Best Products Style Travel Bags 6 Smart Suitcases That Won't Break Airlines' Battery Rules By Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Instagram Patricia Doherty brings a wide variety of experiences to her writing. Her background includes the airline industry, corporate management, education, writing, and editing. Combining this with her love of travel, she has spent the past five years writing for Travel + Leisure's digital edition and other publications, covering destinations, resorts, cruises, luggage, restaurants, and travel guides. She'll tell you that without question, she has finally found the perfect career. * 10+ years of experience working at United Airlines, where she recruited flight attendants, pilots, and ground personnel, and held management roles in customer service, inflight services, and human resources * 15+ years of experience working in human resources management in the tech and financial industries * 11 years of experience teaching English language arts at a middle school in California's Coachella Valley, where she formed a writers' club for students interested in creative writing * Edited the book "The Urban School Improvement Plan" by author Julius Lockett * Received a bachelor's degree in English and communication arts from St. John's University in New York City * Received a master's degree in reading and language arts from the California State University, San Bernardino Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on January 29, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Photo: Courtesy of retailers Luggage companies have been working hard to make travel more convenient for us with wheels, TSA-friendly locks, specialized compartments, and chargers to keep our electronic devices ready to go. However, for safety reasons, many domestic and international airlines have begun to restrict the lithium batteries that provide power for these chargers. Most allow the batteries in carry-on bags, but not in checked luggage due to potential fire risk. For example, Delta's baggage rule states that, "any portable electronic device equipped with a power bank offered as checked baggage must have the power bank removed prior to being checked in." The power bank may be transported in carry-on baggage. Related: 16 Smart Home Gifts That Make It Easier to Leave for Vacation According to the American Airlines website, as of mid-January, "Due to a potential safety hazard, 'smart' bags (luggage with charging devices) can't fly unless the battery can be removed." United is expected to announce similar regulations soon, and other airlines will likely follow. On Jan. 15 2018, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) confirmed its global ban of smart bags. There are already restrictions on checking spare lithium batteries, and it appears the concerns may lead to further tightening of these rules. As all travelers know, onboard space often fills up, and carry-on bags must then be checked as luggage at the last minute. For this reason, the power source should be easily removable. The smart bags we list here either meet this requirement or use power banks that are purchased separately so they can be detached when necessary. Two things to look for when purchasing USB-compatible luggage: Be sure the power unit is easily removable, and note when a power bank — see the portable chargers we recommend — must be purchased separately. 01 of 06 Arlo Skye Courtesy of Arlo Skye In silver, champagne, or black with quiet wheels and TSA-approved locks, this bag also includes a leather name tag, two shoe bags, and a laundry bag. Its built-in fast charger easily pops out of the top of the suitcase in seconds for portability and airline compliance. To buy: arloskye.com 02 of 06 G-RO Courtesy of Amazon G-RO's carry-on comes equipped with a slim, removable power bank that simply unplugs from the bag's built-in USB wires so travelers can upgrade their G-RO with new tech at any time, or remove it completely if they need to quickly check a bag. It also comes with a removable Tile Slim Bluetooth tracker, which doesn't need a battery to keep tabs on your luggage's location. To buy: amazon.com, g-ro.com 03 of 06 Away Luggage Courtesy of Away Away's cult-favorite suitcases come in 12 colors with unbreakable shells, TSA-approved locks, and built-in USB chargers that can power up a phone battery up to five times. In the most recent versions, the battery pack can easily be popped out of its exterior spot beneath the handle. To buy: awaytravel.com 04 of 06 Travelpro Crew 11 Courtesy of Zappos This lightweight collection from Travelpro includes both hardside and softside luggage that is equipped with an external USB port that can connect any USB device to a power source for charging. A dedicated external pocket holds the easily removable power bank (but it must be purchased separately). To buy: zappos.com, amazon.com, macys.com 05 of 06 U.S. Traveler Smart USB Port EZ Charge Courtesy of Amazon This affordable hardside spinner set comes in teal, royal blue, and purple, with TSA-approved locks and sturdy handles. A built-in USB port provides a convenient connection for charging portable electronic devices when attached to a power bank (purchased separately.) The interior power bank compartment must be accessed to remove the unit. To buy: amazon.com, ebags.com 06 of 06 Genius Pack G3 Courtesy of Amazon Engineered for convenience, this expandable bag has designated compartments and external pockets for keeping travelers organized. With a slot to add your own portable charger, it's easy to keep laptops and phones charged. To buy: amazon.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit