No. E-scooters, hoverboards, self-balancing scooters, e-unicycles and similar lithium battery-powered "personal mobility devices" are banned from flights at Bristol Airport, in hand luggage, hold luggage and as cargo, on easyJet and most other UK airlines. EasyJet's own dangerous goods list names "self-balancing devices" as forbidden anywhere on the aircraft, with no exceptions for packing the battery separately. This is an airline and aviation-safety rule, not a Bristol Airport policy, so it applies however you try to pack the device and whichever UK or European carrier you fly with from BRS. Checked 2026.
Why are e-scooters and hoverboards banned on planes?
The ban comes down to the lithium-ion battery inside these devices, not the wheels or the frame. Aviation regulators, including the US Federal Aviation Administration and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, class hoverboards, self-balancing scooters and e-unicycles as a fire risk because their batteries have a history of overheating, short-circuiting or catching fire, sometimes without warning, and a battery fire in an aircraft hold is far harder to deal with than one on the ground. Unlike a laptop or phone battery, these devices use a battery of a size and configuration regulators have judged too risky to carry on a passenger aircraft at all, whether it is charged, switched off or removed from the device.
Which devices does this cover?
The ban is broader than just the devices marketed as "hoverboards." It generally covers:
- Hoverboards and self-balancing scooters
- E-unicycles and self-balancing unicycles
- Segway-style personal transporters
- Most e-scooters with a sealed, non-removable lithium battery
It does not cover standard manual kick scooters with no battery, which can typically be checked in like any other oversized item, subject to your airline's normal baggage size and weight rules.
How this compares with other battery and sports items
It helps to see where self-balancing devices sit next to other items travellers often confuse with them:
| Item | Status from Bristol Airport |
|---|---|
| Hoverboard, self-balancing scooter, e-unicycle | Banned entirely, all bags and cargo |
| Standard laptop or phone battery | Allowed in hand luggage |
| Spare lithium power bank (within watt-hour limits) | Allowed in hand luggage only, not hold luggage |
| Manual kick scooter, no battery | Allowed, checked as oversized baggage |
| Bike, skis, golf clubs | Allowed, as a separate paid sports equipment category on most airlines |
Spare power banks and loose lithium batteries follow their own, separate watt-hour limit rules rather than an outright ban; see our guide on vapes, e-cigarettes and power banks at Bristol Airport for those limits. Bikes, skis and golf clubs are treated completely differently again, as oversized sports equipment rather than a battery hazard; see our golf clubs, skis and bikes guide for airline-by-airline fees.
Does it matter if I remove or discharge the battery?
No. Unlike some other lithium battery devices, airlines and regulators do not offer a "remove the battery and pack it separately" workaround for self-balancing devices. The FAA's own guidance is explicit that these recreational vehicles are restricted "under U.S. and international hazardous materials regulations," and UK carriers follow the equivalent approach: the device itself, battery included or removed, isn't accepted as checked, hand or cargo baggage. If you're unsure whether a specific electric scooter model counts, contact your airline's dangerous goods or special assistance team before you travel, since individual airports and airlines retain discretion to refuse any item they consider a risk, even one not explicitly listed.
What about mobility scooters for passengers with disabilities?
This ban is separate from mobility aids used by disabled passengers. Wheelchairs and medical mobility scooters are handled under a different set of rules, usually requiring advance notice to the airline so ground staff can check the battery type and arrange safe stowage. If you rely on a mobility scooter to get around, see our guide to flying with a CPAP machine, oxygen or mobility scooter from Bristol Airport and book special assistance in advance through Bristol Airport's special assistance service.
What happens if you turn up with one at Bristol Airport?
Staff at check-in, bag drop or security will refuse to carry the device. In practice this means you'll need to arrange to leave it with whoever dropped you off, post it home, or dispose of it, since the airport and airline have no obligation to store it for you. It's worth checking before you leave home rather than finding out at the terminal, especially if you've travelled some distance to Bristol Airport to catch your flight.