Travelling with Your E Cig
If you’re planning a holiday, or going abroad on a business trip, you’ll undoubtedly want to take your e cigarette with you. However, with airline regulations and foreign laws changing all the time, working out exactly how to pack your vape pen or kit safely, and legally, can be a challenge. The last thing you want is to arrive at the airport and be forced to hand over your batteries or your accessories because they don’t comply with airport regulations.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, and to help make your travels as smooth and stress free as possible, our team of vaping experts at MIST have put together this comprehensive guide on travelling with e cigarettes.
E Cigarettes at UK Airports
Not only is the use of e cigarettes banned on planes, they’re now restricted at all UK airports. Once you’re inside the terminal, you won’t be able to vape until you have arrived at your destination and found a designated smoking or vaping area. Some UK airports do have designated smoking areas where vaping is allowed, but these are usually located outside or away from the terminal. Some UK airports do not have their vaping and smoking policies freely available, therefore we highly advise that you check with your departure airport before you travel to check whether or not you will be able to use your e cigarette before boarding.
E cigarettes don’t produce tobacco smoke, therefore the risks of passive smoking don’t apply to vaping, although it is advised not to vape around babies and pregnant women. The NHS website states that ‘research into this area is ongoing, but it seems that e cigs release negligible amounts of nicotine into the atmosphere and the limited evidence available suggests that any risk from passive vaping to bystanders is small relative to tobacco cigarettes.’ Despite these safety claims, airports and airlines have still chosen to enforce a no-vaping policy.
Taking E Cigs on Planes
There are no specific laws or regulations that permit the use of e cigarettes at airports or on planes. Therefore, every airline has their own set of rules and regulations when it comes to travelling with e cigarettes. In general, you are allowed to take your e cigarettes on board, but you’re not allowed to use them. All airlines have banned the use of e cigarettes on planes. Be aware that lithium batteries cannot be packed in your hold luggage, they must be carefully packed in your hand luggage. Remember to disconnect, turn off and remove any batteries, empty any vape tanks and use sufficient packaging for any e liquid bottles and refills.
How to Pack your E Cigarettes
If you want to take your e cigarette away with you, you’ll need to pack it in your hand luggage. Airlines don’t allow e cigarettes to be placed in the hold, so if you put yours in your checked baggage, this could cause delays.
When packing for your upcoming trip, the e cigarette itself will need to be placed in your hand luggage. Any extra refills and e liquids can be packed in your hold luggage. If you do decide to take refills with you, it’s a good idea to place them in a plastic bag or container, as changes in cabin air pressure can cause vape tanks to leak.
The best way to travel with your vape paraphernalia is with a vape carry case. By using a specific vaping case you can keep everything together, all in one place. There is plenty of space for the various liquids, batteries and vape accessories. A vape case also makes it easy to keep track of your e cigarette when you’re on the move, without wasting time rummaging around in the bottom of your bag.
Taking E Cigs Through Airport Security
When taking your e cigarette through airport security, make sure that any e liquids are placed in the clear plastic bags provided. The 100ml restriction applies to any kind of liquid you carry, and bare in mind that you’re only allowed one of these bags per person, so you might have to limit the number of refills you pack. In some cases, you may need to remove your e cigarette from your bag and carry case when you go through the x-ray machine – they can look a little suspect on screen, so to ensure you aren’t delayed by further bag checks, always err on the side of caution and be transparent about what you’re carrying. We advise that you check the rules and regulations at your departure airport to find out any specific information.
Buying E Liquid and Refills Abroad
If you’re going to be away from home for a while, you’ll probably need to buy refills for your vape, unless you pack the exact amount of extras in your hold baggage, which might be tricky if you’re backpacking. It’s important to be aware that not all countries allow the sale of e liquid. Whilst some have banned the sale of cartridges, others only allow nicotine-free products to be sold, or limit the amount of nicotine that’s allowed in the refills. In some countries, such as Thailand, the use of e cigarettes is banned altogether, with a penalty of 10 years in prison if you are convicted. Other countries to avoid include Dubai, Punjab and Singapore, all of which have strict vaping regulations and hefty fines. Vaping laws and regulations are changing all the time, so we advise that you always check the rules and regulations of the country you’re visiting using the foreign office website, before you travel.
Attitudes to Vaping
Be prepared to answer questions from all types of attitudes. Remember that vaping is either banned or totally unknown in many countries, and the locals will undoubtedly want answers to the clouds of vapour surrounding you.