Your 2025 Guide to Traveling Abroad with a Vape: Rules, Restrictions, and Tips

Always conduct thorough research before your trip, as this guide is informational and regulations can change rapidly.

In This Blog

• Packing Your Vape: Where to Store Devices and Accessories
• Guidelines for Vape Kits, Pods, and E-Liquids
• Air Travel Rules for Vaping
• Vaping at Airports
• Onboard Vaping Restrictions
• International Vaping Laws

Packing Your Vape: Where to Store Devices and Accessories

When preparing for air travel, you must pack your vape and its components correctly to comply with airline safety rules. Vapes, including batteries and devices, must be carried in your hand luggage, not checked baggage. Stowing them in the hold poses a fire risk if the battery is damaged or the device activates unintentionally. Non-compliant luggage may be removed, causing delays or even preventing you from boarding.

Vape Kit Packing Guidelines

• Rechargeable Vapes: Most airlines, like easyJet, allow one vape device and up to two spare batteries in carry-on luggage. Devices must be powered off, and charging or using them onboard is prohibited. Tanks or pods must be empty, with any e-liquid stored separately in compliance with liquid restrictions. Spare tanks or pods should also be disconnected from the battery.
• Disposable Vapes: As of June 1, 2025, disposable vapes are banned in the UK, making them obsolete for travel. Previously, their sealed nature exempted them from some rules, but this no longer applies.

Vape Pod Packing Guidelines

Prefilled pods must be treated as liquids and stored in your carry-on’s clear plastic bag, adhering to the 100ml liquid limit. Ensure you don’t exceed this limit when packing multiple pods.

Vape Juice Packing Guidelines

E-liquids in carry-on luggage are restricted to 100ml per container, placed in a single clear plastic bag with other toiletries. Some airports, like Gatwick, no longer require plastic bags for liquids, but you must still comply with the 100ml rule. For checked luggage, there’s no volume limit for e-liquids, but secure bottles tightly and wrap them in plastic to prevent leaks. Empty pods or tanks are recommended to avoid issues from cabin pressure changes.

Recommended Vape for Travel

Prefilled pod kits, especially larger-capacity “big puff” models, are ideal for travel. They’re user-friendly, available in various flavors, and often feature a modular design (e.g., 2ml pod + 10ml liquid) that simplifies compliance with airline rules. You can separate components during travel and reassemble them upon arrival for immediate use.

Vaping at Airports

Vaping rules at airports depend on local laws. In countries where vaping is legal, it’s typically treated like smoking, meaning it’s prohibited inside terminals, at gates, and often in car parks or drop-off zones. Use designated smoking/vaping areas outside the terminal to stay compliant.

Onboard the Plane: Vaping Dos and Don’ts

• Storage: Keep e-liquids in a plastic bag and store batteries in your carry-on. Empty tanks or pods to prevent leaks due to cabin pressure.
• No Vaping Allowed: Vaping on planes is strictly prohibited. Aircraft have sensitive vapor detectors, and triggering them can lead to investigations. Penalties vary by country and airline:
  • UK: Fines up to £5,000, possible airline bans, or criminal charges.
  • USA: Fines between $2,000 and $4,000.
• Vaping onboard is not only illegal but also disruptive to passengers and crew. Consider nicotine alternatives like patches, gums, or pouches, which are permitted onboard but must be checked for legality at your destination.

International Vaping Laws in 2025

Vaping regulations differ widely across the globe, ranging from permissive to outright bans with severe penalties. Below is a summary of key restrictions based on available data.