; all devices must be completely powered down (not left in sleep or hibernation mode). EasyJet imposes a limit of 15 portable electronic devices per passenger.
Portable electronic devices housing non-spillable batteries must not exceed 12V or 100Wh, and passengers are permitted to carry a maximum of 2 spare batteries. When bringing smart baggage into the cabin, travellers must be able to quickly and easily detach and remove the lithium battery/power bank, although it may remain inside the bag.
Smart baggage will not be accepted for travel if the lithium battery/power bank cannot be readily detached and removed by the passenger. If smart luggage is to be checked into the hold, the lithium battery/power bank must be removed from the smart luggage at Bag Drop and taken into the cabin.
Any exposed terminals must be protected against short circuits. The lithium battery/power bank must be detachable, so if it cannot be removed from your luggage, the bag will not be permitted on board.
Passengers may carry up to 15 personal electronic devices (this includes but is not limited to: smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras, handheld game consoles, headphones, power banks). Spare lithium batteries (including power banks) must be individually protected to prevent short circuits by placing them in their original retail packaging, or by otherwise securing terminals by taping over any exposed terminals or putting each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch, and must only be transported in carry-on baggage.
Passengers are also permitted to bring up to 20 spare lithium batteries, as long as they don’t surpass 100Wh each. Spare lithium batteries, including power banks taken into the cabin, must not go beyond 100Wh and mustn’t be used to charge or power other portable electronic devices during taxi, take-off or landing.
They must not be placed in cabin baggage stored in the overhead locker. Rather, they ought to be kept in cabin baggage under the seat in front of you, or carried on your person.
Devices or batteries exceeding 100Wh are banned in both the cabin and hold, apart from electric wheelchair batteries. Spare batteries, including power banks, are not allowed in checked baggage.
TUI’s regulations forbid passengers from packing loose lithium batteries, power banks, or spare batteries in checked-in luggage. These items must only be carried in hand luggage.
Power banks must generally not exceed 100Wh, and terminals must be safeguarded against short circuits. Devices shouldn’t be recharged while on board.
Dry AA(A) batteries (type Alkaline, NiMh, NiC) for small personal items such as a pocket torch or a radio are permitted, provided they’re inside the device or contained in sturdy packaging. When devices are placed in hold baggage, measures must be taken to protect the device from damage and prevent accidental activation; the device must be completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode).
Spare batteries and power banks should be individually protected against short circuits by keeping them in their original packaging, with terminals covered in tape or placed in a plastic bag in hand luggage.
Airline approval is always required for medical devices. For further information, see section Baggage – Medical baggage.
TUI fly requires that all power banks must be carried in hand luggage, never in checked baggage. They must be packaged to prevent short circuits (original packaging or terminals covered with tape).
Generally, capacity is limited to 100 Watt-hours (Wh) per battery, with power banks not permitted to be used for charging devices or recharged while onboard.
Hand Luggage Only: Due to fire risk, all lithium-powered battery packs must be in the cabin. Capacity Limits: Power banks up to 100 Wh (roughly 27,000 mAh at 3.7V) are generally permitted.
Safety Requirements: Terminals must be protected against short circuits, such as by taping them or keeping them in individual plastic bags.
In-flight Usage: Power banks cannot be used to charge phones or laptops during flight, nor should they be recharged using aircraft power outlets.
Storage: Keep them in your seat pocket or under your seat, not in overhead bins
The US Federal Aviation Administration recorded 644 lithium battery fires onboard flights in the past 20 years, with the global figure stretching into the thousands
EasyJet pilot and head of flight operations at the Civil Aviation Authority, Glenn Bradley(Image: Supplied)
A pilot has urged passengers not to pack an electrical item in their luggage, to avoid potentially disastrous consequences.
Eleven days ago, passengers aboard a British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flying from London Heathrow Airport to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas noticed an acrid smell.
A blaze had broken out in the cabin, triggered – it would later become clear – by a lithium battery. The fire scorched the inside of the jet before crew could extinguish it. Clark County Fire Department responders rushed to meet the singed plane on the tarmac.
The fire was one of 644 such incidents on planes recorded by the US Federal Aviation Administration in the past 20 years, with the global figure stretching into the thousands.
Other incidents are much scarier.
Do you have a story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
On January 28 last year, 176 passengers were evacuated from Air Busan Flight 391 when a battery blaze completely destroyed the plane as it taxied for take-off at Gimhae International Airport. Three were injured.
Lithium batteries are used six times more now than in 2020, raising the risk of fire with them. They can ignite due to a process called thermal runaway, where a damaged or short-circuited cell rapidly generates heat. This creates a chain reaction that releases extreme heat, and can be triggered by being crushed and overcharged.
Many of us know of the dangers of lithium batteries on flights and that items containing them such as phones, power banks and vapes must only be stored in hand luggage. However, it’s easy to let less obvious gadgets slip into hold luggage, according to easyJet pilot and head of flight operations at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Glenn Bradley.
“The batteries are in everything, including portable fans. Lithium batteries in the hold are the most dangerous thing,” Glenn explained.
While flight attendants are trained to put out cabin fires, accessing luggage in the hold is impossible during a flight, which is why the prospect of a lithium battery fire is taken extremely seriously.
“We all carry about four of these batteries when we fly, so on a plane there could be a thousand. The fact is, they don’t explode on a daily basis, but if they do, we want to be able to manage them,” he added.
If a passenger realises they’ve left a battery-containing item in their hold luggage, they should immediately tell crew.
When that happened on a UK-bound easyJet flight in May, it was diverted to Rome. The captain judged the power bank charging in a passenger’s luggage to be too dangerous to ignore.
Glenn spoke with the Mirror as part of a CAA safety campaign. Passengers are urged to “pack right for a safe flight” by taking their batteries in the cabin with them.
Passengers should:
Take items like mobile phones, vapes and power banks on board with you.
Never charge a power bank on a flight.
Turn off laptops completely if they’re going to be put in check-in bags.
Getting it wrong could lead to your bags being removed from the flight, causing significant delays or, even worse, result in a fire that may be impossible to contain.
Giancarlo Buono, director of aviation safety at the CAA, said: “Flying is by far the safest way to travel and we want to keep it that way. Pack right for a safe flight, and that means don’t put your batteries in your checked bag. Take them into the cabin with you. This simple tip will make your flight safer for you, and the other passengers you’re flying with.”
CAA figures show reports of overheating or malfunctioning passenger devices nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025, following a 98% year-on-year increase. Cases of lithium battery-powered devices being incorrectly packed in checked baggage also rose by 91% in 2025.
One particular route was also named the least punctual with the airline, as Birmingham to the Greek party hotspot of Zante had an average delay of 46 minutes
An airline loved by Brits has been rated one of the worst for punctuality (stock)(Image: Maria Korneeva via Getty Images)
A popular airline amongst British holidaymakers has been ranked among the worst for punctuality — and it isn’t easyJet, Ryanair, BA or Jet2. Budget carriers easyJet and Ryanair occasionally face criticism from passengers for a whole host of reasons, yet timekeeping doesn’t appear to be one of their shortcomings.
An airline that also offers package holidays widely favoured by Brits has apparently earned a reputation for poor punctuality.
TUI Airways has landed fifth on a list of the five worst airlines for UK flight delays, with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data revealing an average delay of 20 minutes and 24 seconds last year.
One particular route was singled out as the least punctual of all — Birmingham to the Greek party island of Zante — with an average hold-up of 46 minutes. Operating out of more than 20 UK airports, the carrier is owned by TUI Group.
Aage Dunhaupt, from TUI Group, told the Mail that “minimising delays remains a top priority”, noting that TUI Airways runs flights “wherever possible, even if they are delayed, rather than cancelling them”.
He said: “If we were to follow broader industry practices of cancelling flights more readily, our punctuality ranking would improve significantly. However, this would come at the expense of our customers.”
Air India was ranked the worst performer for the second year running, with average delays exceeding 36 minutes, while Scandinavian Airlines topped the table as the most punctual, averaging a mere eight minutes.
Taking second spot for the poorest performance was Blue Islands, which ceased trading at the end of last year, followed by TAP Air Portugal and Saudia.
On a more positive note, average delays have fallen from 18 minutes, 18 seconds in 2024 to 14 minutes, 48 seconds.
A spokesperson for trade body Airlines UK told ITV: “The vast majority of UK airline flights depart on time and CAA data shows customer satisfaction levels are at an all-time high.
“Most delays are the result of issues that are entirely outside airline control, such as adverse weather, forced reductions in the number of planes that are able to land and take off each hour, and industrial action.”
They added: “When these delays do occur, airlines work hard to support customers and get them where they need to be as quickly as possible.”
This follows a flight attendant revealing her top five “basic” habits she “absolutely loves” to see passengers doing. Taking to TikTok, she started by saying: “When you take your headphones out as I walk up to your row.
“Instant respect. You see me. I see you. We’re already besties.”
Her other habits were paying attention during announcements, offering a smile and a sincere thank you, keeping shoes on, and not treating the plane like your living room.
She added: “It’s really that simple. Kindness + awareness + basic hygiene = elite passenger status.”
A travel agent warned holidaymakers the item must always be kept in hand luggage after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched an awareness campaign following a rise in flight disruptions
A travel agent has warned against packing one thing in your large suitcase (stock)(Image: J_art via Getty Images)
Anyone who has ever travelled by plane will be familiar with the restrictions on hand luggage items at airport security – from liquids exceeding 100ml to batteries, tools and frozen goods. Security staff will refuse to allow anything they deem hazardous to pass through, meaning any attempt to do so could hold up your travels or result in the item being confiscated.
There are certain items, such as vapes, however, which must be packed in hand luggage rather than in larger suitcases stowed in the hold. Jake Cullum-Hollins took to TikTok to warn his 50,000 followers that another such item – power banks – are frequently “ruining” people’s holidays.
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These are portable chargers that enable their owners to top up mobile phones, tablets and laptops while on the move – without requiring access to a mains socket.
“People still aren’t following the rules when it comes to packing these correctly,” Jake began in a video. “Due to the rising number of cases where flights are having to be delayed, diverted or even to make an emergency landing because of power banks, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is launching a massive awareness campaign.”
Jake clarified the guidance is straightforward – any item containing a lithium battery must be carried in hand luggage. This includes laptops, tablets, vapes and, indeed, power banks.
“It is really important to check your airline’s rules when it comes to things like power banks,” the travel agent reiterated. “Because some of them are now saying you cannot charge your items while you are on the flight.”
Earlier this year, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) published an addendum to its Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous goods by Air, which read: “The operator must adhere to for lithium cells or batteries (including power banks) carried aboard the aircraft for use or sale on the aircraft by the operator (such as electronic flight bags (EFBs), personal entertainment devices, card readers etc).”
The guidance continued: “Spare lithium batteries and power banks must be individually protected to prevent short circuits when not in use. For example:
Keep them in original retail packaging
Cover terminals with tape
Place each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch
Power banks:
Must be carried in carry‑on baggage
Must be individually protected when not in use
Must not be recharged on board the aircraft
Should not be used to charge other portable electronic devices on board the aircraft
Maximum of two power banks per person
The ICAO also advised: “The conditions for the carriage and use of these electronic devices and spare batteries (including power banks) must be provided in the operations manual and/or other appropriate manuals by the operators to enable flight crew, cabin crew and other employees to carry out the functions for which they are responsible.”
Responding to Jake in the comments, one TikTok user noted: “Airlines then need to have more adequate charging facilities on planes. Even when there is a port on the plain to plug into, it’s either outdated or doesn’t have a strong enough current to actually charge the phone.”
Jake later pointed out: “You can charge your devices at airports before boarding the planes – usually plenty of charging points around. When your device is in airplane mode it uses hardly and battery. Most long haul flights also have plugs to charge things like phones and laptops.”
