Vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking, and it’s also more convenient in many ways – but since vapes are electronic devices, an issue arises if you want to take them on a plane.

There’s no problem taking a vape on a plane as long as you follow the correct procedures, and to help you understand what you need to do, in this post, we answer the question, what happens if you put a vape in checked luggage?

Can you put a vape in a checked Bag?

Although the rules might vary slightly depending on the airport you are traveling from and the airline, the general guidelines for traveling with a vape are more or less the same wherever you go.

In short, airlines don’t allow you to pack vapes in your checked luggage, which means you have to take them with you as hand luggage or leave them behind.

There are good reasons for this, and airlines tend to take this very seriously – so if you are a vaper and want to take your vape with you when you fly, make sure you double-check that you have your vape with you in the cabin and haven’t left it in your checked luggage by mistake.

Why don’t airlines allow you to put vapes in your checked luggage?

The main reason airlines don’t allow you to pack your vaping equipment in your checked luggage is very simple.

Vapes are usually powered by lithium batteries, and although they are considered very safe, there is still a slight risk that they can heat up unexpectedly, perhaps due to a malfunction, which could lead to a fire or even result in an explosion.

In normal circumstances, this would be dangerous enough, but in a plane that’s flying at around 36,000 feet up in the air, it could be catastrophic.

If you have your vape in the cabin with you and a problem occurs, you can do something about it – but if it’s locked away in the hold, a fire or an explosion could result in a major disaster.

This is why airlines don’t mess around with this, so if you don’t want to experience any problems, make sure you pack your vape gear properly.

What will happen if you put a vape in your checked luggage?

So what would happen if you accidentally (or deliberately) left your vape in your checked luggage?

If this happened, the chances are very high that your vape would be detected by security, and your luggage wouldn’t be allowed onto the plane. However, the procedure may vary, depending on the airport and the country you are flying from.

In some cases, if your bag is not locked, the authorities may simply open the bag, remove the offending item and send the bag on its way minus your vape.

In this case, you won’t ever see your vape again, but nothing more will happen to you.

However, if your bag is locked and the authorities can’t remove your vape, they will remove your bag from the plane.

This may result in the plane being delayed, and it may also result in you being removed from the plane.

On the other hand, if you travel and are not informed of what’s happened before take-off, you risk arriving in your destination only to find that your luggage is still in the airport you departed from.

That’s not all, though.

In some cases, trying to send undeclared lithium batteries packed in checked baggage will be considered an offence, and as well as the above actions, you will also be hit with a potentially steep fine.

So again, it’s really not worth trying to pack your vape into your checked luggage – so you should be absolutely certain that you haven’t put it in there by mistake.

What’s the best way to travel with a vape?

Hopefully, you’re convinced that packing a vape in your checked bags is a bad idea – so what’s the best way to travel with a vape?

Airlines permit travelers to take their vape devices onboard in their hand luggage, but you should still take all precautions to ensure nothing untoward happens.

This means making sure you take your vape apart before boarding the aircraft to obviate any risk of the vape switching on accidentally during the flight or the battery overheating, catching fire or exploding.

Remove the battery from the rest of the vape to make sure there is no possibility of it being switched on during the flight. If you have a carry case for your vape, use that. Otherwise, pack all the pieces carefully, and ideally, wrap them up separately.

At the very least, you should ensure the various parts of the vape are disassembled before travel.

On the other hand, if you are traveling with a disposable vape that can’t be taken apart, make sure it is switched off before boarding and put it somewhere safe to minimize the possibility of it being switched on unintentionally.

Consider buying disposables at your destination

One simple alternative to carrying your whole vape kit with you when you take a plane is just to buy a disposable vape when you arrive at your destination.

Disposables nowadays are cheaper, better quality, more convenient and more reliable than ever before.

They are now available just about everywhere, and some of the best brands produce disposables that can match the quality of vaping experience you would expect from a far more expensive device, making them a viable option for when you travel.

For example, you could choose the Katana BP 10000 from Spiritbar, a top-end disposable with a sleek design inspired by the iconic Japanese katana sword.

It provides users with up to 10,000 puffs before it needs to be replaced and incorporates a full LED display that gives you a readout giving you information like how much juice is left, making it a sophisticated solution to vaping while away from home.

FAQs

Are the rules the same for all airlines, airports and countries?

No – it’s highly advisable to check the precise details with your airline before you fly to avoid any surprises.

Can you carry vape juice onto a plane?

You are permitted to carry vape juice onto a plane in your carry-on luggage. However, just like any other liquids, you are limited to carrying a maximum of 100ml.

To smooth your passage through the security checks, you should carry it in a clear plastic bag along with your other liquids so you can show it to airport security.

You should also make sure that it’s securely sealed so it doesn’t risk coming undone and spilling out during the security check or while you’re on the flight.

Can you vape on a plane?

No, you can’t. No airlines will allow vaping on their planes, and if you get caught, you will face a hefty fine.

If the aircrew smells vaping, the plane may be required to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport, and that’s not something you want to be responsible for.

Bathrooms in planes are all fitted with smoke and vape detectors, so if you try to lock yourself away for a vape, you will get caught – so don’t even think about trying it, however long the flight and however much you think you need a vape.

Can you recharge a vape on a plane?

Most airlines consider it too much of a risk to allow you to charge your vape on a plane due to the danger of fire or explosion – which is understandable given the catastrophic results a fire or explosion in a plane could cause.

If you want to to vape as soon as you arrive, make sure your vape is charged before boarding. Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait until you can find somewhere to charge it before you can use it to vape.

Alternatively, if your vape is dead, you can simply buy a disposable to last you until you manage to recharge your vape.

What will happen if you try to vape on a plane?

If you try to vape on a plane, you have almost zero chance of getting away with it due to the sensitive detectors installed on planes.

If you get caught, you will receive a heavy fine, and you may also cause the plane to make an unscheduled emergency landing, which will drop you in even more trouble. So don’t try it.

Will airport security confiscate vapes from underage vapers?

No, it is not the job of airport security to police who should and shouldn’t be vaping – they are just interested in ensuring the safety of the passengers on all the flights departing from their airport.

This means as long as you follow the correct procedures by taking your vape with you in your carry-on luggage and ensuring you are transporting it safely, the airport security staff usually won’t pay any attention to your age.

Take your vape apart and take it on with you

As we’ve seen, taking a vape on a plane is simple – you just need to make sure you pack it in your carry-on luggage. However, make sure you don’t accidentally put it in your checked luggage since this could end up delaying the flight and landing you in a spot of trouble.

Alternatively, leave your vape behind and just buy a disposable when you get there. After all, your favorite vape will still be waiting for you when you get back, and using a disposable for a short time can save you a whole lot of hassle.

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