So you want to bring your vaping gear on an airplane but you’re worried that the TSA is going to taze you or confiscate your brand new SnowWolf mech mod and e-juice for flying with your vape.
Fortunately the current anti-vaping hysteria hasn’t yet reached the point where we’re all going to have to smuggle our vapes in our anal cavities just to get on a plane.
All you have to do is follow these basic rules and safety precautions and you’ll be good to go (these apply for US travelers only, I have no idea how things work in other countries).
You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) or less per item.
Placing these items in the small bag and separating from your carry-on baggage facilitates the screening process. Pack items that are in containers larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 millilitres in checked baggage. Check out this great Vape travel case.
The vape itself can be stored in your carry-on luggage but NOT your checked luggage. If you have to check your bag at the gate (because of all those assholes in zone 1 using those massive roller bags as their carry-ons) then you have to remove the e-cigarette from your bag beforehand.
These devices are prohibited in checked baggage by international regulations and the FAA prohibits carriage in checked baggage. These devices can only be carried in the aircraft cabin (in carry-on baggage or on your person).
Please also check your airline’s policy as they may place additional restrictions on these devices.
When a carry-on bag is checked at the gate or planeside, all electronic cigarette and vaping devices, along with any spare lithium batteries, must be removed from the bag and should be taken with you in the aircraft cabin.
Your lithium batteries are also prohibited from checked luggage, but you can bring them in your carry-on.
It’s also a really good idea to get a battery case to make sure that they don’t touch each other or any other metal objects and start a fire. From the TSA:
You may travel with dry batteries (AA, AAA, C, and D) in your carry-on or checked baggage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibits loose lithium batteries from being transported in checked baggage.
If you’re thinking about stealth vaping on a plane: don’t do it. It’s been banned by the Department of Transportation and even if it wasn’t it would make you look like a massive dickhead.
You can’t charge your e-cig on a plane either, which has also been banned by the DOT for being a fire hazard.
It’s also a really good idea to empty your tank before you get on the plane. The pressure changes in the cabin will cause your tank to leak all over the place and will be a massive pain in the ass to clean up.
It might also be a good idea to put it in a ziplock bag so any remaining juice doesn’t leak out.
Good luck and feel free to share any experiences you have in the comments below.