10 Pieces of Tech You Should Never Bring on a Plane & 10 That Are Practically Essential
Pack Smarter Before You Fly
Heading out on a trip? While you might pack your laptop, tablet, or a pair of headphones for your flight, not all useful tech is allowed on a plane, and packing it might even get you booted. You'll also have to deal with all that extra baggage during security check, which means you might be scrambling even more than you already do. With that said, here's the tech you shouldn't bring on a plane—along with the essential items every traveler needs.
1. An Expensive Desktop Monitor
You might no longer be able to live without your premium monitor, but while it's technically possible to travel with, it'll probably only create more trouble for you. These large displays are not only hefty but cumbersome as well, and unless you're okay with yours cracking in the middle, it's best to leave it at home.
Sebastian Bednarek on Unsplash
2. Oversized Power Stations
Sure, portable power stations might be useful to bring, but that's only if you're on a camping trip. Keep in mind that TSA has pretty strict rules when it comes to lithium-powered rechargeable devices, and any that exceed 160 watt-hours generally won't be allowed on passenger planes.
Jackery Power Station on Unsplash
3. Smart Luggage with a Nonremovable Battery
Got a high-tech suitcase? Nifty as it is, if yours comes with motorized wheels or built-in charging, you might run into some problems when getting your bag checked, especially if the battery can't be taken out. To save yourself the headache, a traditional suitcase with a luggage tracker is the better way to go.
4. A Full-Size Gaming Desktop
Just like how you should leave your monitor at home, you probably don't want to be lugging your entire gaming setup on the plane. It's heavy, awkward to protect, and it'll only create a huge hassle for you. If your vacation is just for a few weeks, you'll survive without it. You can always bring a handheld gaming system or lightweight laptop for entertainment instead.
5. Bulky Bluetooth Speakers
Do you really need a large portable speaker for your flight? You're not a DJ (your passengers would send you scathing looks), and the plane is not a party bus. You should also note that bigger models may contain sizable rechargeable batteries, which might give you trouble through security check, anyway.
6. A Drone You Don't Plan to Use
Unless you're a videographer and planning to shoot aerial shots of the city you're flying to, leave the drone at home. Drones can certainly be transported under the right conditions, but carrying one without a plan is a poor choice. Larger batteries may even require additional airline approval.
7. Multiple Spare Laptops
One laptop is useful, but hauling several of them is just asking for trouble. Not only might you accidentally damage them during transport, but you'll also have several battery-powered devices you'll have to protect throughout your trip. Do yourself a favor and just choose one.
8. Battery-Powered Tools
You might need to bring a cordless drill for certain overseas work trips, but don't bring it if you don't absolutely need it. Remember: lithium-powered tools come with battery-handling requirements, and you'll need to follow the specific rules your airline has set out, and that alone can be a pain.
9. Excessive Camera Equipment
Again, unless you're a professional traveling for work, leave all the unnecessary (and expensive) equipment at home. You don't want to be lugging all the separate components, only to find out later that something went missing. Take our advice: your phone can take pretty amazing photos already!
10. Unnecessary Spare Batteries
We get it—you like to think ahead and be prepared. But packing every battery you own isn't really the way to go. Depending on the airline you're flying with, you might not even be able to bring all your spares aboard, either. Save yourself the headache and just bring the number you'll realistically need.
Now that we've cut out the unnecessary electronics from your packing list, let's flip the script. Here are the 10 pieces of tech you can't fly without:
1. Your Smartphone
Your phone likely doesn't leave your pocket anyway, so of course it's the first on the list. Plus, most travelers have all their tickets and reservations saved on their phones, and not to mention travel passes, credit cards, and other useful apps. This is the one thing you can't go without!
2. Noise-Canceling Headphones
Airplane engines are loud, and you know what's even louder? Yup, the baby sitting in the row in front of you. If you want to have a pleasant flight, you'd definitely want to bring a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to block out all that constant background noise.
3. A Flight-Friendly Power Bank
You don't want to be bringing 12 packs of spare batteries, but a power bank that can juice up both your phone and tablet? Definitely pack that in your luggage! Just remember that it stays in your carry-on, not your checked bags.
4. A Charging Cable (or Two)
Packing a power bank probably won't be of much use to you if you don't have a cable to go along with it. Make sure to choose one that's long enough—you'd want it to reach inconvenient airport or hotel outlets without you needing to sit on the floor for your devices to charge.
5. A Compact Wall Charger
While full-sized wall chargers are fine, they can sometimes be too bulky to fit in small hotel rooms or outlets that are inconveniently placed. Bringing your own compact one means you won't have to worry too much about that. Plus, some models may have multiple ports, meaning you can charge more than one device at once.
6. A Tablet or E-Reader
Need more entertainment for your long flight? Bring an e-reader or a tablet! These two can also be better options if you want to surf the web or read without lugging your full laptop setup. You can load it with books, movies, games, or downloaded shows you've been meaning to catch up on.
César Abner Martínez Aguilar on Unsplash
7. A Universal Travel Adapter
You've got your wall charger packed, sure, but it's essentially useless if you don't also bring along a universal travel adapter. Nothing is worse than settling into your hotel bed only to realize you can't charge your phone! Remember, though: while a universal adapter handles different outlet configurations, it won't automatically convert electrical voltage, so always double-check, or you could fry your devices.
8. A Luggage Tracker
A small Bluetooth tracker can provide some reassurance to ensure your bags are following the same route as you. Thankfully, modern trackers use tiny batteries that are safe to fly with, though you should still check your airline and country's policies.
9. A Portable Cable Organizer
While not technically a piece of tech, a compact organizer or pouch will help keep all your charging cables, adapters, and other accessories in one place. After all, you don't want to be scrambling when your phone is running out of battery!
10. A Pair of Wired Headphones
Not a fan of headphones or noise-cancelling? If you're okay with all the cabin background noise, an inexpensive pair of wired headphones can work just as well—and they'll make an excellent backup, too. Some aircraft entertainment systems still rely on physical headphone connections, too, meaning you can always plug in your own.
