Vapes are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional smoking. Vapes can be used indoors and have helped countless smokers to quit the unhealthy habit.
Vapes are still relatively new on the scene, and in many cases are quite complex pieces of technology. For those travelling by plane, it’s important know how to safely transport your vape.
Can you take vapes in your hand luggage? The short answer is: it depends. It depends on where you are travelling, which airline you’re using and the type of vape you’re travelling with. Here’s everything you need to know when transporting your vape by plane, and some tips on ensuring its safe transit.
Travelling with Vapes
If you are planning on travelling with mod without a built-in battery, then you can carry in your check-in / hold luggage. Simply remove the batteries from inside the mod and pack just the mod itself, with no batteries or atomiser attached.
However, if you have got a built-in battery mod then it MUST be carried in your hand luggage for safety reasons. When packed tightly, vapes can sometimes auto-fire the atomiser. Poorly placed batteries can short-circuit or even vent, making them a serious fire hazard. This is why international regulations as well as the Federal Aviation Administration prohibit vape gear in check-in / hold luggage.
Mods, e-cigs as well as any spare lithium batteries may only be carried in the aircraft cabin. Depending on airline policy these can be kept in either the hand luggage or on your person. Also according to the Department of Transportation, using or recharging your e-cig on-board the plane is strictly prohibited.
When hand luggage is checked at the gate, it may be a requirement that all vape gear and spare lithium batteries be removed from the bag and kept with the passenger.
Tips for Taking Care of Your Vape
- Look After Your Batteries
- Empty the Atomizer
Fluctuating cabin pressure forces more e-juice inside the coil. This can cause flooding as well as leaking through the airflow ring. To avoid this, just empty your tank or atomizer before boarding the plane. It's also a good idea to put your tank inside a zip-lock bag if you forgot to drain all the e-juice/eLiquid.
- Airline Regulations and E-liquids
According to the Transportation Security Administration, all e-liquid bottles need to be of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or smaller. These have to be placed in a single quart-size, zip-lock clear plastic bag which you will take in your carry-on. Larger bottles are not allowed even if they are only half full. It is also prohibited to place any vape gear or batteries in the quart-size plastic bag intended for liquids only.
If you wish to only carry eLiquid bottles and not to use/vape while flying then you can pack your eLiquid bottle in your check in luggage, securely making sure that it’s leak proof as you would with your larger bottles of shampoo or cologne.
Be Aware and Do Your Research
Every case of flying with a vape is different, depending on your country of origin, your destination and the rules and regulations of the company you’re flying with.
Do some preliminary research before arriving at the airport so you are informed and don’t risk having to dispose of your vape, or facing difficulties at customs.
Make sure to inform yourself and comply with any extra rules and regulations regarding vape gear when boarding international flights. These may vary depending on airline or country and it's important to keep yourself away from potential trouble with airport security.
See a list of countries where vaping is banned or restricted here.
Different Attitudes to Vaping
The rules and regulations around vaping are not universal. Check out the specific legal situation in the countries you plan to visit before you arrive. If you’re travelling across Europe, you’ll find some countries where e-cigs are legal (the United Kingdom), legal only if nicotine-free (Hungary), or outlawed (Turkey). Be mindful that the rules can often change from state to state within the same country – this is the case in Australia and the US.
There are so many different laws that come into play with respect to vaping, so you need to be aware of what you are getting yourself into when you travel abroad. Some countries allow vaping while other countries do not. And although extreme, some countries may even put you in prison. As a vaper, it is your responsibility to be aware of the possibility of fines and possibly even deportation.
Travelling and going on vacation is always something to look forward to, and the last thing you want is to have your trip cut short, or worse, have to pay fines due to not being aware of vaping legislation.
Do yourself a favor whenever you plan on leaving the country and take a minute to read up on the local laws, and you’ll save yourself time, money and stress in the process.
links: https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/hazmat_safety/more_info/?hazmat=61
http://www.caa.co.uk/blog-posts/vaping-and-gadgets-on-planes/
https://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2014/08/travelling-ecigarettes.html
https://www.gatwick-airport-guide.co.uk/e-cigarettes.html
