Can You Bring Nicotine On A Plane?

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Last Updated on June 22, 2021

Nicotine is not a dangerous substance so whether or not a product contains nicotine has no impact on whether the TSA allows it to be brought on a plane or not.

However, there are some rules around nicotine containing products that do apply.

These relate to liquids that contain nicotine and batteries for nicotine delivery devices.

Let’s take a look at the rules.

TSA Nicotine Rules

The Transportation Security Administration run the security checkpoint at the airport and also screen checked luggage behind the scenes to check for prohibited items.

Here’s the most relevant entry they have about flying with nicotine from their website.

This rule relates to e-cigarettes. With vaping systems there are two aspects you need to worry about.

Firstly, the e-liquid. Liquid nicotine containing vape juice is treated the same way as any other liquid.

For carry-on luggage, that means you can only bring liquids in containers smaller than 3.4 oz or 100 ml. This rule applies to vape juice or e-liquid. Pack any spare liquid nicotine in your one quart-size bag that you use for other toiletries.

You can pack as much liquid nicotine in your checked luggage as you like. There are no limits.

The second part of some nicotine delivery systems is a lithium battery. Loose lithium batteries are prohibited in checked luggage. So the battery part of your nicotine delivery system can only be packed in carry-on luggage.

This is because of the fire risk from lithium batteries. It’s much easier to put out of a fire in the cabin that in the hold of the aircraft.

Traveling With Nicotine Products Internationally

If you are taking an international flight then you might want to check the rules around bringing your nicotine product into your destination country, especially if you are bringing large quantities.

For example, there are some countries where vaping is banned entirely and there are often limits on importing cigarettes or cigars without paying import tax.

Taking Other Nicotine Products On The Plane

Electronic cigarettes are not the only way to get nicotine into your system. I checked with @AskTSA on Twitter to see what they say about other nicotine containing products.

Regina checked with the TSA if her grandpa could take his nicotine patches on vacation.

There are no restrictions on bring nicotine patches in carry-on or checked luggage.

Ben looked but couldn’t find any rules around flying with nicotine lozenges. That’s because there aren’t any.

You can pack nicotine lozenges in carry-on or checked bags.

Nicotine gum is a good option for long flights. You are not permitted to vape on a plane or smoke cigarettes but you are allowed to chew gum. So it can help when flying to control withdrawal symptoms.

You are allowed to pack nicotine gum in carry-on or checked bags.

Theresa asked if nicotine gum needs to be in it’s original package.

Nicotine gum doesn’t need to be in it’s original container. The TSA doesn’t have any rules specific to nicotine. It’s just that the liquid rules applies if the nicotine is in liquid form. And the lithium battery rules apply if the nicotine delivery device has a lithium battery.

Earl asked if he could pack his nicotine cartridges in his carry-on.

The vape mod and batteries don’t need to be packed together. Lithium batteries must go in carry-on luggage. E-juice must go in the quart size liquids bag but you don’t need to pack the battery and mod in the quart size bag.

Rylee asked about bring Juul nicotine pods on her flight.

The TSA told her that spare e-liquid pods should go inside her quart size liquids bag but that she didn’t need to remove the nicotine containing pod that was already in her vape pen.

Michael checked with the TSA about bringing nicotine pouches on his flight.

You can bring nicotine pouches on a plane in either hand luggage or hold luggage.

Abeer wanted to pack a large bottle of nicotine e-liquid in his checked luggage.

Because it’s a large 500 ml bottle Abeer would need to pack it in checked luggage. If it was a smaller bottle under 3.4 oz he could have packed it in his quart-size toiletries bag alongside his travel-sized shampoo.

The Bottom Line

If your nicotine is in liquid form then it must follow the TSA liquids rule for carry-on luggage and be in a container smaller than 3.4 oz and packed inside your one plastic quart bag.

If your nicotine containing product is in solid form you can pack it where ever you like.

If you have a device that contains a lithium battery then it cannot be packed in checked luggage and must be brought with you into the cabin. The battery doesn’t need to go in the quart bag, only any liquid juice.

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