If you’ve got a trip coming up in the near future which involves air travel, then you are probably asking yourself about the rules for flying when it comes to vaping products. While vaping has been around for several years now, there are still a number of people who just aren’t quite sure about the rules regarding vaping and air travel, so let’s go over regulations, rules, and practices that you need to be aware of.
What are the Rules for Flying with a Vape?
As it turns out, the TSA is surprisingly lenient when it comes to vape products. Overall, you’re absolutely free to bring your vaping hardware, accessories, and e-liquids with you on a plane. The TSA understands that there are many people who have a daily vaping routine, and even rely on these products to satisfy their nicotine cravings.
So, what are the rules? Let’s go over them, as you’ll find that there actually aren’t many at all.
Rule 1: Storing Your Vaping Products
The biggest rule of all, which applies to air travel around the world, is to pack your vaping products in your carry-on luggage. Vaping gear uses lithium-ion batteries, and as a rule, no products that use these batteries may go into checked luggage. The reason why is because of concern for fire. The extremely hot, high-pressure environment in which checked luggage is stored while in transit makes the risk of these batteries exploding all too high, which could cause a fire that has the potential to become deadly. There is absolutely no exception to this rule because of the hazards involved, so if you are caught with your hardware in your checked luggage by a TSA agent, expect to have your vaping products confiscated.
Rule 2: No Vaping During Air Travel
We probably don’t have to tell you that you can’t vape on a plane, period. Vaping in travel means breaking the law. It’s not only about being considerate toward other passengers who may not appreciate the presence of vapor. It’s classified as a potential fire hazard, again due to the nature of lithium-ion batteries. Of course, vape batteries aren’t exploding left and right, but in the incredibly rare event that a vaping device was to cause a fire due to the battery component, that would become disastrous as the plane would have to perform an emergency landing as the fire was spreading.
Because of this, if you were to be caught vaping inside of a plane, whether or not the plane is actually in the air, you can expect to have to pay an incredibly high fine, and potentially face other penalties as well. Keep in mind that this applies to vaping inside of the bathroom on a plane as much as it does vaping in your seat.
Rule 3: No Vaping in an Airport (Except in Designated Smoking Areas)
Similarly, you cannot vape inside of an airport, except for areas in which smoking is allowed, which are almost always outdoor spaces. We all know the hassle of getting through security, and then getting that craving. And, we know how tempting it is to run to the bathroom or some other discreet area to take a few puffs. But, the bottom line is that getting caught vaping in an area where it’s not allowed can mean a fine, and it can mean missing your flight as you have to deal with TSA agents who have caught you breaking a rule inside of an airport.
Rule 4: Packing Your E-Liquid
If you do travel with bottled e-liquids, then you’ll naturally need to follow the 3-1-1 rule, as e-liquids are held to the same standards as all other types of liquids under TSA regulations. The 3-1-1 rule means that you can bring one quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, creams, pastes, and gels in your carry-on luggage, all of which cannot exceed 3.4 ounces, or 100 milliliters.
Best Practices for Vaping During Air Travel
Now that we’ve covered the actual rules for vaping during air travel, let’s talk about some general practices that don’t relate to regulations and laws, but serve to make things more convenient for you.
#1: Bring Extra Vaping Goods with You
Because you’ll be traveling, we encourage you to bring more than enough vaping products to get you through the time you’ll be away. That’s because you don’t want to run out of your favorite e-liquid, coil, or disposable while you’re away from home, and have to hope that the nearest vape shop carries what you need in your destination area, or hope that you can order from a vape shop online and get it to where you’ll be soon enough.
#2: Manage Your Cravings
We won’t deny that it can be hard to be on a long plane ride when you’re craving nicotine. So, figure out a way to handle those cravings, whether it be by bringing an alternative, air-travel-friendly nicotine delivery system (gum, patches, oral pouches, etc.), or planning on sleeping on the plane so that you aren’t feeling like you’re finding.
#3: Be Aware of Cannabis Vaping Laws
Lastly, keep in mind that everything we’ve discussed today TSA regulations applies to nicotine-based vaping products. Marijuana-based vaping products remain strictly prohibited, along with all other marijuana products, and being caught with them can mean legal repercussions, or, at the very least, your products getting confiscated. Hemp products are permitted, but we urge you to label them and bring lab reports to avoid confusion.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
So, good news, at end of the day, air travel is very vape-friendly, assuming, of course, you follow some basic rules that cover general safety. Essentially, if you do have plans to travel in the near future, you don’t really have to worry about not being able to vape, except, of course, while you’re actually on a plane, or in most sections of an airport. This means that you’re free to bring your favorite vaping products with you and enjoy them for the duration of your travel.