Essentially, if you buy a suitcase that has a removable battery pack onboard, you should be fine – they’re allowed in the cabin and, so long as you eject the battery before check in, they can be stored in the hold, too.
If the bag is a carry-on, the battery must be removed and placed inside the bag itself. On other airlines, customers can still store a carry-on suitcase with removable batteries in the overhead bin of the cabin. If your bag has batteries that aren't removable, don't bring it.
Three airlines have officially banned luggage with non-removable batteries. Smart luggage offers various features to make travel easier, such as built-in USB charging ports, Bluetooth-enabled tracking devices, and even handles that double as scales.
If you're traveling with Delta and your bag contains a lithium-ion battery, you must remove the battery pack and take it with you when checking a bag. However, if the bag is a carry-on, the battery must be removed and placed inside the bag itself.
Although smart luggage could mean any type of bag with technology that makes your travel experience more convenient, it most often refers to pieces with charging capabilities via a removable battery. We narrowed down the best smart luggage from our extensive tests, including more than 450 suitcases, backpacks, duffels, and weekenders.
Some airlines will ask you to take out the portable battery if you plan on putting your bag in the overhead bin as well. In some cases, you may also be asked to remove it during security screening, but this is not very common — it's up to your specific security agent.