Millions of Brits will be travelling abroad over the next few months, with many of them used to having a vape close at hand. While adults can purchase and publicly use vapes in the UK, rules around the use and transportation of e-cigarettes when going on holiday tend to be much more stringent.

With this in mind, vaping experts at Go Smoke Free have answered some of the most commonly asked questions about travelling abroad with e-cigarettes, in order to make the journey go as smoothly as possible this year.

Can I take my vape on a plane?

You can bring re-fillable and disposable e-cigarettes with you when flying from UK airports, but must be packed in your hand luggage or kept on your person when travelling on domestic and international flights and not packed in your hold luggage. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) e-cigarettes fall under the category of electronic items, since they contain lithium batteries which can be a potential fire hazard onboard a flight, hence why they can’t be stored in the hold.

If you plan on packing a vape pen or box kit, the tank should be emptied and detached from the main device if possible and stored in a separate clear plastic bag. Changes in air pressure during the flight can sometimes cause the tank to leak, so this prevents e-liquid from getting on your belongings.

Any spare batteries you have for your e-cigarette will also need to be packed into your hand luggage and will need to be individually wrapped in order to prevent them from short-circuiting. If you plan to travel with one or more disposable vapes, these should also be placed into a clear plastic bag in your hand luggage.

Can I take e-liquid on a plane?

You are allowed to pack e-liquid in your hand luggage, but you must follow the same rules as with any other liquids. This means that any e-liquid refill bottles need to be placed in 20cm x 20cm clear resealable plastic bag and the container must not exceed 100ml. This shouldn’t pose too much of an issue, as e-liquid containing nicotine can only be sold in 10ml bottles in the UK, and shortfill e-liquid bottles tend to be 100ml.

If you intend to bring more a bottle containing more than 100ml of e-liquid on a flight, this will need to be packed into your hold luggage. Again, it is advisable to put these containers in a sealed plastic bag to prevent them leaking during the flight.

Can I vape at the airport?

You are not allowed to vape inside any airport terminals in the UK, although many offer designated outdoor smoking areas in which you can use an e-cigarette. Check on your airport’s website before travelling to familiarise yourself with their vaping rules and where the smoking areas are located. Most airports will not allow smoking or vaping in any area once you have gone through security, so you may be in for a long wait before your next vape.

Can I vape on a plane?

As with smoking, vaping is strictly prohibited at any point during a flight. It is recommended to keep any vapes in your hand luggage for the duration of the flight, to limit the temptation to use it while on board. It's worth noting that even if you don’t plan to use it, recharging your vape or its batteries during the flight is also forbidden, according to the CAA.

If you think you will struggle to go the full flight without vaping, consider using nicotine patches, gum or pouches prior to and following your departure. These can be stored in your hand luggage and should help to tackle cravings should they arise. Try to also avoid consuming alcohol at the airport or during the flight, as this can increase nicotine cravings.

Try to arrive at the airport early and having everything prepared in advance to keep yourself from getting stressed and needing to vape to take the edge off. You should also have plenty of options ready to keep your mind and hands occupied during the flight, such as books, movies, handheld games, drinks and snacks.

Am I allowed to vape in other countries?

Before reaching your destination, it is important to check the country’s rules around the purchase and use of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are treated differently all over the world and many countries have harsh penalties for anyone caught ignoring regulations.

The European Commission has set regulatory standards for e-cigarettes, meaning European countries typically have similar regulations to the UK. However, some governments are stricter about disposable vapes or have their own rules in place, such as France, which has banned vaping in certain places, including on public transport.

Certain countries that have completely banned the sale of e-cigarettes, or vaping paraphernalia, include Argentina, Mexico and Turkey.

Countries where the sale of e-cigarettes is banned

Argentina

Jordan

Sri Lanka

Brazil

Laos

Suriname

Cabo Verde

Malaysia

Syria

Cambodia

Mauritius

Thailand

North Korea

Mexico

Turkey

Ethiopia

Nicaragua

Turkmenistan

Gambia

Norway

Uganda

India

Panama

Uruguay

Iran

Qatar

Vanuatu

Iraq

Singapore

Venezuela

You can use the Tobacco Control Laws tool to check the policies in different countries for smoking and vaping, such as having banned the sale of vaping products. However, you should also look at the import and consumption restrictions in place to see if you can bring your vaping devices there.

Thailand, for example, has some of the strictest e-cigarette rules in the world and has harshly punished anyone found using them. Singapore also has completely banned purchasing, possessing and using vape devices, while Australia requires a doctor’s prescription to use e-cigarettes and issues heavy fines for smoking without one.

The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction has its own online tool for looking up this information before travelling abroad and is regularly updated. Here you can find out which countries have banned vaping, to avoid getting in trouble if you are travelling there.