Brief report: Alaska to the UK - no problems with e-cigs

**spider41** · 02-28-2010, 12:33 AM

Any advise please
I am going to the canary Islands on Wed 3rd and I am worried about loosing my vaping stuff at the airport. When I booked with Thomson airways they said that vaping is not permitted on the aircraft which is fair enough, it's only 4 hours from the UK anyway.
What bothers me is that the person who sold me the holiday said that the ecig should be in my hand luggage and gave me a number to ring the airline and check, because I must of gave the impression that I didn't believe she was correct. I rang the airline and the guy went off to ask someone and came back after about 3 mins and said that all the ecigs and juice bottles were not permitted in the cabin and I should pack it in my case to go in the hold. I looked up on thomson website and found a PDF doc that outlines that spare lithium ion batteries should be kept in hand luggage with me in the cabin. The link is here, thomson.co.uk/editorial/editorial-downloads/Items-That-May-Be-Carried-By-Passengers.pdf You will have to put the ww bit into the link as I cannot post links yet.
I am confused as to what to do. I feel batteries are safer in the cabin where we can see them, rather than stuffed into a case in the hold where it would be too late if anything happened to them. After all, I'm on this plane too.
Thanks in advance

**geeker** · 02-28-2010, 03:39 PM

I have been through security twice in the last 8 days. I had a Prodigy v1 and a v2 along with batteries and chargers. Both times, my bags were examined by the TSA personnel. I did make it through both times. I also had a couple of 510s and they did not even look at those. I figure the Prodigy bodies look pretty suspicious to them on the xray, as expected. I just don't like the hassle. Next time I will probably check the big ones, and take the little ones with me.

I vaped in all of the airports and even a couple of planes, right at my seat. I just didn't do it in an obvious way.

**Lilibet** · 03-06-2010, 05:13 AM

I recently flew to New York to visit family for a few days. In my carry-on, I had my RN4072 in a case with extra batteries and atomizers, a disposable PV and my Chuck with extra batteries and atomizers, along with a small bottle of juice. I packed the chargers and extra juice in my suitcase. I had absolutely no problems with anything but on my return home through La Guardia, the TSA agent stopped the conveyor belt when he got to my bag, peered at the screen for a while then called over another agent. I was sure it was the Chuck but then they opened the bag and extracted a package containing 2 1/2 pounds of smoked mozzarella. The second agent took it and examined it and announced that it was cheese. So they returned it to my bag and I was on my way.

**pm2006** · 03-11-2010, 01:34 AM

At Christmas I put a couple of batts and a small juice in my carry on and the rest in my checked bag. I had no issues anywhere. I vaped (stealthfully) on the plane even though the handbook said it wasn't allowed. (I didn't know this at the time). I was on 4 flights.

**PTJD** · 03-13-2010, 05:41 AM

Just got into Barcelona yesterday, no problems at all.
Will post a few pictures on another thread.

**SpaceCadet** · 03-14-2010, 09:52 AM

Now travelling with the TW Tornado. I did wonder whether its chunkier battery may attract attention - but nope. In the past week I've been through security in Glasgow, Amsterdam (twice at gates), Minneapolis (3 times) and Winnipeg (boy are they thorough, rifled right through my bags!) - all was fine. In a queue at MSP, I even dropped a bottle of menthol Misteliquid (transferring stuff from my burst baggie to a nice new one) and a lady picked it up for me and never glanced at it. Ace!

**PTJD** · 03-15-2010, 03:43 PM

Space is right, just got though security at BCN. Never been through so much security.
You first go through the regular search, metal detector etc..
Then through immigration, now in the past they may have had a secondary search for random passengers. Now all passengers boarding for a flight to the states must divide into a male/Female line and they individually go through all your carry-on.
Make you turn on computers, cell phones, camera's, take out your clothes and do a body search.
They looked at my protege and just put it back in my bag, no concerns with my JS and liquids.
Here is a pict of the final search line with my Protege!

**Eric in AK** · 03-16-2010, 06:48 PM

Passed through security screening in Alaska at the airport. TSA wants you to put any liquids in a quart (litre) size ziplock bag that they provide. I put my e-liquid in there, a 5 ml bottle. You put the ziplock bag out where they can see it in one of the bins that goes through the scanner. The TSA person said, "Is that for those smokeless cigarettes?" I said yes, and she said, "I heard of those. That's cool." I had three 510's in my carry-on, along with extra batteries and a charger. Vaped in bathroom on flight. The person seated in my row with me probably thought I had a bladder problem the way I kept getting up to hit the toilet. When she fell asleep I vaped in my seat. Enjoyable flight.

Chicago to London: No one asked anything about the e-liquid at security. I talked to a Chicago cop who was the chief of security at Terminal 5 (I think that's the number). Showed him my 510 and liquid. He said "I couldn't give a crap if you smoked a real cigarette in the terminal." Chicago is another world. I vaped like mad in an empty boarding area and also re-charged all batteries. Wonderful flight, vaped all the way to London, mostly in my seat as the flight was at night and uncrowded.

London to Chicago return trip: Ridiculously lengthy security screenings. Went through one at the entry and one at the gate. No one even blinked at the e-cig paraphernalia. Vaped like a steam room both in my seat and in the toilet on the flight.

Chicago to Alaska: Again, no problem with TSA. Enjoyable flight with multiple vape opportunities.

Bottom line: I've yet to see a security checkpoint that could care less about your e-cigs. Vape on, and enjoy your travels.

(But carry a backup setup in your checked luggage just in case.)