Traveling with a vaping device needs some preparation and research. The world has been through a lot in the past couple of months with being quarantined and restricted on travel. However, now that vaccines are available in most countries not to mention that summertime is here, people travel both for leisure and work.
Some of you may have just started vaping and never travelled before with your vaping kit on a plane, and some of you might have experience on this topic. If you have travel plans in the near future it is good to be prepared and find out all the details on traveling with your vaping device. We have collected some essential tips and general rules.
Please note that always do your own research before traveling with e cig devices, specifically checking the airline you’ll be traveling with and the country you are going to.
Is traveling on an airplane with a vaping device allowed?
Yes, it is. Vaping devices are just like laptops or phones included in the category of Personal Electronic Devices. This means that airlines will let you take the device up on the plane in your hand luggage. Keeping the device in the checked baggage is prohibited. However, charging the battery on the plane or using the e cig is not allowed.
Even though the vapour will not trigger the smoke detector vaping on an airplane is not allowed. As vaping becomes more and more popular, airlines have included instructions and bans about vaping on aircrafts. So please don’t get tempted and sneak out to the toilet to do some puffs. There have been cases where people got imprisoned or fined big time due to breaking this rule.
Now that we established that the mod and battery can go on an airplane, we need to mention the tanks and clearomizers. If you have liquid in your tank, you can empty it before going through security or declare them along with your other fluids. It is essential to detach the tank from the battery and keep it like that in your luggage. Before boarding the plane, make sure you empty the tank as the change in pressure after take-off can cause leaks.
Taking e liquids with you on the airplane
When traveling on an airplane, you can take liquids, but each liquid must be in its own container of no more than 100ml (3.4oz). The same applies to e juice; therefore, you can take the 10 ml bottles of e juice with you, sealed in a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag. Make sure you do your own research and check your travel destination as, for example, Hong Kong doesn’t allow you to take e liquid containing nicotine. It is also practical to fill up with vape juice for the duration of your holiday as the quality and flavour options in another countries might not be to your liking.
Is vaping allowed at the airport?
At all UK airports vaping inside the terminals is not allowed. They specifically state in their policies that vaping and smoking are only permitted in the designated smoking area outside the terminal buildings. Interesting fact that in November 2013, Heathrow briefly allowed e cigarettes and dedicated an area for vapers in Terminal 4. Unfortunately, today this is not the case, and it is now against their policy.
Vaping in foreign countries
All in all, here in the UK, we are lucky as vaping is legal and encouraged by the NHS. However, there are countries where the use of electronic cigarettes is illegal or restricted. If you travel outside the UK, check the policies and rules of the given government on vaping. To do that, the easiest is either to Google it or call the embassy of the country.
Here are a few countries where vaping is illegal:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Egypt
- India
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Lithuania
- Oman
- Panama
- Philippines
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- and Vietnam
The list of countries where vaping is legal but restricted:
- Australia
- Colombia
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- South Africa
- Turkey
- and USA.
From this list, nicotine-containing e liquid is prohibited in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nicaragua, and South Africa. In the United States, the regulations vary in different states; therefore, click here to find out more in case of traveling there.
It is essential that before you travel anywhere, you do your research and find out all you can about the vaping policies and regulations. The best is always to buy your own e juices in advance and take them with you – if you can- to avoid costly or low-quality juices. Bring spare batteries and charge the one you are using before getting on the plane so you can enjoy a pleasant and relaxing puff after you landed.
