Can You Bring Cigarettes On A Plane?

Can you bring your cigarettes on a plane? The rules over the past few years have been strict at best.

The TSA has gone through a complete overhaul since 9/11, and since then security has become much stricter, with some items being prohibited from certain flights.

In the past, you used to be able to smoke on the actual airplane itself throughout the flight which is not allowed anymore. However, what are the restrictions that have been put in place – especially when flying in or out of the US. 

Can You Bring Them Aboard?

Yes, you can absolutely bring cigarettes on board the flight with you. However, there are some restrictions to how many you are able to bring with you.

There are also options on some aircrafts to buy cigarettes on the plane to take off with you if you forgot to bring any. 

Do They Have To Be Unopened?

No, you do not have to have the packs of cigarettes unopened before you board the flight. You are also able to bring them in your carry-on luggage. You can keep them wherever you like, including your pockets or in your handbag as well. 

They allow this because you might be waiting for a few hours before your flight where you are able to go and smoke in some of the smoking areas designated around the airport after security. 

Age Limits 

You need to be careful about who you are giving your cigarettes to because if someone under the age of 18 was to be smoking with your cigarettes, it is illegal to do so.

It is also illegal to purchase cigarettes for someone who is underage. However, in some countries you might be visiting, they could have a different age limit on who can smoke there. Therefore, you need to make sure you’re checking beforehand. 

You need to abide by the airport’s regulations on age limits for cigarettes because this could be a crime if you are found buying them for someone underage. 

How Many Can You Take?

This can be a very difficult question to answer because if you’re flying internationally, it will have different amounts allowed in comparison to flying somewhere else in the US. 

A lot of countries limit the amount that people are able to take on the plane with them. For example, the popular restriction tends to be 200 cigarettes. If you were to try and take more than this, they would be taken off you and thrown away.

Therefore, you need to make sure you’re taking the right amount to save your money from going to waste. 

You also must declare how many you are taking with you and if you are not telling the truth about how many you have, you could be fined heavily which would really put a downer on the day! 

Vaping Restrictions

You are only allowed to have either vapes or e-cigarettes in your carry on luggage the same as cigarettes. You are not allowed to put them in your hold luggage which is checked in first.

The reason for this is because of the batteries they have inside of them which could cause danger in the hold luggage. 

There is always the danger of the batteries catching fire during the flight which would be dangerous for everyone on board. Therefore, it is just easier to avoid this by following the restrictions. 

Lighters 

Lighters are always a popular request for whether you are allowed to bring them on the plane. However, the answer is very similar to the last in the sense that it must be a disposable lighter.

Electronic lighter and torch lighters are definitely not allowed on the flight. If you were to attempt to bring one on, you could get into a lot of trouble. 

There is also a large fire hazard with lighters which is why they are also not allowed to be packed in your checked in/hold luggage. You are able to take empty lighters which do not contain any fuel but you’re not allowed to bring fuel separately whatsoever.

The case and lighters will also have to be checked before they are checked in as well and pre-approved. 

When going on holiday, lighters tend to be very easy to pick up in the duty free or when you get there which is why most people do not tend to risk bringing them.

Will Cigarettes Show Up On Scanners? 

Yes, when both your checked baggage and carry-on luggage goes through the scanners, you will be able to see any compounds like tobacco on the screen.

All different materials or organic compounds all have different colors to show what type of materials they are. 

The airports use Dual energy scanning systems to look at all of these different compounds. This also helps them see if anything is hidden in other items in your luggage.

Therefore, you should not try and hide anything in your luggage to try and sneak extras because they will be able to spot them. 

Frequently Asked Question

Can I Bring My Vape Device On A Plane?

Yes, you are able to bring your vapes on the aircraft and keep them on you. However, you must make sure that you have it turned off for safety reasons just like your mobile phone on airplane mode. 

Conclusion 

Overall, when going on holiday, you need to make sure that you have read all of the terms and conditions for taking cigarettes because you really don’t want to waste your money having them thrown away! 

You also need to make sure you are checking the different restrictions for flying internationally and to Europe because the laws and rules will be different for different areas of the world.

If you are looking to take cigarettes back, you can also buy them at duty free in the set packs of 200 so you will not get confused.