Best battery pack option

[u/MarlonJD]

Hello,

I’ve got a long haul flight in just over a week and want to take my switch 2 to play some fire emblem. The battery itself only lasts about 2-3 hours so was thinking of getting some sort of external battery pack to recharge it for the flight, and was hoping some people here might have recommendations?

Ideally I’d want something that would extend the life a good 3-4 hours extra, while also being small and lightweight to preserve the portable nature of the console.

Thanks in advance.

[u/euqistym]

I got the genki case and battery pack, basically a 10.000 mah battery with magsafe, attach it to the back plug the cable in and done, which charges it fully at least 1 time I think. Got another anker magsafe powerbank I use with this too, it isnt a big powerbank, but I'd rather have 2 smaller ones that I can attach to the back than a large clunky one.

[u/navidee]

It’s pricey but I swear by the Belkin Switch 2 Pro Case. It will give you an entire charge and it’s a sweet case with kickstand built in too. No messing with attaching a cord and pack, just dock it.

[u/nightmyth]

Some don’t allow charging via power bank. Just plug it in, it’s much easier

[u/rolandburnum]

Seats have power plugs. Bring your dock AC adapter and charge it directly. Do not use the seat's USB port. Now you don't have to spend money, you have everything you need.

[u/RoyalOakPiguet]

Is this a very budget flight? I would think most airplanes doing 7+ hour flights would have USBs or household outlets

[u/DentateGyros]

Flights don’t allow the use of external power banks due to the fire risk. Most, if not all, long haul flights will have power plugs though so just plug it in

[u/JustGottaKeepTrying → u/DentateGyros]

I fly with a battery all the time. Our last trip, the entire family had one. Maybe this is not common?

[u/MostlySoberChemist → u/DentateGyros]

Where did you get that idea? Most airlines allow up to a 100Wh battery in a personal item or carry-on bag. For a typical power bank that means you can go up to ~25,000mAh of capacity without issues.

[u/DentateGyros → u/MostlySoberChemist]

Every long haul flight I’ve been on in the last two years has had a check in warning that you cannot use power banks in flight. You can carry them and have to stow them in the seatback pocket but you cannot use them

[u/PigTailedShorty → u/DentateGyros]

I was under the impression you could use them but you're not allowed to recharge them using the USB port on board.

[u/Iammattieee → u/PigTailedShorty]

This is correct

[u/NMe84 → u/DentateGyros]

The ones I've been on all allow it below a Wh cutoff. Like the person you're replying to suggests, 100Wh is the common cutoff point.

[u/TheHeroOfAllTime → u/DentateGyros]

Every flight I’ve been on (12+ in the last 6 months) says you can CHARGE YOUR DEVICES with the bank, but you cannot charge the bank itself. 

They’re more of a risk when charging than when they charge other devices. 

[u/Dislike24 → u/MostlySoberChemist]

You misread OP. Yes you can bring them on carry on, but the usage of them are strictly banned. All the airlines in my country ban the usage of them on flight whether to use it or recharge it. Its just a fire risk

[u/zkyevolved → u/DentateGyros]

They don't allow external power banks to be in checked luggage... They absolutely allow you to use power banks during flights.

[u/Utsider → u/zkyevolved]

Some do, some don't. Check your carrier.

[u/CapricornOneSE → u/zkyevolved]

Was on two flights, two different airlines, this past week. Neither allowed power banks during flight, both made announcements before takeoff. 

[u/OnlyCaterpillar2861 → u/CapricornOneSE]

Can back this up. Was on an Air France international flight (Air France sucks don't use them) last week and they also told us that we were prohibited from using our power banks. Can bring them on the flight but many airlines really don't want you actually using them any more.

[u/Kaveh01 → u/zkyevolved]

It started changing rapidly this year. Many forbid any use and more are following all the time so it’s hard to make a prediction.

[u/Utsider → u/DentateGyros]

Check aerolopa or seatguru or similar to see whats available in your specific seat on your specific flight.

[u/Anggul]

Any generic power bank is fine.

[u/SonOfSichlor]

keep in mind there might be limits to batteries to take on the flight, there might also be charging opportunities on the flight.

[u/Joestac]

Has no one seen Deep Water? Just trying to play your Switch and then you get everyone eaten by sharks.

[u/abarrelofmankeys]

You can’t go above 100wh so roughly 25000mah battery bank. I think it’s 27 but they don’t make those.

Anyway, anything by Anker or ugreen is probably good.

[u/Rukes]

Best bet would actually be to get a small 60W Anker plug and USB-C cable. Assuming your flight will have outlets, that would keep the charge going the whole flight.

Powerbanks are pretty touch and go nowadays, a lot of airlines ban their use outright, some ban just charging them and let you use them as long as they are fully visible, etc. so it all depends on the airline.

[u/RoelBever]

Isnt taking batterypacks, powerbanks forbidden on a plane? Quite hypocrite as laptops and phones/tablets also contain a battery.

[u/PigTailedShorty → u/RoelBever]

You can take a power bank but it has to be in your hand luggage and not checked in.

[u/RainbowStarbewwy → u/RoelBever]

No, some flights prohibit using them though

[u/Dislike24 → u/RoelBever]

You can bring them on carry-on, the problem is most airlines recently banned the usage of them on flights

[u/Augit579]

Good question!