Home Travel Disposable Vapes and Airline Regulations: What’s the deal?

Disposable Vapes and Airline Regulations: What’s the deal?

It’s hard to believe that the first successful E-Cigarette hit stores in 2003. While this might seem like a while, vaping is still considered a relatively new pastime. In both the eyes of the public and the law.

The rules around tobacco products in airports have been direct in the UK since the 1990s. However, airport regulations that concern vaping are more blurry (and different for certain countries!)

Stay with us as we tell you what UK airlines say about vaping, what E-Liquid regulations are and how many disposable vapes you can take with you on a trip. Plus, we will give you a comprehensive guide to which countries ban vaping altogether.

What do UK airlines say about vaping?

If you are someone who relies on vaping to curb their craving for nicotine, you’ll likely want to take your favourite one with you when you venture on your holidays. But you have to be aware of UK airline regulations before you do.

So, can you take your vape with you on a plane? The short answer is yes, but it cannot be in your checked luggage. If you want to bring your vape, it must be kept in your clothes pockets or your hand luggage.

For international and domestic flights, the same rules apply. It’s best to keep any vapes with you on your person. Most disposable vapes use lithium batteries to heat your E-Liquid, and lithium is considered a fire risk.

For example, UK airline Ryanair states that you can carry E-Cigarettes on your flight but cannot use them on board the aircraft. A similar rule applies to Jet2 customers: you can store equipment with lithium batteries in the cabin but cannot use them.

Virgin Atlantic recognises vapes as a tobacco product and prohibits them from being used within the cabin. As you can see, the rules are pretty uniform across UK airlines.

You can keep your disposable vapes on your person and hand luggage, but not in your checked baggage. You will have to wait until your aircraft hits the tarmac to get your fix, as using your E-Cigarette inside the plane is banned altogether.

Can I take E-Liquids onboard an aeroplane?

If you are using a vape mod or tank that requires you to refill your E-Liquid, you will need to obey UK laws on liquid allowance. In the UK, you cannot take more than 100ml and should not exceed 100ml per bottle.

Your E-Liquids will need to be packaged and contained within a clear bag, so that airport security can see what you are carrying. Plus, it’s a good idea to check the liquid allowances of the airport you will be returning through in case they have different regulations.

This way, you won’t have to worry about leaving any precious E-Liquids behind.

Where can I vape in UK airports?

You’ve remembered that your vape must always be on you, so where can you vape in UK airports? Surviving through security and check-in can be a stressful experience, so it’s no wonder you’ll need a hit of your disposable vape once you are finished.

Below, we’ve listed the regulations of the seven main airports in the UK, where you can smoke and when. Make sure you keep up to date with these regulations before your trip, as they may change at any time:

Birmingham Airport: ‘’You can only vape in the designated smoking areas. You can find these outside the terminal building but once you have passed check-in you won’t be able to vape until you reach your destination.’’
London Heathrow: ‘’Passengers are not permitted to use electronic cigarettes within the premises. E-cigarettes can only be used in smoking areas outside the terminal. There are no smoking areas after security.’’
Bristol Airport: ‘’You can vape in the designated smoking areas, which can be found by the arrivals exit, through the bar on the mezzanine floor and by Starbucks on the first floor.’’
London Gatwick: ‘’Vaping is only permitted outside the terminal buildings in the designated smoking zones.’’
Exeter Airport: ‘’You cannot smoke or use e-cigarettes in any part of the airport. If you are flying from Exeter airport, you can vape in the smoking area through the bar in the departures lounge.’’
Manchester Airport: ‘’You can vape in the smoking areas available outside all three terminal buildings before check-in and after arrival.’’
London Stansted: ‘’You can vape in the designated smoking areas outside the terminal. There are no smoking areas after you have been through security.’’

What countries have banned disposable vapes?

While disposable vapes are legal in places like the UK and USA, many countries would consider bringing one through an airport a criminal offence. That’s why we have compiled a list of all the places where disposable vapes and E-Cigarettes are illegal.

To avoid legal repercussions, keep your vapes at home when travelling to the following countries: