The first major US airline has changed the rules around portable chargers and batteries — what you need to know

A close-up of a woman in an airport using a smartphone.

With anxiety of in-flight fires on the rise, airline carriers around the globe are changing policies surrounding portable batteries and chargers.

In the United States, Southwest Airlines is the first of the four biggest American carriers to introduce new restrictions. Starting today (May 29), the airline will require you to have portable chargers visible at all times when using them.