Traveling to Europe with Your Vapes? Here’s What to Expect
Traveling internationally as a vaper has one thing in common with traveling as a smoker: You definitely want to make sure that you’ll have access to nicotine when you need it.
Almost everything else about being a traveler who vapes, however, is different. You can’t pack vapes in the same way that you would pack cigarettes because airlines have special rules that apply to liquid items and devices with lithium-ion batteries. Another major difference is that the laws around the world that apply to vaping are very different from those that apply to smoking.
Ironically, although vaping is widely considered less harmful than smoking, it’s often treated more restrictively than smoking by the world’s governments – so there are several things that you need to consider if you want to travel to Europe with your vapes.
In this guide, we’ll tell you exactly what you need to expect.
Know the Local Laws Before You Go
Before you get ready to travel, it’s important to ensure that you completely understand the vaping regulations in your destination country. This comes down to three factors.
In the European Union, a law called the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) regulates the vaping industry and determines what products are available to buy.
Not all nations in the European continent are part of the EU. Those that aren’t part of the EU have their own vaping regulations, and you’re responsible for knowing those regulations before you travel.
If the vaping products that you want to use while abroad aren’t available to buy in your destination country, you need to know if you’re allowed to import your own vapes into that country for personal use.
How to Pack Your Vapes for Traveling in Europe
The TSA has specific rules for packing vapes for air travel, and those rules are largely the same among all nations and airlines. Here’s a short summary of what you need to do when packing your vapes for air travel.
Most security officers will allow you to carry one vaping device such as a disposable vape in your pocket. This is at the discretion of the officer.
All other vaping devices need to be in your carry-on bag. Because of the inherent fire risk, devices with lithium-ion batteries are never allowed in checked luggage.
The same rule applies to spare batteries. If you’re traveling with replacement batteries, they should be in your carry-on bag in a protected carrier.
If you want to bring bottled e-liquid or pre-filled vape pods in your carry-on bag, you’ll need to put them in a quart-sized zip-top bag with your other liquids.
You can also pack e-liquids and vape pods in your checked luggage if you like. There are no special requirements in this case, although you should take steps to ensure that the bottles won’t leak.
What to Do at the Airport During a Layover
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, there’s a good chance that your itinerary will involve at least one layover – and while you’re waiting at the airport, you’re probably going to experience nicotine cravings. Here’s what you need to know.
Don’t vape except in a designated smoking area.
Some European nations have much higher smoking rates than the United States. A few of those nations include Greece, France and Italy. You’ll probably have a much easier time finding a smoking area at an airport in a tobacco-friendly nation.
If you can’t find a smoking area, ask an airport attendant for help. In some cases, airports do have airside smoking areas but don’t really advertise them.
If the airport doesn’t have a smoking area, you’ll have to leave the terminal to vape. That will involve going through customs and entering the country. Because of the massive inconvenience involved, it’s a good idea to have an alternative nicotine product – like nicotine gum – that you can use instead.
What to Do on the Plane When You Need Nicotine
The easiest thing about traveling to Europe as a vaper is knowing what you can and can’t do on the plane because there is no major airline in the world that allows passengers to vape during flights. Violating this rule may subject you to a heavy fine and could even get you banned from the airline.
If you’re hoping to sneak into the restroom for a stealthy puff, don’t. You definitely won’t be the first person to have tried stealth vaping on a plane, and the flight attendants will know exactly what you’re doing. Airplane bathrooms have smoke detectors that can also be triggered by e-cigarette vapor – and if the smoke detector is triggered, the flight staff will be alerted. So, once again, don’t even try.
As a vaper, you’ll definitely experience nicotine cravings during a long flight. Since you won’t be able to vape on the plane, you should plan ahead by making sure that you have an alternative form of nicotine available. Nicotine patches, gum, lozenges and pouches are all smoke-free, vapor-free and spit-free options that you can use during a flight without getting into trouble.
When to Do After Reaching Your Destination Country
After you’ve reached your destination country, you’ll still have to be mindful of when and how you vape – and this is another reason why it’s so important to understand the local laws before you go. Here are a few general rules that apply everywhere.
Don’t vape where you aren’t allowed to smoke. This usually means no vaping in rental cars, in hotels and in most public spaces. Note that the potential fines for violating public smoking bans in some places can be quite substantial.
Know whether you’re allowed to import your own vapes into the country and whether it’s possible to import enough to last the entire trip.
If you can’t import enough vapes or e-liquid to last through the full trip, learn the location of the vape shop closest to your hotel.
Know what the destination country’s laws are regarding vapes with nicotine. Some non-EU European nations may allow vaping but may not allow e-liquids with nicotine or vapes with flavors other than tobacco. If you can’t buy the products you prefer, you’ll need to plan accordingly before you go.
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