How to Travel with Your Vape: Complete Guide

Are you planning to go on a vacation in the near future? If you are, it’s highly likely that you’ll want to bring your vape gear along. It’s really no different from traveling with a pack of cigarettes if you were a smoker – except that electronic cigarettes and vape juice differ from tobacco cigarettes in some very important ways where traveling by air is concerned. A vaping device has a battery, and vape juice is a liquid product – and airlines have special rules about traveling with both of those items. So, can you take a vape on a plane in 2021? What are some of the specific rules and regulations that cover traveling with your vape gear? This guide from Simply ELiquid will tell you everything you need to know about bringing e-cigarettes on airplanes.

Can I Take My Vape on the Plane?

There are no vaping laws in the United Kingdom that prohibit flying with an ecig. In almost all cases, you can bring your vape device, vape tanks and e-liquid on an airplane without worrying as long as you obey the rules and regulations that deal with packing liquids and batteries. There are only two possible exceptions:

• The airline has regulations on vaping that prohibit bringing vape gear on flights. It’s always wise to confirm that your chosen airline allows e-cigarettes on airplanes before you travel.
• Vaping is banned in the country to which you’re traveling. If there is a vape ban in your destination country, you risk potentially having your vape gear confiscated upon arrival when your baggage goes through customs.

You’re responsible for knowing all applicable rules when you travel with your vape. Make sure that you confirm all rules and regulations before traveling.

Can I Vape on the Plane?

No. All airlines forbid vaping in flight. If you’re caught vaping, you could face a stiff fine. It’s not a good idea to even try.

Can I Use My Vape at the Airport?

Airports almost universally forbid vaping except in designated smoking areas. Many airports have smoking areas within their security perimeters, but you may have to find an airport employee and ask where the smoking areas are. Airports generally don’t advertise their smoking areas, and those areas can often close without notice.

If you have a layover at an airport that doesn’t have an airside smoking area, you’ll have to leave the terminal building and vape outside. If you’re traveling outside the UK, that’ll require you to go through customs and enter the country. You’ll then have to go through the security checkpoint before entering the airport again. Given the massive inconvenience of that, you might want to travel with some nicotine gum or lozenges just in case.

How to Travel With Your Vape

Most airlines will allow you to travel with your vape gear as long as you pack it according to the rules and regulations that cover batteries and liquids. Specifically, you’ll need to do the following:

• Pack your vaping device and any spare batteries in your carry-on luggage. Make sure that your device is turned off and that any extra batteries are packed in dedicated carriers that prevent the batteries from touching other metal objects. All lithium-ion batteries – and items with lithium-ion batteries – must be carried in hand luggage because of the fire risk.
• You may pack e-liquid in your checked luggage or in your carry-on bag. However, any liquids in your carry-on bag must be in containers no larger than 1 oz, and all of the liquids in your hand luggage must fit in a single quart-size zip-top plastic bag. These rules apply to all liquid products, so you’ll need to follow them even if you’re only bringing nicotine-free e-liquid. You don’t need to follow any special rules when packing e-liquid in your checked baggage.

Specific Airline Policies on Vaping

Although the rules above apply to traveling with your vape gear on any airline, it’s always your responsibility to check with the specific airline you’re using in case that airline has specific rules of its own. Many major British airlines have web pages devoted to their rules about traveling with vape gear and other potentially hazardous materials. These links may help your search.

• Aer Lingus: Essentially the same as above.
• British Airways: Essentially the same as above.
• Eastern Airways: E-liquid is not allowed in carry-on baggage.
• Loganair: Essentially the same as above.
• Virgin Atlantic: Essentially the same as above.

How to Buy Vape Juice and Refills Abroad

If you’re planning to travel outside the UK, we suggest checking the local business listings to confirm that vape shops are available in case you need e-liquid or other supplies like replacement coils. Even if your destination country has vape shops, though, remember that prices for vape gear in other nations aren’t always as reasonable as they are here in the UK. In addition, some countries do not allow the sale of e-liquid with nicotine. It’s a good idea to pack plenty of supplies when you travel abroad. Don’t assume that you’ll be able to find what you need in local stores.

Vaping Laws and Etiquette Around the World

Vaping regulations are still very much in flux in many areas of the world. Because laws can change quickly and without notice, we strongly recommend checking up on the latest vaping regulations in your destination country before traveling abroad. There are a few nations in which vaping is completely banned. In those nations – Brazil, Singapore and Thailand, for instance – your vape gear may be confiscated, and you may face heavy fines or jail time if you’re caught vaping in public. In nations that do allow vaping, it’s always wise to assume that you can only vape in places where smoking is allowed.