Flying with Vapes (Dos & Don'ts)

If you’ve planned a trip abroad, you may have some questions about how you should travel with your vape, where and when you can use it or if you can use it at all. With changing regulations and safety concerns it can be challenging to navigate the rules and restrictions surrounding vaping and air travel.

In this article, we'll cover all the dos and don’ts of travelling with your vape kit, disposables and e-liquids, from where to use it and how to safely pack your gear so you can have a stress-free flight.

1. Can you bring a vape on a plane?

Yes, you can bring your vape with you when you fly but you must switch it off completely and you will need to pack it in your carry-on luggage not your check-in luggage.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines, all vape devices are classed as a PED or Portable Electronic Device and along with any of your other electronic devices such as laptops or power banks, must be stored in your carry-on luggage.

2. How do I pack my vape for air travel?

• Make sure your vape device is completely switched off, not just in sleep mode.
• Any spare batteries must be individually wrapped to prevent a short-circuit and packed in carry-on luggage only.
• E-Liquids can be stored in your hand luggage in clear plastic bags in bottles not exceeding 100ml.
• We recommend that you empty your tanks and store them in a clear plastic bag in your hand luggage as the pressurisation in the cargo area may cause your tank to leak or crack.

3. Can I vape in an airport?

Each airport will have its own rules as to where you can and can’t vape, but you should assume the same rules that apply to smoking also apply to using a vape and you should find the designated smoking areas outside of the terminals. These should be signposted or you can check the airport's smoking policy online.

Airports in the UK do not offer any designated smoking areas after you pass the security check-in, so it's a good idea to make sure everything is packed up and ready before you go through.

4. Can I bring e-liquid on a plane?

You can bring e-liquids with you on a plane in your carry-on luggage, so long as the total amount you carry with you doesn’t exceed 100ml and is properly sealed in a clear plastic bag.

You can pack any additional e-liquid in your checked-in luggage and it's a good idea to seal these in clear plastic bags as well as the cargo hold is pressurised, which can cause sealed bottles of liquid to leak, and you probably don’t want your clothes smelling of blueberries when you land.

5. Can I vape on a plane?

No, you absolutely cannot. Vaping on a plane falls under the same laws as smoking and you could face severe penalties and fines if you do so. Whilst rules may differ regarding how to transport your vape and where you can use it, depending on the airport and airline, using a vape on an aeroplane is strictly prohibited worldwide, this includes disposables. It is also not a good idea to risk vaping in the toilet, as airlines have installed detectors that will pick up not only cigarette smoke but e-cigarette vapour as well.

6. Can you use nicotine pouches on a plane?

Flying can be a stressful experience on its own and having to cope with nicotine withdrawal at the same time is not fun at all. This is where you can take advantage of using nicotine pouches on your flight. There is no need to risk vaping on a plane or even thinking about it with VELO's 100% tobacco free pouches. These game changers can be conveniently placed between your gum and top lip to slow release a steady amount of flavoured nicotine. Each tub contains 20 pouches - with each pouch lasting up to 30 minutes - comfortably seeing you through from take off to landing. Nicotine pouches are an excellent choice for situations where vaping is prohibited and will satisfy your cravings so you can relax while you fly.

7. Can I charge my vape on a plane?

The short answer is no as this could constitute or be misconstrued as use, and one could argue what the point of that would be as you can’t use your vape on the aeroplane anyway.

Even though a vape is classed as an electronic device, you may risk falling under suspicion of using the device if you take it out of your hand luggage during the flight. The best thing to do is to make sure that you have fully charged your device before you leave and that you don’t run it down in the run-up to your boarding the plane.

You can check the airport's online policy to find out if and where you can charge your vape device pre-flight. If you are able to do so, great, you’ll be ready to go once you land and exit the airport - just make sure that you have properly switched the device off and returned it to your hand luggage before boarding.

8. Can you take disposable vapes on an airplane?

You can take disposable vapes with you on a plane, how many will depend on the airline's policy regarding travelling with batteries, as a result of the lithium battery within the device. Any device containing a lithium battery cannot be stored in checked-in baggage due to the risk of fire and must be packed in a sealed bag in your carry-on luggage. However, this doesn't mean that you can use them during the flight.

Most airlines allow you to take between 15 to 20 disposable devices, so long as they are safely sealed and stored in your hand luggage, but it is worth checking before you fly. UK airlines state the following:

• British Airways allows up to 15 lithium-ion/metal batteries to be transported in your hand luggage.

• Ryan Air allows up to 20 disposable vapes in your carry-on luggage.

• easyJet doesn’t specify a limit so it may be worth calling them if you would like to take a lot with you.

• Virgin Atlantic allows you to carry disposable vapes in your carry-on luggage only but doesn't set a limit.

You can look at the airline's policy on how to travel with batteries and if you cannot find any specific mention of disposable vapes or a mention of how many you can carry, give them a call.

Any spare batteries that are not inside a vape device must be wrapped or stored in a protective casing to prevent sparking and stored in your carry-on luggage only.

It is important to remember that vaping on a plane is illegal globally, no exceptions, and with all modern planes being fitted with detectors that can pick up e-cigarette vapour, it's not worth the risk as you can incur heavy fines and disrupt the flight. Rather wait until you have landed and are safely out the terminal before using any of your vape devices.

If you find that you struggle with cravings during a flight, there are a number of nicotine replacement alternatives that you can use to get you through. Nicotine pouches or nicotine gum are discrete options that you can use as a handy back up in case you find yourself in a situation where you'll be unable to vape for extended periods of time. They are easy to use and will keep you out of trouble - defitinetely worth the consideration.

9. Can I bring my vape to another country?

Whilst vaping is legal in the UK, other countries will have different rules and regulations regarding their use and legality, so you should check the specific rules of the country you are travelling to well in advance.

It’s also worth double-checking with the airline you are flying with to make sure exactly how much you can take with you and whether or not you can bring nicotine-containing liquids with you.

In Australia, for example, you can only import and use vape devices or nicotine-containing e-liquids if you have a prescription from a medical professional, while some countries like Singapore have a total ban on vaping and in the US regulations depend on which state you are flying to.

If you are flying to a vape-friendly country, it's also worth bearing in mind that there may be differences in bottle size and more importantly, how much nicotine they offer. The UK has a 20mg strength max limit and 10ml pre-mixed bottle sizes, whereas, in countries like South Africa, you can buy a 30ml bottle containing 50mg of nicotine, so you may want to make sure you know how much you are getting.

Conclusion

We hope this article has proved to be useful. If you have any doubts as to the airline policy or the attitudes of the country you are flying to we recommend that you call your airline to confirm and make sure that you are travelling responsibly so you can jet off with peace of mind.