The short and easy answer is: Yes, it probably will. Nearly all vaping products include sufficient metal to disrupt the electromagnetic fields created by airport walk-through detectors.
More importantly, you want to know what will happen when you do get caught. Where you are, and whether you prepare properly, are the factors that determine what will happen next. Not how a detector works, which is determined by physics.
The Unavoidable Metal Inside Your Vape
There are many parts inside a vaping product, so it is difficult to say that there is only one part. In combination, the weight of several key components will make your device detectable by security systems.
- Battery: The lithium-ion battery is the largest metal part of a vaping product, which includes a metal casing and internal elements.
- Heating Coil: The heating coil is necessary for the process of vaporizing liquid and is usually made of nichrome, Kanthal or stainless steel wire.
- Internal Structures: All of the wiring, circuit board, and metal connectors or threading add to the total metal mass that a detector can see.
Most manufacturers of vaping products do not alter the basic fact that they contain significant internal metal content. Brands such as JUUL, Vuse, Lost Mary and Raz vape were specifically designed to have internal metal content, therefore they are detectable like all other vaping products. Most small disposable vaping products also contain approximately 9-12 grams of metal. That is about the same amount of weight as two quarters, which most modern detectors are capable of detecting.
The Right Way to Handle Security: A Step-by-Step Guide
The objective is to go through security quickly and efficiently, while minimizing any potential inconvenience. The TSA provides guidelines regarding how to effectively pass through security checkpoints. Additionally, we will provide general security best practices to assist you in going through the security process quickly and efficiently.
What to Do Before You Get in Line:
- Turn Off the Device: Turning off the device will prevent any accidental activations.
- Pressure Preparation: If you have a refillable tank, fill it to no greater than three-quarters capacity because pressure changes within the cabin of a plane could potentially create a leak.
- Packing Liquid Nicotine: When traveling through an airport, follow the TSA's 3-1-1 regulations. Containers containing e-liquids must be 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or smaller and must fit in a single clear plastic bag that is 1-quart in size.
The Golden Rule at the Checkpoint:
When approaching a security checkpoint, treat your vaping device as if it were your phone or wallet. Never attempt to walk through a metal detector with a vaping device in your pocket. Place your vaping device directly into the security screening bin and allow the security screener to inspect it using the x-ray machine. The above actions accomplish two goals. First, it reduces the likelihood that the metal detector will alarm. Second, the screener will have an unobstructed view of a vaping device that he/she sees hundreds of time per year.
If You Are Pulled Aside:
Security personnel are looking for safety threats, not vaping enthusiasts. If questioned, you can simply tell the officer, "That is my vaping device." As a matter of fact, if you possess a hemp-based product in the United States, some sources suggest that you carry a Certificate of Analysis and tell the officer, "This is a federally compliant hemp product." Regardless, the rules of the venue (e.g. a school or a stadium) supersede the legality of your vaping device.
Critical Travel Rules You Must Know
- Carry-On Bags Only: As mentioned previously, lithium-ion batteries contained in vaping products cannot be placed in checked bags due to the potential for fire from burning batteries in cargo holds. Vaping products must be carried in your carry-on bags.
- Do Not Use Vapes Onboard: Using or charging vaping products onboard aircraft is a federal crime punishable by fines ranging up to $10,000.
- Traveling Internationally is a Wildcard: The TSA has jurisdiction over your departure from the U.S. However, many international countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and Brazil have complete bans on vaping products. Severe penalties exist for possessing vaping products in these countries. Always investigate the vaping product laws of the country you plan to visit prior to packing.
In Conclusion
Attempting to "sneak" a vaping product past a metal detector is a futile effort that will result in a delay and the probable confiscation of your vaping product. Transparency and preparation are the keys to passing through security quickly and easily. Understanding the technology, adhering to established security protocols, and being aware of applicable rules will enable you to successfully navigate through the security check process.