Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon introduced new restrictions on “smart bags” effective January 1. Smart bags are pieces of luggage that contain a lithium battery used to charge devices or to power motorized features such as powered wheels.
Under the updated policy, smart bags are no longer treated as portable electronic devices. Instead, their batteries are classified and handled in the same way as power banks or spare lithium batteries. As a result, passengers who wish to check a smart bag must first remove the battery and carry it in the cabin on board the aircraft.
Passengers who want to carry a smart bag into the cabin must be able to demonstrate that the battery is removable. This requirement ensures that, if the bag needs to be stowed in the hold or otherwise inaccessible during any portion of the journey, the battery can be removed and taken into the cabin for safety reasons. If the battery cannot be removed, the bag will not be accepted as either checked or carry-on luggage.
The Cathay Pacific Group says the policy update “follows industry guidance recently issued by the International Air Transport Association and aligns with similar practices adopted by major airlines worldwide for safety management and risk mitigation.” The change aims to reduce risks associated with lithium batteries, which can pose fire hazards if damaged or improperly stored.
Several other carriers have implemented comparable rules. Major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Alaska Airlines, have issued similar restrictions to address the same safety concerns and to standardize how batteries in smart luggage are handled during air travel.
Passengers planning to travel with smart luggage should check their airline’s specific guidance before packing. Key steps to follow include confirming whether the airline permits smart bags, verifying that batteries are removable, and ensuring batteries carried in the cabin comply with any capacity and packaging limits. Taking these precautions in advance can prevent delays or denied boarding at the airport.
As airline policies continue to evolve in response to safety recommendations, manufacturers and travelers are adapting designs and practices. For now, the main takeaway is that removable batteries must be carried in the cabin, and non-removable-battery bags will not be permitted on flights operated by Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, and many other carriers enforcing similar rules.