Many of us will be travelling over the holidays to visit family and friends. Working nearly 40 hours a week in a vape shop, I have been asked numerous times about flying with vape gear.
The primary rule to remember is:
DO NOT EVER CHECK BAGGAGE CONTAINING E-CIGARETTES.
According to the TSA:
“Battery-powered E-cigarettes, vaporizers, vape pens, atomizers, and electronic nicotine delivery systems may only be carried in the aircraft cabin (in carry-on baggage or on your person). Check with your airline for additional restrictions. Remove all electronic cigarette and vaping devices from carry-on bags if checked at the gate or planeside.”
It seems counter-intuitive to be required to carry your vapes on board with you, since no one will let you use them on the flight. There are good reasons for this rule, however. The passenger cabin is pressurized while the cargo hold is not. Vape gear in checked baggage is subject to decompression which can cause the gases in the batteries themselves to expand or collapse onto themselves. This may cause a vent or explosion, putting passengers and the airplane itself at risk.
Any loose batteries must be taken with your carry-on items in a non-conductive plastic/silicone battery container. Mods with internal batteries should be turned off or put in safety mode. I also highly recommend to anyone flying with a tank to empty it directly prior to boarding as it will most likely drain all the juice during take-off. I speak from personal experience after my completly full 8ml tank leaked. When packing e-liquids, follow the same rules as for any other liquid.
I have personally known others who have had their bags gone through after checking them. They had all their vape supplies removed and didn’t find out until they had arrived at their destination. No explanation, just gone. Vapers invest quite a bit in their gear and having it confiscated is painful, particularly, when the whole situation could have been avoided with a little education. I personally put my vape (with batteries and tank on it) right into the bowl with phone/wallet on the belt that goes through the scanner.
One final thing to keep in mind involves visiting foreign countries. There are many countries that have banned e-cigarettes. Please check the rules for e-cigarettes at your destination in order to avoid confiscation, or worse, prosecution.
All of us at Premium Vapors wish you safe travels, with your vape gear, during the Holiday Season. Don’t forget to stop by and stock up on coils and juice so you have an ample supply while away.
Tell your neighbors, it’s Premium Vapors!