The Ultimate 2024 Guide: How to Safely Travel with Electronic Vapes

Vaping has arguably become the most popular alternative to smoking. According to sikaryvapor.com, around 9.1% of the population are active vapers. Most of us like to take our vapes with us when we travel.

If you are travelling within the UK, things are a little easier as you can easily access vaping devices. But when you're travelling abroad, there are a few things you need to be aware of. While preparing for a trip abroad, thinking about vaping may be the least of your worries, but it could come in handy to enjoy an unhindered vaping experience at your destination.

Can You Travel with Vapes?

The short answer is, yes but it depends! You can travel with your vape anywhere inside the UK as there are no nationwide legal restrictions that do not allow you to vape in public areas. However, there are some regulations that you need to follow. For starters, you must be above 18 years of age. You may also face restrictions on vaping in some buildings like professional workspaces, schools, and some restaurants. This is mainly due to safety reasons.

Travelling abroad with a vape is a whole other story. There are countries and specific regions where you might not be allowed to use your e-cigarette. While travelling abroad, you might be taking multiple flights and spend a lot of time at the airports in transit. It’s important to understand the nuances of the restrictions to avoid getting into trouble. It’s better to take precautions and get all the information you can get on vaping rather than ruining your entire trip with a troubled experience from airport security or airline staff.

Can You Take Vapes on a Plane?

Most airlines allow you to take your vapes on a plane provided you follow their guidelines. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) mandates strict guidelines on taking vapes on a plane. Since e-cigarettes contain batteries, you should carry them in your hand luggage and not in your checked bags. Just like any other electronic devices, you cannot put your vape in your checked luggage since batteries are sensitive to temperature and pressure changes in the cargo.

You must store your vaping kit in such a way that it prevents accidental activation, leakage, or a case where it goes out of your luggage. Make sure you pack your vape correctly so that you can prevent problems during your trip and help you not to accidentally cause any damage. If your vape kit has a refillable vape tank, it is likely that the air pressure on board can cause a leak. So it’s worth it to carry it empty. You could store vape juice inside a sealed container so that you can avoid any spills in case it leaks.

Some airlines have restrictions on the number of batteries you can carry as well, and most of them don’t allow you to charge your vape on board. Each lithium ion battery must not exceed a Watt-hour (Wh) rating of 100 Wh; or for lithium metal batteries, a lithium content of 2 grams.

How Many Disposable Vapes Can I Bring on a Plane?

Disposable vapes are highly popular among vapers due to the affordability and ease of maintenance so it makes sense to pack a considerable number of disposable vapes when you are going for a long trip. Each airline has their own regulations on how many disposable vapes can passengers carry on board. Usually it is 15 to 20 but always make sure you check with your airline first before packing. If you’re travelling for more than three to four days, we recommend 15k disposable vapes so that you don’t face the hassle of charging and refilling.

Can I Vape on a Flight?

A long flight without a puff must be difficult, especially if you have a nicotine craving. But do not vape while on board, ever!  While most airlines allow you to carry vapes in your hand luggage, vaping, like smoking, is prohibited under all circumstances.

British Airways states on their website, ‘’Smoking, including the use of personal vaporisers such as vapes, e-cigarettes, e-pipes or any other smoking tool or device, is completely prohibited on board our aircraft, as well as in many airports around the world.’’

EasyJet states, ‘’You can’t smoke any type of cigarette on the plane. It’s a criminal offence to do so.’’ Under Ryanair’s general terms and conditions, clause 8.4.1 states, ‘’You can take e-cigs on the plane but you cannot use them.’’

This strict restriction is in place because vaping could trigger alarms on the plane and the batteries inside the e-cigarette contain lithium batteries that are a potential fire risk. If you are facing any difficulties, be sure to ask a member of the airline staff for assistance.

Can You Vape in an Airport?

Vaping is mostly permitted at airports at specified spots unless there is a vaping ban in the country. In most airports, there are designated smoking areas where you can use vapes. Check the airport website prior to your travel to know where the smoking areas are located.

For example, the Paris Airport website has information on their smoking areas. The Madrid Airport website suggests a smoking area outside Terminal 4. However, there are airports where smoking or vaping is completely prohibited even if it’s legal to vape in the country. The UK is the biggest example where more than half of its airports have complete bans on smoking and vaping, according to a report by The Mirror. So it doesn’t matter if the country you’re travelling to allows vaping, you must understand what restrictions have been imposed by the airport.

If you’re travelling to a country where English is not a commonly spoken language, you might find it difficult to get information from the airport staff. Airport websites are a good source of information in that regard. Read the vaping policies of the airports you are visiting and cross check with the vaping rules of the country these airports are located in, which brings us to the next section.

Are There Any Countries Where Vaping Is Banned?

While you may be able to vape in an airport, it depends on where the airport is located. There are some countries that do not permit you to use your vape at all. Fortunately, many countries permit the use of vapes but restrictions apply in line with the laws and regulations prevailing in the region where you’re travelling.

According to the Tobacco Control Laws, here’s a full list of countries where buying and selling of vapes are banned as of 2024:

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Brunei Darussalam
• Cabo Verde
• Cambodia
• Ethiopia
• Gambia
• Hong Kong
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Lao
• Lebanon
• Macau
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Norway
• Oman
• Panama
• Qatar
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• Suriname
• Syria
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Uganda
• Uruguay
• Venezuela
  

In countries like Türkiye, you can take your vape kit but it’s illegal to buy or sell them. So It might prove difficult to get new vapes if you run out of juice. Make sure you pack your charger, coils, and vape juice before travelling to countries with vaping restrictions.

In the US, the restrictions on vaping vary with regions and areas. In Australia, you can buy vapes but only through a pharmacy. Most European countries permit vaping like in the UK with restrictions at public transports, schools, and children’s playgrounds. According to a BBC report, France has set plans in motion to ban disposable vapes.  

It’s better to check with local authorities if they have permissive laws regarding vaping when you’re travelling but make sure you do not travel with a vape where it is banned. Also, the rules keep changing so it’s very important you get the latest update on vaping restrictions in the area you’re visiting.

Note that there are countries where personal use has restricted permits so be sure to ask any official regarding this, or check the government website.

How to Pack Vapes on a Plane?

Like other liquid containers, no airline allows you to carry more than 100ml in a single container. They must be placed in a transparent and sealable bag.  If your device has a removable battery, TSA mandates to detach it from your device and place it in a separate case. It’s helpful to ask a member of the airline staff if you have any questions on storage. Make sure you take a thorough look at the guidelines and regulations on the website of the airline you chose to travel. If you’re not carrying your vape kit accordingly, you may be asked by the staff and security to dispose of your kit, or your kit might be confiscated.

Using Vapes While Travelling: Vaping Etiquette in Different Cultures

While countries like the US and the UK have always maintained a positive attitude towards vaping, some countries took their time with it. As we mentioned above, there are some countries that still do not permit vaping. So it’s important to understand the attitude towards vaping maintained by the place you’re travelling to.

Vaping is relatively new in Asian culture and most people see it as a means to quit smoking, rather than something you casually enjoy. While some countries ban vape trading but allow restricted personal use, the local population might not be aware of it and might be under the impression that vapes are banned altogether. So it might not be appropriate to vape continuously in public.

While in some areas vaping may be legal, it might not be culturally appropriate. It’s important to make sure to avoid causing discomfort or inconvenience to other people. People react differently to smoke even if it’s from a vape. You can ask the staff at the hotel you’re staying, or a local guide, to get an idea of how vaping is generally viewed just to get an idea of how to work around it.

Troubleshooting Common Travel Issues with Vapes

The most common issues you could find with your vape while travelling is with activation and leakage issues. This is due to the fluctuating temperature and pressure occurring throughout the air travel. But you must not under any circumstances attempt to adjust or repair your vape while you’re on board your flight. This may lead to accidental activation or further leakage..

As a precaution, it's always the safest to empty your vape tank before take-off. But if you couldn’t manage to do that, always check before travel that you haven’t overfilled your vape kit. Be sure to leave a small amount of air within the pod. While in the airport or in the flight, make sure your vape kit is not left in a hot place. This might cause your device to overheat and the vape juice to thin and ooze out.

If your vape is not turning on it is most likely a connection issue. After making sure the battery is fully charged, try to remove the battery and reinsert it. Try using a cotton but to clean the terminal between the battery and the vape tank. Clear the dust and any sticky vape juice to ensure there is no connection issue.

Ideally, you can check your vape when you are at a safe location like your accommodation, but you can also have a look while you’re at the airport.

What to Do If Your Vape is seized by authority

Usually your vape gets seized if you don’t follow any regulations. This includes not following storage protocol on board a flight, actively vaping in smoking/vaping free areas, or even openly carrying a device where vapes are banned. You must ensure that you don’t create a situation where your vape is confiscated by airport, customs, or any government authority.

But if an unfortunate event happens, it’s very important that you cooperate with the officials. Rather than arguing with them or hinder them in taking actions, understand why your vape is being confiscated and make sure it’s not a misunderstanding. Try to contact the authority who confiscated your vape. In the UK, it’s usually HMRC or Border Force. Ask the staff what authority heads the confiscation and after contacting them, you can get specific details on the seizure and they may even be able to tell you the process of reclaiming your vape. The most important thing to avoid this situation is to stay informed and be updated with the local regulations on vaping.

Travelling with vapes in 2024 need not be a hassle if you take enough precautions and do your research before embarking on your journey. Here are some key takeaways:

• Make sure vaping is not banned in the country you’re travelling to
• Pack your vapes securely and store liquids and batteries safely to avoid any leakage and damage.
• Find designated smoking areas in the airport if you need to vape.
• Don’t take out the device while on board and don’t use it inside the plane under any circumstances.
• Understand the cultural attitude of your travel destinations and take actions accordingly.
  

The rules, regulations, and etiquette on vaping is evolving continuously so always stay updated and informed.