Global airport regulations

[pufferfish]

Hi all,
I'm starting this thread in the hope that all you happy vapers who have travelled abroad with your e-cigs and kit will post up your experiences for the benefit of other vapers.
Currently there is no consensus of opinion between countries and confiscation of kit could be a serious issue to the individual, so I'm suggesting giving departure and arrival points of reference with your personal experience attached. For the places where no problem exists it will take the anxiety out of travelling; the places where a problem has occurred will tell us where there's public relations work to be done!
I hope this thread will be helpful for us all
 

[Ciderman]

Recently travelled from Gatwick to Tampa (and return) and didn't have any problems at all. Carried all of my gear in my carry on luggage with the liquid in a clear plastic bag.

[prof beard]

I have travelled to and from the following airports:

Manchester
Birmingham
Schipol
Charles de Gaulle
Frankfurt
Pisa
Genoa
Alicante
Montreal
Newark
JFK
Chicago
Atlanta
Houston
Long Beach
San Francisco
LA
Phoenix
Austin
Philadelphia

and probably some others Ive forgotten

Never had any problems.  I keep everything in carry-on, juices in the "liquids bag".  You must NOT - repeat NOT - put spare lithium batteries in your checked baggage (its best not to put anything containing a lithium battery in checked baggage but "loose" lithium batteries are a big no no in checked baggage)

[petenich]

I recently travelled from Manchester to Shannon. No problem either way, but had all my juices, spare atties, batteries etc in a clear pencil case, which I placed in the tray next to my toiletries.

Main advice is to get used to describing it as an "Electronic Nicotine Inhaler".

Also, I didn't travel with any glass juice bottles, as these have all sorts of "hazard" symbols on them, which can cause "confusion".

Hope this helps, and hopefully we can build up a good collection of airport info/ experiences.

[Phil A.]

This is a great idea for a thread: I'm going on holiday soon and it will be the first time I've flown since I started vaping, so I've been a bit panicky about how to get my stuff safely through the airport (I'd hate to have it all confiscated: I've got a lot of money invested in my vaping gear, and I'm likely to take plenty of it so I don't get caught short whilst I'm away!)
I'll probably be taking the following items:
2 x Screwdrivers
1 x Tornado PCC
2 spare screwdriver batteries
2 spare tornado batteries
10 atomisers
100ml of juice
(I did say I would be taking a lot!)

I've seen the advice about not putting batteries in checked baggage, but presumably I can put my spare atomisers in checked baggage? What about juice: do I have to keep it in handluggage too?

[prof beard]

No, juice is just liquids - just like toiletries - it can go in checked baggage.  If you have it in carry-on it must go in the liquids bag remember.  Devices and atties can go in either - it's batteries you have to be careful about

[Phil A.]

Thanks, Prof!

[jamesvtt]

Such a great post! I'm going to be moving to France in a couple months and I don't want to leave my stuff behind! ! !  I would like to know though, when flying did you keep your PV fully assembled when going through security? and thanks for the tip on calling it an inhaler cause I'm sure I would of made the mistake of caking out my e-cigarette!

[prof beard]

The PV that I'm actually using I leave assembled for security and usually just leave it in my jacket pocket (you have to put that through the scanner anyway.

[jamesvtt]

Thanks! That's what I'll do and hope I don't catch any flak! 

[Ajay]

I just vaped all the way through Paris CDG, Dubai, Mumbai and several nondescript rural Indian airports.
No-one said a word.
When packing, my wife, who's a chemist, took one look at the skull and crossbones on the fluid bottles and said "you have no chance of getting those through anywhere".
To elaborate she is an ex-analogue user who quit cold turkey, hence has no sympathy for my new hobby/"waste of money" 
So they went into checked baggage.
My Tornado/Passthru/Tank was stored in a back-pack pocket that also held pens so did not seem to shout out it's presence as it went through the x-ray machines.
When vaping I was just discreet, short sharp bursts on exhale disperses 99% of the vapor, I did not want to get into pointless discussions with people over what I was using.
In Dubai you have "The Irish Village" pub anyway where smoking is allowed, of course people are dying to ask what you are using, not making eye contact usually discourages them from yapping to you.
Carrying an SD? Now you are asking for unwanted attention......bling bling bling...... 

[prof beard]

I've taken an SD through lots of airports...

[Ajay]

I just couldn't see the point of carrying it when a tornado passthru and tank do such a stupendous job.
I also carry a little proporta charger for my phone and MP3 player, there's a USB port in my car, so charging on the go is no problem.
The SD will do me knocking about the house.
The Tornado is infinitely more discreet than the eccentric looking SD, a great piece of kit but I'm not into complete strangers striking up a conversation with me in a bar because I have something hanging round my neck going bling bling...
JMHO..... 

[skissiks]

I'm stuck here in California till Wednesday, when I flew in I left the SD at home because it draws too much attention. I packed my Tornado PCC in the check in and kept the Tornado mega batt and tank with a small bottle of liquid with me. I put the bottle in a plastic bag and just dropped the Tornado in the tray with my laptop. No problem.  Stealth vaped on the way to Salt Lake, then to California. No problems.  I haven't had anyone bother me in the two years I've been vaping. Right now I'm sitting in a Star Bucks drinking coffee and typing this on my laptop. I have a regular Tornado batt with a drip tip sitting on the table next to me.  I've been doing this at Star Bucks a lot and no one has noticed yet.  I just gently blow the vapor out my nose or blow it down at my feet.
I've found a couple of shops here that carry e-liquid but they are not very good. I been stuck here in Cal. a week longer than I planned and am trying to hang on to my TW e-liquid as long as possible. 

[Phil A.]

Another quick question on this - do you have to remove tanks and clearomisers and put them in your liquids bag or is it best to leave them attached to the device?

[skissiks]

Another quick question on this - do you have to remove tanks and clearomisers and put them in your liquids bag or is it best to leave them attached to the device?

I just got back from California and only had one battery (mega Tornado) and one tank. I put the spare bottles in a bag and just stuck the Tornado with the tank still attached in my backpack. Funny thing is the TSA guys at the airport ran my pack through twice but didn't look inside. I had the Tornado in one of the inside pockets that is used for pens, I had two other pockets with pens in them.  On the trip to California I just dropped the Tornado into the tray my laptop was in and they passed it through. So it might depend on what else you are carrying or how paranoid you are.  On this trip I was a little more open with my vaping than usual and no one said a thing.

[jamesvtt]

Thanks so much for your input! I'll be sure to drop my tornado with my pens

[thesh4rk]

Just got back from my long weekend away. Flew from East Midlands to Malaga, had no problems with my SD MkII and had 5no 10ml juices spare atty and spare battery.

[Squibbles]

Hi All

Thought it only fair to tell you about my recent experience at Gatwick airport at the beginning of May.  I took my Tornado and 2 x 30ml bottles of e-liquid through the central security search and they confiscated both bottles of the e-liquid leaving me with only the Tornado (for 4 days).  I asked them why I had to give up the e-liquid and they said because it is inflammable.  I didn't mention that the e-cig contained the same liquid.  There was no reasoning with the staff and so I had to go back to analogues for my holiday (and then of course, beyond).

I've just received a reply to my letter of complaint and they say they will send me a refund of £39.98 for the 2 bottles that they took off me, but there was no clear explanation as to why they took them in the first place.

I know it's difficult but my advice to anyone travelling from Gatwick would be:

a) don't use this airport!
b) if you want to make sure you arrive at your destination with your e-cigs and liquid then put it all in the hold.

[Phil A.]

Well I'm currently enjoying the glorious sunshine in Lanzarote
I got all my ecig stuff through Manchester without a second glance (I packed the clearos in my case though!) I also put all my juice in the case and just had a 5ml bottle on me that went in the liquids bag.
My screwdriver has attracted a fair bit of interest over here, but when local cigarettes cost less than €10.00 for 200 the financial benefits aren't quite the same as the UK!

[Killjoy]

I asked them why I had to give up the e-liquid and they said because it is inflammable

  

I haven't got any pre-mix bottles to look at, but I don't recall seeing any such warning on them . . . not to mention you'd be hard-pressed to find a way to ignite e-juice, I certainly can't think of one . . .

[8Ball]

Mix it with enough gasoline and it would probably go up.

[Killjoy]

Well, with enough gasoline, everything is inflammable 

[8Ball]

Well, with enough gasoline, everything is inflammable  

    Well, you did say you couldn't think of a way to make it flammable.

[skissiks]

I asked them why I had to give up the e-liquid and they said because it is inflammable

  

I haven't got any pre-mix bottles to look at, but I don't recall seeing any such warning on them . . . not to mention you'd be hard-pressed to find a way to ignite e-juice, I certainly can't think of one . . .

Maybe the skull and crossbones on the bottles scare them.

[Wingsy]

Hi All

Thought it only fair to tell you about my recent experience at Gatwick airport at the beginning of May.  I took my Tornado and 2 x 30ml bottles of e-liquid through the central security search and they confiscated both bottles of the e-liquid leaving me with only the Tornado (for 4 days).  I asked them why I had to give up the e-liquid and they said because it is inflammable.  I didn't mention that the e-cig contained the same liquid.  There was no reasoning with the staff and so I had to go back to analogues for my holiday (and then of course, beyond).

I've just received a reply to my letter of complaint and they say they will send me a refund of £39.98 for the 2 bottles that they took off me, but there was no clear explanation as to why they took them in the first place.

I know it's difficult but my advice to anyone travelling from Gatwick would be:

a) don't use this airport!
b) if you want to make sure you arrive at your destination with your e-cigs and liquid then put it all in the hold.

I just dipped a spoon handle into a bottle of PG and tried to light it with a lighter. It won't burn. If there is a next time why not suggest they try to burn a few drops of it. Not that they would actually try it, but it might help convince.

[petenich]

Quick update.
Just arrived back from Southern Spain.
At Manchester Airport, I had 2 Mega-Tanks, atties and batteries attached, and 2 20ml bottles of Titan Ice Menthol, and TY4, as supplied by TW. Also put in a spare battery.These were put into a clear pencil case, and placed in the x-ray tray, along with the clear toiletries bag.

In my hand luggage, I also had a Tornado pass-thru, and 12v power cable, which I just left in there.

As last time, the bag and clear pencil case went through, without a second glance, or even a slowing down of the machine foe detailed scrutiny.

On the Ryanair flight, the staff were quick to run through the aircraft, as soon as plane was in the air, trying to foist "E-cigs" at £6 a go.

On the way home through Malaga Airport, exactly the same story and no problems.

I feel for the previous poster who travelled through Gatwick - hopefully they can be educated sooner rather than later, to save others the potential misery of having their stuff confiscated.

Good luck to all.

[Soki]

 I know its prohibited to carry liquid in your hand luggage that's why i was rather suprised to see many of you actually pass security without them taking away liquids. I mean i could live with putting all my liquid into the main luggage and just get 2 tanks on the plane, so that when i get out (5 hour wait) i can vape. Im just wondering about the east side of the world, travelling to dubai in a couple of weeks, anyone with any experience?

[Casion]

I've just come back from Amsterdam this weekend and had no problems with Airport security.  I was a lot less secretive this time around, and still had no problems.  I think it is important to clear up something though:

Airport security is in the country you are travelling from, not to.  Therefore the rules for the substances you can take into a country do not apply while going through security to get to your destination, only once you arrive where you need to go through customs.  The liquid is not flammable, and therefore does not count as a risk to the safety of the aircraft, or other passengers.  The only reason they will take the liquid off of you is because it is a poison, but I have been informed that it is not classed in the prohibited poisons section and is therefore ok.  Take that with a grain of salt though.

[prof beard]

I know its prohibited to carry liquid in your hand luggage that's why i was rather suprised to see many of you actually pass security without them taking away liquids. I mean i could live with putting all my liquid into the main luggage and just get 2 tanks on the plane, so that when i get out (5 hour wait) i can vape. Im just wondering about the east side of the world, travelling to dubai in a couple of weeks, anyone with any experience?

All you do with eliquid in hand luggage is put it in the "liquids bag" for security - no problems