Can you take e-liquid on a plane?
When travelling by air, it’s important to be aware of banned and restricted items. While you may know that you aren’t allowed to carry prohibited items like firearms, explosives and sharp objects onto a plane, it can be harder to identify items that are subject to restrictions.
In an earlier blog, we covered everything you need to know about travelling on a plane with e-cigarettes but what are the rules when it comes to e-liquids
Let’s take a look.
Can you bring e-liquid on a plane?
Whether you’re taking a family holiday, going on a romantic break with your other half, jetting off on a hen or stag do with your mates or travelling for work, it pays to know what you can and can’t take with you on a flight. If you’re caught with banned items or you haven’t followed the rules when it comes to restricted items, you could end up having whatever you were hoping to take with you taken away. You could also face a hefty fine.
If you’re an e-cigarette user, we’re sure you’ll want your trusty vape and e-liquids to join you on your trip away, and, lucky for you, they can. It is perfectly legal to take e-liquids on a plane. However, there are certain rules to follow when it comes to taking any liquid on a flight so you must be sure you know how much you can take with you and how your liquids need to be packaged.
You should also be aware that vape juices will count towards your overall carry-on liquid allowance so you may want to take this into account if you’re planning to take other liquids, such as water, toothpaste, cream, perfume, deodorant, shower gel or contact lens solution, on board with you.
How much e-liquid can you take on a plane?
As we’ve touched on, when you travel by airplane, you are limited in the amount of liquid you can take in your hand luggage. Each container of liquid that you carry on should contain no more than 100ml. This is the same for e-liquid. Each bottle of vape juice you take on the plane should contain no more than 100ml. If you have more than this amount, it will be confiscated by security.
Containers larger than 100ml will generally not be accepted even if they are only part full so it’s best to stick to 100ml bottles. If you want to take more refills or bigger bottles with you, you can put them in your hold luggage. It’s important to check with the airline you’re travelling with to make sure they have no additional restrictions in place. It’s also a good idea to check the national laws in the country you’re travelling to as not all countries allow vape or nicotine products to be imported.
You should also be aware that countries outside the UK and the EU may have different rules when it comes to travelling with liquids in general and e-liquids specifically. Whether you’re travelling as a transit or transfer passenger, you should find out what’s allowed and what’s not by checking with the airlines and airports you’ll be using.
How to travel with e-liquid?
All of your carry-on liquid, including e-liquids, must fit comfortably in one transparent, resealable, plastic bag that is approximately 20cm x 20cm in size. Each passenger is restricted to one plastic bag only and your total liquid allowance should not exceed more than one litre. As discussed earlier, each container of vape juice (or any other liquid for that matter) must not contain more than 100ml.
It’s important that your clear plastic bag is sealed but you should not knot it or tie it at the top. When going through security, you must present your plastic bag to security staff, separate from your other luggage. It’s important to note that using a vaping device on board a flight is strictly forbidden.
If you’re putting vape juices in your checked baggage, it’s a good idea to invest in a specialist vape bag or case that will allow you to store all your e-liquids safely together. However, it’s important that vape devices, such as e-cigarettes, e-cigars, vape mods or pod systems, are not put in the hold. They should be carried onto the plane in your hand luggage or on your person.
Laws relating to e-cigarettes and e-liquids can change frequently. Airlines are also free to impose their own additional restrictions. With this in mind, you should check with the airlines and airports you’ll be using to ensure that you have the most up to date information possible in advance of your journey. Don’t leave it to the last minute to find out what you’re allowed to do. By checking the rules and regulations ahead of time, you’ll be better prepared for your travels and you’ll be free to focus on enjoying your journey.