Long-haul travel drains devices fast, and most aircraft seats give you nothing reliable to plug into. This guide covers three power banks that keep your phone, tablet, and even a laptop topped up across an entire long flight. All three sit within the typical 100Wh cabin-baggage limit, though always check your own airline's rules.
Top picks
1. Anker Laptop Power Bank 25000mAh (Triple 100W) - Best Overall
SPP Score: 7.9 / 10 - 25000mAh with triple 100W USB-C and built-in retractable cables. Our all-round pick.
Capability 10/10 - Versatility 5/10 - Build 8/10 - Value 8/10
With a 25000mAh capacity, this Anker is sized to recharge most phones several times over a long flight. It'll keep a tablet or laptop going too. Its three USB-C ports each deliver up to 100W, so it can fast-charge a laptop, a tablet, and a phone at once rather than making you choose. The built-in retractable cables mean there's less to pack and less to lose down a seat gap, and a 25000mAh pack still fits in a carry-on. Anker is a well-established name in portable charging, and this is a genuine in-seat charging hub for a traveller carrying several devices.
Pros
- ✓ 25000mAh capacity recharges most phones multiple times and tops up a laptop on a single trip
- ✓ Triple 100W USB-C ports fast-charge a laptop, tablet, and phone simultaneously
- ✓ Built-in retractable cables cut down on what you have to carry and untangle
Cons
- ✗ Larger and heavier than a slim 10000mAh travel pack
- ✗ At 25000mAh it is a high-capacity battery, so confirm your airline's watt-hour rules before you fly
Who it's for: Long-haul travellers who carry a laptop plus phone and tablet and want one pack that charges them all quickly. Who it's not for: Light packers who only carry a phone and want the smallest possible bank.
2. Anker Power Bank 20000mAh 87W (Built-in Cable) - Best Budget
SPP Score: 8.2 / 10 - 20000mAh with an 87W built-in USB-C cable and laptop-capable output. Our value pick.
Capability 10/10 - Versatility 6/10 - Build 8/10 - Value 8/10
The 20000mAh capacity gives you the multi-charge headroom that long flights demand, and an 87W maximum output is enough to charge many laptops as well as phones and tablets. The built-in USB-C cable means one fewer thing to remember, and there's a second USB-C port plus a USB-A port for charging more than one device at a time. It's the pick for travellers who want laptop-capable wattage and integrated-cable convenience without stepping up to a larger pack.
Pros
- ✓ Full 20000mAh capacity for multiple device charges per trip
- ✓ 87W maximum output can charge many laptops as well as phones and tablets
- ✓ Built-in USB-C cable plus extra USB-C and USB-A ports for charging several devices
Cons
- ✗ 87W is below the highest-wattage packs for the most power-hungry laptops
- ✗ Heavier and bulkier than a slim travel pack built only for phones
Who it's for: Budget-minded flyers who want laptop-capable charging and a built-in cable in one pack. Who it's not for: Travellers who need the very highest charge speeds or the smallest, lightest bank.
3. Anker Prime Power Bank 20100mAh 220W - Best Premium
SPP Score: 8.2 / 10 - 20100mAh with 220W total output, 140W single-port and a live display. Our pick for maximum capability.
Capability 10/10 - Versatility 6/10 - Build 8/10 - Value 8/10
The Prime is the flagship pick, pairing a 20100mAh cell - about 72Wh, comfortably inside cabin-baggage rules - with 220W of total output. Anker rates either USB-C port at up to 140W alone, which is 16-inch-MacBook territory, and the front display shows exactly what's flowing in and out. It's built for the traveller whose seat becomes an office: laptop, tablet and phone can all draw fast charge from one brick, and the companion app mirrors the readout even when the pack's tucked in the seat pocket.
Pros
- ✓ 220W total output fast-charges laptops as well as phones and tablets
- ✓ Anker rates each USB-C port to 140W alone - full speed for big laptops
- ✓ Display and companion app show real-time input and output
Cons
- ✗ Larger and heavier than standard travel packs built for phones
- ✗ No built-in cable, unlike the other two picks here, so you must pack your own leads
Who it's for: Multi-device travellers who want the fastest in-seat charging and a live readout of what the pack is doing. Who it's not for: Phone-only travellers - a 220W pack is overkill for a single handset.
Quick verdict
For most long-haul travellers, the Anker Laptop Power Bank 25000mAh (Triple 100W) hits the sweet spot of high capacity, three fast USB-C ports, and built-in cables. If you want laptop-capable charging with an integrated cable in a more affordable pack, the Anker Power Bank 20000mAh 87W (Built-in Cable) is the smart middle ground. Travellers who want the fastest in-seat charging with a live display should look at the premium Anker Prime Power Bank 20100mAh 220W.
How we chose
A long flight sets its own test: real capacity in mAh for multiple recharges, output wattage and port count for charge speed and running several devices at once, and whether the pack fits comfortably within the spare-battery rules airlines apply to cabin baggage. We also weighed portability and how well each pick suits UK travellers heading on long-haul routes. Every link lands on the Amazon UK listing, where you can double-check the watt-hour figure against your airline's cabin rules before you fly.
FAQ
Q: Can I take a power bank on a plane in my hand luggage? A: Spare lithium batteries and power banks must travel in your cabin baggage, never in checked luggage. Most airlines cap capacity around the 100Wh mark (roughly 27000mAh) without prior approval. Always check your specific airline's watt-hour limits before you fly.
Q: What capacity power bank do I need for a long flight? A: A 20000mAh pack will recharge most phones several times over a long-haul journey, while a larger 25000mAh pack makes sense if you're charging tablets or a laptop too. For everyday non-flight use, see our 20000mAh power bank guide.
Q: Can a power bank charge a laptop on a flight? A: Only higher-wattage banks with enough output, such as the 87W and 220W models here, can charge most laptops; lower-output packs are better suited to phones and tablets.
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