Vaping is banned on aircraft, and that covers the lavatory as well as the cabin. Break the rule and you risk a fine or an arrest. For someone who vapes all day, that turns a long flight into a real test, and this guide collects what I learned about getting through one.
Some background first. I vape from morning to night. Theme parks, cinemas and short flights to Florida had already forced me to go 2 hours or more without my device, but a flight of about six hours from New York City to Los Angeles for my brother’s wedding was a different matter. Partway through I caught myself reaching for my vape before remembering where I was. When we landed I headed straight for the exit, before even collecting my checked bag, and took a puff just outside the doors. I am still not sure that spot was a permitted one.
A few months on, I was looking at a trip to Greece for my boss’s wedding: roughly a 10-hour flight from New York with no layover. That sent me off to read up on how other travelers handle nicotine cravings before, during and after a long-haul flight. Here is what I found, arranged by stage of the journey.
Before you leave
Look up the rules at your destination
Check whether you can legally use or buy vape products in the country you are visiting. Some countries regulate or ban the sale and use of vaping devices, and the penalties for ignoring those laws run from a warning to a heavy fine or even prison. Being a visitor is no excuse; you are expected to know the rules before your first puff there.
Practice longer gaps
This one takes the most effort, but plenty of people have found it useful ahead of a long flight. In the run-up to the trip, hold off on vaping deliberately and note how long you manage before you want a hit. Stretch that interval a little at a time until the longer gap feels comfortable. You can also get used to taking a single puff where you would normally take several.
Plan your last session before the terminal
I got this wrong on my first shuttle ride to JFK. My plan was a final puff outside the entrance, but the shuttle dropped me inside the airport building, so there was no chance. I knew right then that my next hit was 7 hours away, and I was annoyed with myself.
Learn from that: have your last session before you go into the airport, and have it in a designated smoking or vaping area. It helps you settle, physically and mentally, into the idea that there will be no vaping until you arrive. If you are traveling with others, tell them you are stepping away for a moment so nobody wonders where you went.
At the airport and on board
Once you are on the plane the device stays put, and the bathroom is not a loophole. Many aircraft lavatories are fitted with sensitive smoke and vapor detectors precisely to catch people trying it. If you believe your device is discreet enough to beat them, read about one passenger who vaped on a plane anyway. The rules apply to you too, and your craving does not outrank the safety of the people sitting around you. Be patient and try the following instead.
Find out whether the airport has a smoking area
Plenty of airports provide a place for one more puff before boarding, indoors or outdoors, and signpost it. Others have nothing, in which case you may be sent outside the building altogether. Leaving can mean passing through security a second time, so carry your boarding documents if you step out.
Consider other nicotine products
Some travelers who worry about long flights buy a nicotine product that is not vaped: a patch, or an oral product such as gum, lozenges or a spray. The oral ones also give your mouth something to do. My suggestion is to try any of these before the trip, so you already know how your body reacts to it. Like e-liquid, these products contain nicotine.
Skip the alcohol
A drink can look like a good answer to travel stress. The trouble is that drinking and vaping tend to go together, and hard liquor in particular can set off the urge to vape. It is easier to leave beer and spirits alone until you are somewhere you can vape again.
Give your hands something to do
Pack snacks that take some handling, such as pistachios or oranges. Ordinary gum, mints and hard sweets (Werther’s caramels, for instance) work as well, as does anything else that needs slow chewing or sucking.
Give your mind something to do
Take a book, and make it a long one: an old classic, a Stephen King novel, anything with plenty of pages. Gamers should charge their phone fully or bring a handheld console such as a Nintendo Switch. Knitting, origami or learning sign language would also do. The point is simply to stop counting down to your next puff.
Sleep
If you are someone who can sleep on a plane, this may be the most effective option of all. Bring a comfortable pillow, put some music on and doze. The hours pass without you noticing the craving.
After you land
The plane has stopped, but hold on a little longer before you take the device out.
- The tarmac is off limits. If you leave by the aircraft stairs and walk across the tarmac to the terminal, you are still inside the airport’s restricted area, where vaping is strictly prohibited.
- Do not sprint for the doors. My dash from baggage claim to the front entrance in Los Angeles probably irritated other passengers, and certainly my companions. After several hours without vaping, a few extra minutes make little difference.
- Find a marked area. The space directly outside the terminal doors is not an acceptable place to vape. Look for clear signs showing where it is allowed; these spots usually sit at the far end of the walkways, where vapor is less likely to bother other travelers.
Wrapping up
Airports and airlines do not allow vaping in most places, so the only real answer is to prepare for the gap and make the best of it. If you have questions about flying with vape gear, ask your airline whether it has specific requirements. For packing your equipment properly, see our guide on how to travel with a vape. If you have your own tips for long flights, we would like to hear them in the comments.