Traveling as a vaper isn’t so different from traveling as a smoker in that you definitely want to have your nicotine available when you need it. Traveling as a smoker, though, is relatively simple because all you need to do is carry a pack of cigarettes in your pocket. You know that you’ll have no trouble buying more cigarettes once you reach your destination because they’re available in every supermarket, convenience store and gas station.
Traveling with disposable vapes, on the other hand, requires some special considerations because you’ll need to follow the TSA rules for traveling with vapes. You also might want to bring more than one device because you don’t want to spend the evening searching for a vape shop after you arrive at your destination.
So, can you take disposable vapes on an airplane? The answer is that you can, but you need to follow the rules carefully because any device with a lithium-ion battery carries a slight fire risk. A fire in an airplane is a serious problem that must be avoided at all costs, and that’s why the rules are so strict.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about bringing disposable vapes on an airplane.
What’s the Best Disposable Vape for Traveling?
If you’re going to take disposable vapes on an airplane, packing the devices correctly is your first priority. Choosing the right vape, though, is almost equally important. Ideally, you want to travel with a disposable vape that turns on and off. That way, you won’t have to worry about the device activating unexpectedly in your pocket or bag.
We think that the Geek Bar Pulse is the best disposable vape for traveling because it’s one of the few disposables on the market with an on-off function. If you want to turn the device off, it’s easy – just flip the switch on the bottom of the device to the “Closed” position. The Geek Bar Pulse is also turned off when it’s in the box, so there’s no need to worry about the device activating unexpectedly if you travel with it in its original package.
Are you new to the Geek Bar Pulse? Get up to speed by reading our review. You can also take a look at our ranking of all Geek Bar flavors.
How to Bring Disposable Vapes on an Airplane
If you want to bring disposable vapes on an airplane, you have two options for doing do.
- You can put the disposable vapes in your carry-on bag. This is a basic requirement for flying with any device that has a lithium-ion battery. Because of the fire risk, lithium-ion batteries are never allowed in your checked baggage. If possible, you should leave your devices in their original packages because they’re packed in a specific way to prevent leaking or unwanted activation. If you have a device that’s not in the original box, you can minimize the chance of leaking by putting the original plug in the mouthpiece and putting a piece of tape over the airflow opening. You should also turn your vapes off if you can.
- In most cases, you’re allowed to carry one disposable vape on your person. That, however, is at the discretion of the TSA officer at the security checkpoint. If you are asked to take the device out of your pocket and put it in your carry-on bag, you’ll need to comply.
How to Bring Other Vapes and Vape Juice on an Airplane
What if disposable vapes aren’t the only vape gear that you want to bring when traveling? If you have other items that you’d also like to pack, we’ll explain how to do it in this section of our guide.
- If you want to bring another type of device such as a vape mod or pod vape, you should put it in your carry-on bag. Once again, all vaping devices fall under the same rules as other items containing lithium-ion batteries, which should never be packed in your checked luggage. The only exception to this rule is a vape with a removable battery, which can be placed in your checked luggage as long as the battery is removed and placed in your carry-on bag. If you do that, you might want to put a sticky note on the device explaining that the battery has been removed.
- Just like vapes that contain batteries, all spare batteries for vaping devices need to go in your carry-on bag. Remember, though, that you should never carry loose lithium-ion batteries without some form of protection. Put your batteries into a dedicated carrier that isolates the terminals from all metal objects.
- You can pack non-electronic supplies like spare pods or coils any way you like. They can go in your carry-on bag or in your checked luggage.
- You can pack vape juice or filled vape pods in your checked luggage with no restrictions. If you’re traveling to a foreign country, though, you will want to check that nation’s vaping regulations beforehand to confirm the amount of vape juice that you’re allowed to import for personal use. Some nations may have a limit on this. You can also pack pre-filled pods or vape juice bottles in your carry-on bag. If you do this, remember that you’ll need to abide by TSA regulations for liquids. All of the liquid items that you want to pack in your carry-on bag need to fit in a single zip-top bag with a capacity of one quart, and you’ll need to remove the plastic bag from your carry-on bag for inspection when you go through the security checkpoint at the airport.
Can You Vape at an Airport?
At an airport, you can only vape in places where smoking is allowed -- and those places are becoming difficult to find. As more and more airports declare themselves “smoke free,” the airport smoking lounges that used to be common are quickly becoming relics of the past. Here’s what you need to know about vaping at an airport.
- If you find an area where smoking is allowed, you can vape there.
- If you can’t find a smoking area, ask an airport employee. Some airports do have smoking areas that they don’t actively advertise.
- If the airport doesn’t have a smoking area, you’ll have to leave the airport to vape. If you’re at an international airport, that means you’ll need to go through customs and enter the country in order to use one of the outdoor smoking areas. After you’re done, you’ll have to go through the airport’s security checkpoint before you can resume your journey. Since that’s going to be massively inconvenient, it’s a good idea to have another nicotine product that you can use instead to keep your cravings under control when you can’t vape.
Can You Vape on a Plane?
No airline allows vaping or smoking in flight. The rules about this are very strict, and the penalty for getting caught vaping on a plane can range from a fine to being banned from the airline for life. Don’t try “stealth vaping” when you think no one is looking; everyone will know what you’re trying to do. Don’t try sneaking a puff in the bathroom, either, because virtually every airplane restroom has a smoke detector that can also detect vapor. If you’re going on a long flight, you’ll need to carry a different form of nicotine supplementation that allows you to satisfy your cravings without breaking the rules.
Always Know the Local Vaping Laws When You Travel
The final thing you need to know about bringing disposable vapes on an airplane is that the laws and regulations that apply to vaping where you live may not be the same as the laws where you’re going. The fact that you’re free to travel with your disposable vapes in the United States doesn’t necessarily mean that the laws will be as permissive in your destination country. Here are the things that you need to know before you go.
- Is vaping legal in your destination country? There are a few places in which vaping is completely illegal. If this is the case where you’re going, you’ll need to leave your vapes at home.
- If vaping is legal where you’re going, are people allowed to buy vapes with nicotine? Are flavored vapes allowed?
- If you can’t buy vapes with nicotine in your destination country, are you allowed to import your own vapes for personal use? If so, is there a limit on the quantity you’re allowed to import?
- Are you going to a place where vapes are priced fairly, or are there taxes or duties that inflate the prices of vaping products?
In addition to all of the things mentioned above, it’s also important for you to understand where you are and aren’t allowed to vape in your destination country. Many places have very strict public smoking laws, and those laws almost always apply to vaping as well. Wherever your travels may take you, you should always assume that if you’re in a place where you aren’t allowed to smoke, you shouldn’t vape.