Getting through TSA with Vape Gear?

[ATylerRose]

I'm taking my first flight as an ex-smoker and committed vaper. I've been cigarette free since 5-3-2013 but have never passed through TSA with vape gear. I'd appreciate any tips and tricks from anyone that's flown recently and knows the current restrictions. I'm curious about what batteries and tanks have worked well for you as I have an assortment to choose from. Any advise would be helpful. It's a short flight so I'm not concerned with vaping on the plane just a hassle free trip through security and my things arriving safely.

 

[Catdumpling]

Grimm Green, Pbusardo and a few other people have talked about it. Overall it's not an issue, and it seems like most TSA agents know what ecigs are (even mods and that sort of thing.) Put your juices in your carry on "liquids" baggie, and you can bring VV/VW in your carry-on too (just put it through the X-ray like any other electronic device.) I don't remember what they recommended for mechs and loose batteries though, so you might want to check out some of their videos (just search their YT channels for "flying with vaping gear" or phrases like that.)

DON'T put liquids in your checked baggage! The baggage compartments usually aren't pressurized and no matter how tight the caps are screwed on, you'll have juice leak everywhere! This can still happen in the passenger cabin too because of the way they pressurize it, so probably best not to have a full tank in your pocket either.

 

[Aesop]

If you are using mods with a lithium battery, bring extra mods and use them as a battery holder. The TSA and USPS are on the warpath at the moment against flying with lithium batteries. It's okay if they are in a device, but you will be hassled if they are loose even in a battery box.

Keep your juice in a baggy like all other liquids.

I've flown several times with my vape gear and even the outlandish mods don't really get a second look anymore. Last time I flew, had 5 mods, 2 drippers, and a tank (Squape) on me (in carry on bag). Had no problems and not a single question.

Hope that helps.

 

[ATylerRose]

Thanks so much for the speedy replies. I think I'll take my MVP and a Itaste vv 3.0 since they use the same charger. That will skip any lithium battery issues. I'll bundle them together with my cell phone, battery pack and chargers in my purse separating my tanks in a separate case to contain any leakage. Thanks once again.

 

[rez667]

Tsa destroyed 2 of my mods and ohm reader, but I checked them. Carry everything you can on with you . I brought 2 mechs and a vv on the plane, they didn't care. And you CANNOT check your spare batteries. You MUST carry them with you.

Good luck, and safe travels

Rez


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ATylerRose]

I'm so sorry to hear about your destroyed things. Thanks for the heads up though. I'm only going for a 3 day mini getaway and am hoping to have a pleasant hassle free TSA experience. I'm not checking anything just taking a big purse and a carry on so once there I'll be at their mercy.

 

[Singaw]

What works for me. Juice bottles I don't need with me go into a 1liter hard Nalgene bottle and closed tightly before being put in my checked bag. If I have any full tanks they get ziplocked and stuffed into the Nalgene as well. Never, ever leaks. I pack away all mods except what I may need in transit. I only carry a 650 ego style and mini dripper on the plane with a hard Nalgene 10 ml dropper bottle. Tanks and soft bottles will make a mess when the cabin pressurizes. As others have already stated you need to carry on all battery's with you. I use a very heavy duty battery case that looks way overkill for a few battery's. If the batteries are loose in a ziplock or your case looks like you bought it at a dollar store you will have problems. Good luck and enjoy your flight.

 

[Aesop]

Tsa destroyed 2 of my mods and ohm reader, but I checked them. Carry everything you can on with you . I brought 2 mechs and a vv on the plane, they didn't care. And you CANNOT check your spare batteries. You MUST carry them with you.

Shame to hear that rez :S

One of the reasons I bring the mods in carry on is that you have a chance at answering any questions TSA may have. I used to get questioned when traveling, but hasn't really happened in the last 3 years.

Early on, I was asked to demonstrate it and I thought to myself, "if you are worried it is a bomb, why would you have me demonstrate it here?"

 

[Singaw]

Early on, I was asked to demonstrate it and I thought to myself, "if you are worried it is a bomb, why would you have me demonstrate it here?"

Probably not a good question to ask them but I would like to know the answer. I am heavily tattooed, pierced and overall pretty nasty looking so I never get hassled at all. They are usually too busy ripping apart an old ladies wheelchair or checking some babies diaper to worry about me.

 

[ATylerRose]

Oh that's funny and sounds just like something an inexperienced TSA employee would ask. Hopefully my blue flowered MVP or pink zebra covered Itaste won't look to threatening to anyone. It'll be my luck I'll get a lady wanting to confiscate them for herself since there so cute.

 

[coalyard]

Leave the Innokin cool fire 2 at home...

 

[rez667]

Shame to hear that rez :S

One of the reasons I bring the mods in carry on is that you have a chance at answering any questions TSA may have. I used to get questioned when traveling, but hasn't really happened in the last 3 years.

Early on, I was asked to demonstrate it and I thought to myself, "if you are worried it is a bomb, why would you have me demonstrate it here?"

They scratched the crap out of my no logo copper nemmy clone, and cross threaded my svd's 510 connection.. So.. yeah.. I was none to happy. But i should have just took everything on the plane with me. I do not blame them for searching my bag though, I had spools of kanthal, and some juice in that bag. But I do wish they would respect other peoples property a little.

On a side note, If you buy me a plane ticket, I will show you how to bring your ecigs on the plane

-Rez

 

[cyberwolf]

Always take batteries with you in the cabin. I keep them in the devices or in a fairly heavy duty hard sided case.

I've flown with all manner of devices, including box mods with big red buttons. The funny thing is that the only one I was ever asked about was one that looked exactly like a pen.

My worst experience was forgetting that I had a bottom feed mod in my jacket pocket. It went right through the scanner with no issues, but what a mess when the drop in cabin pressure sucked a whole bottle of juice right out of it!

 

[Rlrick]

I am planning on flying to Florida for two weeks and needing to know how much juice I can carry on with me? I mix my own juice and haven't found any other juice I like. I would not like to run out of juice while there.

 

[Coelli]

I am planning on flying to Florida for two weeks and needing to know how much juice I can carry on with me? I mix my own juice and haven't found any other juice I like. I would not like to run out of juice while there.

As much as will fit in your quart-size toiletries bag, in bottles under 3oz. If you want to carry more you'll have to check it.

 

[aw59195]

didn't know it was a issue lol good to know now.

 

[Bruce Nye]

Flown several times with gear and no problems with TSA. I take the equipment with me in my laptop case (with the laptop, kindle, ipod), and a few bottles of liquid in the baggie. I only have to take the laptop out. For bulk liquid I learned to put those inside a larger screwtop water bottle (Nalgene) as it keeps them from leaking in the checked baggage. DO NOT travel with a full clearomizer/tank/RBA/bottle!!! Leave some empty space for head room. Aircraft cabins are pressurized to 8,000ft and the internal pressure inside your tank will push juice out. If you can, try to position the equipment so the wicks are in the air space on takeoff (tip down for BCC's and cartos, tip up for vivi's, CE4's and juice bottles) that reduces the chance of getting a juicy handful of vapegear at your destination. Another trick is to have a gallon ziplock with some vaper towel and put the equip in that before takeoff.
You can't vape on the plane, but you may be able to at airports. I carry some nicotine gum while travelling to handle the cravings that happen. Something about not being able to vape makes the cravings worse for me.
Above all, relax, enjoy your trip.

 

[Rockthaworld]

I went through a couple months ago and had no problems at all.

 

[Steamix]

Transportation Security Administration

liquids upto 100 ml handcarry.
lithium batteries ( or mods ) must handcarry.

And cargo/baggagge holds ARE pressurized, albeit not to sea level.
So make sure your juices are really tightly sealed...allow for some expansion in the bottles.
Most spills are owed to the fact that baggage doesn't get treated too kindly by the handlers.
So if you wanna keep your clothes safe and dry, you might want to put your liquids into an additional zip-loc bag or something like that.

 

[Aesop]

They scratched the crap out of my no logo copper nemmy clone, and cross threaded my svd's 510 connection.. So.. yeah.. I was none to happy. But i should have just took everything on the plane with me. I do not blame them for searching my bag though, I had spools of kanthal, and some juice in that bag. But I do wish they would respect other peoples property a little.
-Rez

I've lost 5 TSA approved luggage locks over the last 2 years. Apparently it is easier to use cutters than the TSA key at their waist.

Always take batteries with you in the cabin. I keep them in the devices or in a fairly heavy duty hard sided case.

...

My worst experience was forgetting that I had a bottom feed mod in my jacket pocket. It went right through the scanner with no issues, but what a mess when the drop in cabin pressure sucked a whole bottle of juice right out of it!

The recent TSA guidelines require that batteries are either in a device or grounded at both ends and in a container. At a minimum, you can put electrical tape over the terminals and put in a baggie, but a hard case is much better.

My worst recent experience was using my jacket as a pillow and forgetting to engage the lock ring on my mod in the pocket of the jacket.

Was not too worried about the cap, but I woke to the smell of burning cotton and was glad no one else smelled it. Would hate to have been that guy you hear about on the news: "Man mistaken as terrorist has the crap beat out of him by passengers...."