Travelling with Your Vape
Most likely, sooner or later, you will travel somewhere for business or pleasure – and you’ll need to know if you can take your vape along. Most airlines do allow customers to fly with e-cigs, but there are still a few that don’t. Even for those that do allow it, though, it’s still important to be aware of their rules and regulations regarding, for example, how much e-liquid you can bring with you and how to store your batteries. As long as you follow the rules, you should be fine travelling with your device. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect.
Battery rules
In general, the best thing you can do is to check with the airline you’re using to learn their individual rules regarding flying with vapes. However, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has set some universal guidelines that have become more or less the standard around the world.
The battery of your vape is probably the main issue when it comes to flying. In recent years, concern has grown over lithium batteries and regulations on how these can be transported have tightened up considerably. In virtually all cases, you must bring your batteries into the cabin with your carry-on luggage rather than storing them in your checked bags. This regulation is mandated by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), and all airlines uphold it. If you do pack your batteries in a checked bag, the x-ray scanners will detect them, and you will likely lose them. In a worst-case scenario, your entire bag may even be removed from the plane and left behind. So, make sure to keep your batteries with you!
E-liquid rules
Unlike batteries, e-juice can generally be stored in checked baggage or in your carry-on, whichever you prefer. If you do opt to keep your vape juice in a checked bag, it’s a good idea to place it (like any other liquids) inside two plastic zip-top bags to prevent any leaks that might damage your clothing. It’s also smart to take only new, sealed bottles of e-liquid because pressure changes in the cabin could cause your e-juice to expand and split plastic seams.
It’s also worth noting that these pressure changes may also cause your tank to leak. To avoid this, you can empty your tank completely or close off the airflow before travelling. If you are travelling with cigalikes or pod systems, however, this isn’t likely to be an issue.
You will want to check the specific restrictions regarding flying with liquids for the airline you’ve chosen. In general, most airlines won’t allow you to bring along more than 100ml of any liquid on a flight. That means that you need to account for all other liquids in your bag as well and avoid exceeding this limit.
Can you vape on the plane?
The short answer to this is no. Just because you are allowed to bring your device on the plane, and just because vaping is not smoking, does not mean that vaping on planes is allowed. There are a time and a place for stealthy vaping, but this is not it. If you attempt to vape during your flight and are caught, it’s possible that you could be arrested and/or fined, causing emergency responders to meet your plane on the tarmac when it lands. And don’t be tempted to try to get away with vaping in the washroom, either. The smoke detectors are incredibly sensitive and designed to detect anything that is denser than air.
To put it simply, never vape on a plane, and never try to work around the systems put in place to prevent this. The penalty for getting caught isn’t worth the effort. Wait until you reach your destination, and then you can enjoy your vape without stress or worry.
The good news is that vaping is becoming much more widely accepted, and most airports and airlines have proper training regarding people travelling with vapes. Whether you are travelling with a disposable e-cigarette, a vape pod, a large vape mod, or something in between, check with your airline ahead of time and adhere to their regulations to ensure a pleasant and hassle-free flight.
