NEWS
Vapes on a Plane
A Guide to Vaping at
Airports and on Planes
For many of us, air travel can be more
than a little stressful as we take to the
skies for business and pleasure in
record numbers.
There are the queues to check in or drop
off your bag, the security process with
its strict rules and regulations, crowded
terminal buildings and the mad scramble
to get on board.
The stresses and strains of air travel are
enough to cause us vapers to reach out
for our e-cigarettes for a calming hit of
our favourite e-liquid.
Except that in many cases these days
you just can’t do so because airlines
and airports tend to treat vaping exactly
the same as smoking.
Given that airports and aircraft are
essentially private property to which
the public are allowed access, it is up to
those who own or manage such property
to set the rules for public access.
So if you want to vape at the airport then
don’t be surprised if you are directed to
the ‘smoking area’ if you want to enjoy
your e-cigarette. It is no use complaining
that you are no longer a smoker because
it is off to the smoking area with you if
you want to vape.
If you are very lucky the airport you are
using may even have separate smoking
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and vaping areas but expect this to
be the exception rather than the rule.
In the UK the general rule is that there
is no vaping allowed in airport terminal
buildings. Interestingly Heathrow, one
We recommend that if you
would normally expect
to use an e-cigarette
whilst travelling, that you
investigate the use of
nicotine patches or other
methods to help you
during your journey.
of the world’s busiest airports, hit the
headlines in November 2013 when
it created a dedicated vaping area
in Terminal 4.
But alas that is not the case any more
and passengers are not permitted to
use electronic cigarettes in any of the
airport’s terminals.
What if you are transferring between
flights and want a vape (or a smoke
if you have not yet switched to vaping)
while you are on the ground waiting for
your next plane? Well as neither smoking
or vaping is allowed in any of the airport
buildings, the only solution would be to
leave the airport via Passport Control
and then re-enter the airport via the
normal security channels.
This may not be possible for a number
of reasons. Firstly there may not be
enough time between flights to pass
through immigration and then re-enter
through security and get back to the
departure lounge. Would you really risk
missing your flight for a quick vape?
In addition many transit passengers may
not have visas to enter a country through
which they are only transiting or airport
flight connection procedures may prevent
transit passengers from moving from
airside to landslide at all.
Getting your vaping equipment onto the
aircraft is the next hurdle to overcome.
E-liquids are subject to the same rules
as other liquids in your hand luggage so
they will be battling for space in that one
clear plastic bag into which you must put
all your liquids.
There should be no problem packing