The FAA Wants All Airlines To Ban eCigarettes In Checked Luggage

Just recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told all airlines in the United States that electronic cigarettes need to be banned from being placed in passengers’ checked luggage. 

The FAA’s stern request is the result of a bulletin from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is the area of the United Nations that creates and distributes suggested standards for the international aviation community.  The announcement from the ICAO prompted the FAA to release a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) that described a few instances of fires and overheating caused by ecigs being accidentally activated when the devices were stored in checked luggage. 

Both the FAA and the ICAO feel that if an ecigarette malfunctions in the checked luggage of a passenger while in the cargo hold, the resulting issues may cause the flight to be grounded as it is not in easy reach of the staff. Whereas if the items were stored in carry-ons any issues that occur can easily be addressed and any major issues prevented.

Be The Responsible & Courteous Vaper, DON'T Even Attempt To Vape Midflight

Listed as one of the things that you could do to damage the vaping movement, using your ecig on an airplane is definitely one action as a vaper we hope that you do not do. Even though, at the moment the FAA has not officially banned the use of ecigs during a flight it doesn’t mean that you should still try.

A huge cloud of vapor can easily be mistaken as smoke from any of the other passengers on the flight, which can lead to misunderstandings and dissent between you and everyone else. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and just wait until you are off of the airplane. 

Since the FAA has not set any rules yet regarding ecigs, airlines have done so on their own. For your reference, here is a list of airlines that have prohibited the use of electronic cigarettes on their airplanes.

As of February 2015, these major airlines prohibit the use of electronic cigarette devices midflight:

• Continental
• American
• Japan
• KLM
• Airtran
• Delta
• Southwest
• United
• Northwest
• All Nippon Airways
• US Airways
• British Airways
• Quantas
• Iberia
• Korean Air
• American West Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Air China
• Air Canada
• SAS
• Emirates
• EasyJet
• China Southern
• Alaska / Horizon Air
• Saudi Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Thai Airlines

Remember, you can still bring your ecig devices, some eliquids, batteries and accessories with you on your flight, but just stick to the FAA’s rules when doing so. Do your research and be prepared, heed their rules and regulations and you should not be met with any issues while bringing your devices with you in your carry-on luggage.

Avoid any possible accidental activation issues and keep your devices disassembled, why the need to keep your ecig ready to use if you aren’t going to use it on the flight anyway? You know your device in and out and can probably reassemble it with your eyes closed—so do so when you have already landed and are off of the plane.

Besides, we all know you risk your tank leaking on you while in the air due to air pressure changes. So avoid the need for a cleanup, wasting your favorite eliquid and just keep your tank empty and your eliquids stowed in plastic bags in preparation for possible leakage.

If you don’t already make sure for your next jet-setting adventure that you keep your ecigarettes, batteries, and accessories in your carry-on baggage per the request of the FAA. Travel can already be unpredictable and stressful so make it easier on yourself and everyone else and follow the guidelines and suggestions for your flight in regards to your ecigs.