Vapes on a Plane: The do’s and don’ts

You’ve got your flight booked and are preparing to travel, but have no clue about what vape gear you can take on a plane?

Don’t worry we’ve got you covered in this article, and most of the rules and guidelines are common sense.

All vape devices like e-cigarettes, vape pens, pods, and mods can be taken onto airplanes but must either be on your person or your carry-on luggage – not your checked-in bags. The same also applies to any lithium batteries, so make sure they are in a case or device and not loose in your luggage.

E-liquid or pre-filled pods can be taken in your carry-on bag (providing it is under 100ml and fits in the liquids bag), or they can be packed in your checked-in suitcase. Any federally controlled substances like cannabis, even if it’s residue on devices is prohibited on almost all U.S. fights.

While the advice we cover in this article will apply to travel almost anywhere in the world, we specifically reference Transportation Security Administration Regulations. However, there may be slight variations in how TSA vape rules are applied not only by different airlines but also to travel in different countries. Therefore it’s always best to check the specific airline rules for your booked flight.

It’s also wise to check the local vaping laws in your destination before you depart, especially if you’re traveling to an unfamiliar country. Vaping is banned in some countries, so where to pack your vape gear will be the last thing to worry about.

Air travel for vapers is actually a lot more straightforward than you might assume. You can take your vape on a plane, and your e-liquid and spare batteries.

However, there are some best practices to make sure you don’t fall foul of any rules or guidelines.

You cannot pack vape batteries on a plane into checked baggage; this also applies to vapes containing internal batteries. This rule applies worldwide to prevent fire in the cargo hold, so all lithium vape batteries and electronic devices have to be carried onto the plane.

If you fail to adhere to this rule, you might lose your devices if luggage handlers x-ray them. They might even decide to neglect your luggage at the departure airport. Therefore, you are advised to have your vape devices on board in your cabin luggage.

• If you are traveling with spare batteries, they must not be loose. Keep them safe in plastic battery cases; this will help you avoid accidents.
• If your vape device uses external batteries, don’t forget to take a battery charger.
• If you are taking a short trip, consider traveling with simple vape devices, maybe even a disposable vape pen. Carrying them is easier, and you won’t feel as bad if you lose them.
• Full tanks might leak due to cabin pressures. You might get away with having the tank partially filled. But it’s best to keep them empty until you arrive at the destination.

All aerosols, liquids, gels, pastes, and creams carried on a plane have to be in 100 ml bottles or less. They must also fit into a 1-quart plastic bag. This is a rule set by the TSA.

If you want to carry bottles that exceed 100ml or are too large for the 1-quart bag allowed on carry-on, you will have to put them in your checked luggage. If you do this, make sure they are secure and maybe even double-bag them to ensure you don’t arrive at your destination with a suitcase full of e-juice all over your clothes – it might smell nice, but it will be a total mess.

Fortunately, there’s no limit for the size of liquids that can be kept in checked baggage. Cartridges and pre-filled pods are also allowed.

• Full bottles might expand or split at the seams due to cabin pressure. It’s advisable to carry partially used bottles as they have unused space at the top.
• It’s also advisable to check the quality of your bottles and their lids before packing them, make sure they are not too worn.
• If traveling with e-juice, consider taking a slightly higher nic strength than you typically use so you don’t have to take as much.
• In European Union countries, there’s a 20 mg/ml nicotine limit if you vape higher strength than that you will need to take it with you.

Most of the rules we’ve mentioned above also apply to CBD cannabis vape devices. However, you will not be able to take cannabis products such as flowers or THC cartridges on a plane. It is also a gamble taking CBD through security – see below.

Yes, but we recommend not traveling with CBD of any kind.

After the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed hemp production in the U.S., the TSA changed its CBD rules. However, traveling with CBD is still very risky, even if you have CBD oil or vape juice that’s below the 0.3% THC limit. Despite CBD being legalized by the Farm Bill, there’s no protection offered to individuals that use the product directly.

CDB laws in the U.S. vary greatly. In some cases, there are no rules, or it’s completely legal. In other parts of the nation, it’s highly prohibited and punishable, just like other kinds of cannabis products. TSA claims that it doesn’t actively search for illegal drugs, but anything suspicious that they find will be handed over to airport security, and CBD might just fit into this category. There have been past incidents where CBD arrests have occurred at airports.

The law is still not very clear on CBD, and until it does become more structured, we are probably going to see more arrests take place. As a user, you should stay safe by not even taking the chance. So to be clear, you risk being arrested by just taking any CBD product through the security system.

The only exception to this is when you are carrying Epidiolex, which is a CBD-based drug recommended and approved by that FDA in 2018 for treating seizure disorders.

Quite simply, it is not advisable to fly with weed or THC vape cartridges.

While cannabis is federally illegal in the U.S. As soon as you go through airport security, and while in the air before arriving at your destination, you are entirely subject to federal laws. Therefore, you can still get charged with the possession of illicit products. The TSA doesn’t take part in actively looking for drugs. However, once you get caught, they will hand you and your possessions over to the airport security.

It is okay to fly with dry herb vaporizers or empty vape pens, but you need to make sure they don’t contain any cannabis residue. So before you leave, thoroughly clean your vape and test if there’s any residue of cannabis. Check the air path, herb chamber, the outer surface, and the mouthpiece. If you suspect that some residue might be detected in the vape, then don’t take it with you.

If you are flying to a country where marijuana is illegal, your oil pen or dry herb might also be considered illegal. There are some countries in which cannabis is legalized, but you will still not be allowed to carry or possess paraphernalia.

You should avoid flying with cannabis at all costs. It might subject you to substantial penalties unless you are a Canadian and you are moving within Canadian cities and not outside the nation. If you go against this rule, you might subject yourself to serious problems. Even if you are allowed by authorities, you will still encounter rigorous searches with security staff, and your weed will get confiscated. Traveling with THC vapes or cannabis cartridges is not a very good idea.

It’s incredibly common for people to take their e-cigs on planes nowadays, which means plane security teams are used to them. You don’t need to be afraid about going through TSA checkpoints or carrying a vape on a plane.

We have already covered the important TSA vape rules:

If you have liquids in carry-on bags, they should all go into a single 1-quart bag. All lithium and electronic batteries must go onto the plane. This must go through security screening.

The TSA may view vaping devices as another potential security threat due to the electronic nature of the devices. Therefore TSA screeners may ask to check your sizeable 200W touchscreen mod, just to make sure it’s not an explosive. So it’s best to make sure such devices are charged, just in case you need to switch it on for them.

It’s far more unlikely to happen with smaller vape devices like vape pens or pod mods, but it’s worth making sure you have them fully charged before leaving also.

If you want to travel with a coil building kit, then be prepared to get questioned as to why you are traveling with suspicious-looking items like wire cutters and spools of wire. Also, bear in mind that not all countries are familiar with vaping, and if you don’t speak the local language, trying to explain what you are carrying may prove problematic.

To avoid any situations like this, it’s probably best to prepare pre-wrapped coils or just take a tank with stock coils.

It’s illegal to vape on planes and is almost always prohibited to vape in airports worldwide. The only exception is if the airport has a designated smoking lounge. However, these are becoming rarer, and you’ll have to share the space with smokers.

If you do break these rules, you risk fines and ejection from the airport. If you vape on a plane, the penalties will be even higher. So while you can take your vape pen on a flight, if you are caught vaping, you will face the same penalties as if you were smoking. You could also face being arrested and jailed at your destination.

While it’s not as enjoyable as vaping, it’s best to use a more suitable nicotine alternative for these situations. Nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges will help suffice your need to vape while you’re stuck in a no-vape zone.

Vaping has now become an accepted part of travel culture all over the world. Understanding the rules of vaping and air travel will not only help to keep you out of trouble but will ensure a peaceful experience for everyone.

Remember, if you are new to vaping, airport staff have been dealing with vapers for over a decade now. The rules are there for a reason, so make sure you adhere to them, and you’ll get a seamless flight in return.