The question of can you take a vape on a plane depends on a number of factors. Here's a handy guide to knowing the ins and outs of vaping and flying.
E-cigarettes and all the other kinds of vape gear now available contain various components. These include a rechargeable battery, a tank containing e-liquid, and an atomizer chamber where the heating takes place and the vapor is generated. Newer models may also have an LCD display, as well as a number of other features. So, with all of these parts and the many restrictions on what you can take with you when flying, many people wonder: can you take a vape on a plane? How things have changed. Some people may remember when cigarette smoking was allowed on planes, while in flight. It's only a couple of decades since lighting up while flying was the norm, and seats had little ashtrays built into them — a prospect that today seems totally bizarre. One flight attendant back then said: “Suitcases, uniforms, hair — all stunk from cigarette smoke. And it’s astounding that we didn’t have more cabin fires. ”She recalled, with horror: “Passengers would have their elbows on the armrest and then plop their hand out into the aisle with a lighted cigarette in it. So we would have to try to dodge it. In a wool dress, it was less of an issue because you could brush off the ash, but when [my airline] went to polyester hot pants you’d often get a cigarette burn hole on your pantyhose, and you were lucky not to get a more severe burn on your leg.”
Clearing the Air
Thankfully, those smoke-filled flying days are long gone, and we're all breathing in clean air while up in the air. It wasn't just about smells of stale tobacco stuck to clothes and the risk of fires breaking out either. Apart from the hazards in-flight smokers were causing to their own health, those around them were also exposed to highly toxic substances given off by burning tobacco. By now, most people know that second-hand smoke is as potentially deadly as that being inhaled by the smoker. In the United States, more than 41,000 people die in each year from diseases caused by inhaling second-hand smoke, contributing to the overall annual death toll from tobacco-related deaths of over 480,000. That's almost half a million lives needlessly stubbed out, when there's a real — and far safer — alternative to smoking. It's for that reason that more people than ever are giving up deadly cigarettes and switching to vaping instead. They get the nicotine they want, but none of the many thousands of harmful chemicals that are found in burning tobacco — at least 70 of which are known to be carcinogenic. It's not surprising, then, that those who have upcoming flights wonder if they can take their VUSE pods with them.
So, Can You Take a Vape on a Plane?
The good news is that, in the US at least, you can bring your vapes onto the plane, but you may not pack them in your check-in luggage. Instead, you have to bring your vapes with you on board the aircraft, either in your carry-on bag or in a pocket. This way, if there are any issues with the battery or anything else, you're able to directly deal with it. You cannot recharge or use your vape gear while the flight is underway, however. The Federal Aviation Administration adds this warning: "Lithium batteries must be handled with extreme care. Lithium batteries must be compatible with the device. Installed batteries must not be more powerful than what the device is designed for. Homemade ‘modified’ battery packs — whether installed in a device or carried as a spare — are forbidden on aircraft. Spare (uninstalled) lithium batteries must be placed in carry-on baggage. "In addition to this, each airline may have its own rules about whether you can take a vape on a plane. American Airlines, for example, says: "Not in checked luggage. Permitted in carry on. Not permitted to use on the plane" while Alaska Airlines' rule is: "Electronic smoking devices must be set in safety mode to prevent accidental ignition. Carry on only." Check with your airline before you fly — and happy vaping once you get to your destination!
The Electric Tobacconist stocks e-liquid of varying nicotine levels, including nicotine-free, as well as all your favorite e-cigs from the likes of VUSE, VUSE Pods, JUUL, blu, Vaporesso and Zyn. Spend over $150 with us on any eligible order and get FREE shipping. Please note, Heated Tobacco, Zyn, Hula and the Pixl Vape are currently only available for sale from our UK store and cannot be shipped to the US.
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