💻 Can you bring Laptop / tablet / camera on a plane?
Cabin by default (conditions if checked)
As of 2026-08-21
The rule in detail
Devices with a built-in lithium-ion battery — laptops, tablets, cameras — belong in the cabin. If a battery overheats in the hold, no one can reach it. Some airlines refuse them in checked baggage altogether, and those that allow it require the device to be fully powered off (not asleep) and packed so it cannot be crushed. At security you will have to take it out into a separate tray, so keep it somewhere you can reach quickly.
Why the rule is written this way
It is classified as Carry-on only because if it travels in the hold, no one can react when something goes wrong down there. In the cabin, crew can see the first sign of trouble and act on it.
Do not put it in your suitcase — move it into your cabin bag. The safest moment to do that is before you hand the suitcase over at the check-in desk.
What actually happens at the airport
- Check-in desk — this is the point of no return for your suitcase. Anything that may only travel in the cabin cannot be retrieved after this step.
- Security screening — if the X-ray flags a shape, the bag is opened. Most problem items are caught here.
- Extra check at the gate — on some routes there is one more inspection.
Confiscated items are rarely returned. If you are unsure, confirm the specification before you leave home.
Spare batteries removed from the device may never be checked — they have to go in your cabin bag
Other items in the same class
The items below are also classified as Carry-on only. Quantity and volume limits differ per item, so check each rule separately.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| 🔋 Power bank / lithium-ion battery | Cabin only (never checked) |
| 🔥 Lighter / matches | One in the cabin, on your person (not checked) |
| 🚬 E-cigarette (vape / heated tobacco) | Cabin only (not checked) |
| 🛸 Drone / gimbal | Cabin only (batteries must come out) |
Frequently asked questions
- Laptop / tablet / camera — can I take it in the cabin?
- Cabin by default (conditions if checked). Devices with a built-in lithium-ion battery — laptops, tablets, cameras — belong in the cabin. If a battery overheats in the hold, no one can reach it. Some airlines refuse them in checked baggage altogether, and those that allow it require the device to be fully powered off (not asleep) and packed so it cannot be crushed. At security you will have to take it out into a separate tray, so keep it somewhere you can reach quickly.
- Is there anything else to watch out for with Laptop / tablet / camera?
- Spare batteries removed from the device may never be checked — they have to go in your cabin bag