Can You Bring A Vape On A Plane? The Rules About Electronic Cigarettes on Airplanes

Last Updated on September 9, 2023

If you vape and travel, then you probably wonder where and when you can use your electronic cigarettes on the road.

It’s actually a bit more complicated than you might think… depending on where you are going and who you are flying with.​

I’ve put together this article to explain the rules about e-cigarettes on airplanes, airports, and travel.

Vaporizer And E-Cig Policies Of The Airlines Of USA

In most cases, you can take a vape pen with you in your carry on luggage but not in your checked luggage.

Electronic cigarettes contain lithium-ion batteries and these can sometimes catch fire. Fires are easier to put out if they occur in the cabin so this why all lithium-ion batteries and e-cigs or vapes cannot be stored in the checked baggage.

You will not be permitted to use your vape on board the aircraft cabin.

It’s best to keep your vaporizer inside your carry on bag at all times.

It’s better to disconnect the battery and if possible switch it off.​ You are also advised to empty your vape tank since changes in cabin pressure can cause it to leak.

​Vape juice should be treated like any other liquid. That means you cannot take containers greater than 3.4 fl. oz. or 100 ml. Liquids must be kept in a clear resealable plastic bag along with your shampoo etc.

Note: If you are asked to check your carryon last minute at the gate you will need to remove your vaping device and any other lithium-ion batteries and store them on your person.

Consider nicotine patches or gum if you have a long flight and are worried about nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Here are some of the Vape policies of US airlines:​

Airline	Vape Policy
Alaska Airlines	“Electronic smoking devices must be set in safety mode to prevent accidental ignition. Carry on only”
Allegient Air	“Electronic cigarettes are prohibited in checked baggage and may only be carried in the aircraft cabin (in carry-on baggage or on your person). These items are not allowed to be used onboard any flight.”
American Airlines	Not in checked luggage. Permitted in carry on. Not permitted to use on the plane.
Delta	“must be carried on one’s person or in carry-on baggage only”
JetBlue	“Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), vaporizer pens and spare batteries are prohibited in checked baggage. E-cigarettes and its individually protected spare batteries must be carried in the cabin, the device must be in the off position and disconnected from the charging system and battery.”
Southwest	“Because these articles are designed to operate by creating heat, they must be transported in one of the following ways: The battery can remain installed but must be placed in carryon baggage or carried on your person only. The item cannot be used onboard the aircraft.”
Spirit	“Permitted in carry-on. E-cigarettes and other battery-powered smoking devicesare NOT allowed to be used onboard any Spirit Airlinesaircraft. Some countries (e.g. Dominican Republic)prohibit the carriage of these devices in carry-on baggage,checked baggage, and/or on one’s person, in which caseSpirit will enforce such prohibition(s).”
United Airlines	“Electronic cigarettes and personal vaporizers are not accepted in checked or gate-checked baggage. These items may be stowed in carry-on baggage or on your person during travel, however, the use and charging of e-cigarettes and personal vaporizers is prohibited onboard all United flights and in United ClubSM locations.”

Can A Minor Fly With A Vape

A lot of minors are concerned about bringing a vape on to a plane.

They are worried that the TSA will flag the vape and potentially tell their parents that they are vaping.

The TSA’s position is to ”recommend that travelers follow state and local laws”.

A vape packed in carry-on luggage will not be flagged by the TSA. State laws on the possession of vaping devices vary, minors are sometimes permitted possession of nicotine-free vapes.

Regardless, the TSA are not interested much in vapes packed in hand luggage and so probably won’t tell your parents.

However, why not take this chance to quit vaping since it’s probably not good for your health!

Plan In Advance

I know some vaping gear can get expensive. The last thing you want is to be forced to throw an expensive vape in the trash because you discovered you can’t take it with you.

So forward planning is important.​

The best bit of advice I can give concerning this issue is that you will have to prepare in advance to know whether the airline you are traveling with will permit you to bring a vape on their plane.

Remember every country is different with their vaping regulations. Many have changed their e-cigarette rules over the last few years.

Countries That Ban E-Cigs

A number of country’s governments have issued regulations or completely banned e-cigarettes from their lands and their airports. If you are traveling abroad it’s not just the tsa you need to comply with.

I researched this topic to start to understand where you should definitely abstain from taking along your e-cigarette. To date in the world, these are the countries who have banned e-cigarettes.

• Brazil
• Israel
• United Arab Emirates
• Mexico
• Norway
• Singapore
• Panama
• Hong Kong
• Taiwan
• Thailand

In Japan e-cigs are legal but the sale of liquid containing nicotine is illegal. All the e-juice in Japanese vape shops is 0mg nicotine.

So if you are going to any of these countries it’s best to leave your vape behind.

Airport Regulations

Another factor you need to consider is if an individual airline or airport has decided to ban or regulate e-cigarettes and vaping devices. Some airlines differ in their regulations even if the country you are in permits e-cigarettes. Either call the airline or check out the airline’s website to see what their policies are on e-cigarettes. Here is a list of some of the examples of policies I’ve seen from my frequent travels.

• E-Cigarettes May Only be Transported in Luggage
• E-Cigs May be Placed in Carry On or Luggage, so Long as They Stay Hidden
• E-Cigarettes Juice Counts Toward Liquid Limit
• E-Cigarettes are not Permitted to be Used on the Plane
• E-Cigarettes May be Used in the Airport But Not the Airplane
• E-Cigarettes are not Permitted in Your Checked Bag
• No Nicotine Based Vape eliquid May Be Transported
• E-Cig Vapor is Confusing to Passengers Who Sometimes Think They are Permitted to Smoke Regular Cigarettes
• E-Cigarettes are Banned for Randomly Bursting into Flames

According to Business Insider, each airport has different regulations on e-cigarettes.

I’m not going to lie, you will likely find different policies depending on wherever you are in the world.

Sometimes it’s best to call the airport to ask about their policies because sometimes websites are not wholly informative or may leave out some parts of their policy.

Supplies You’ll Need When Packing An E-Cig

Once you’re positive you can take along your vaping supplies and your e-cigarettes on the plane, you need to prepare for the trip.

It can be helpful to bring along a few travel accessories to make traveling easier.

Store your vape juice within 3.4 ounce bottles.

Place them inside a clear plastic bag to stop them from leaking.

Store these bottles inside of your carry on bag.

This way your possessions in your luggage shouldn’t be damaged by the bottles leaking if they are damaged in the baggage storage.

Ensure to disassemble your device. Remove the battery and the tank to ensure that the pressure in the plane does not cause damage to your e-cigarette during the flight.

I recommend using a disposable vape pen instead while traveling. That way it is far easier to pack and to get through security.

Disposable vape pens are handy, especially for short plane trips.

Conclusion On Traveling With E-Cigarettes

• Research if the Country You Are Traveling to Permits Vaping
• Check the Website of the Airline You Are Using to Travel
• Call the Airline to Check Ahead if E-Cigs are Permitted
• Ensure to Properly Pack Your Vaping Equipment

The best way to prepare for traveling with e-cigarettes is to research in advance if you can bring your e-cigarette and vape juice to the airport and to the country that is your travel destination.

Look up the websites of the airports you will be stopping in and call the customer service line of the airports in advance with further questions.

I always ensure to pack my vape juice within small 3.4 ounce travel bottles.

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