Vapes are lithium-battery devices, so they are treated as dangerous goods on aircraft. The rules are simple once you know them, but getting them wrong means having items removed at security. This guide covers the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and airline rules as at September 2026, plus the destination rules that catch travellers out.

The five rules for flying with a vape

1. Carry-on only. Your vape, and any spare vape batteries, pods with batteries or power banks, must travel in your carry-on bag. Airlines in New Zealand forbid all spare batteries in checked baggage, and the CAA's 2025 campaign specifically lists vapes among the items that must be packed in carry-on.
2. Do not use it on board. Vaping on an aircraft is prohibited under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act, and airlines treat it as a serious breach.
3. Do not charge it on board. Keep the device switched off. Devices with a child-lock or five-click power-off should be locked so they cannot fire in your bag.
4. Protect the terminals of spare batteries. Spare 18650 or 21700 cells must be in their retail packaging, a battery case, a pouch, or have tape over the terminals. Loose cells in a pocket or bag are not accepted.
5. Stay under 100 watt-hours. A vape battery is tiny by this standard: a 650 mAh pod battery is about 2.4 Wh, and an 18650 cell about 11 Wh. Batteries between 100 and 160 Wh need airline approval and anything above 160 Wh is prohibited, but no vape battery comes close.

E-liquid on flights

• Domestic NZ flights: there is no liquid limit at domestic security screening, but keep bottles sealed in a zip-lock bag because cabin pressure changes cause leaking.
• International flights: the standard liquids rule applies. Each container must be 100 ml or less and all containers must fit in one resealable one-litre bag. A 120 ml bottle will be confiscated even if it is half empty. Larger bottles can go in checked baggage.
• Prefilled pods count as liquids for screening purposes; keep them in the same resealable bag.

Before you leave: empty or half-fill the pod

Air pressure drops as the aircraft climbs, which pushes e-liquid out through the airflow holes of a full pod or tank. Either empty the pod before flying or fill it only halfway, and store the device upright in a sealed bag.

Destination rules that matter

• Australia: personal importation of vaping products is banned. Do not pack vapes or nicotine e-liquid for a trip to Australia. Details are on our Australia Vape Regulation page.
• Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Brazil and several other countries prohibit vaping products entirely, with fines or confiscation at the border. Rules change often, so check the destination's customs website before you fly.
• Pacific Islands, the UK, most of Europe, Canada and the USA generally allow personal use, but nicotine strength limits and packaging rules differ from New Zealand's. Products that are legal in NZ may not be legal to sell there, which does not usually affect a traveller's personal supply, but it is worth checking.
• Returning to New Zealand: you may bring vaping products for personal use. Products bought overseas are not necessarily notified with the Vaping Regulatory Authority, which matters if you intend to sell them, but not for personal use. See how to check whether a product is notified in NZ.

Packing checklist

• Vape, spare batteries and power bank in carry-on.
• Device switched off or locked; pod emptied or half-filled.
• Spare cells in a case or with taped terminals.
• E-liquid in 100 ml or smaller bottles for international flights, inside a resealable bag.
• Destination rules checked.

Related reading

• Battery Safety Guide
• Where Can You Vape in New Zealand?

Sources: Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Pack Smart campaign (December 2025); Air New Zealand, Travelling with batteries and Restricted items; Aviation Security Service screening rules.