Travellers are being advised to keep vapes out of checked baggage as airports and airlines prepare for a hectic summer travel season in the US and internationally.
The warning comes as aviation officials continue to highlight the danger posed by lithium batteries, which are found in many everyday electronics and can become a serious fire risk if damaged, faulty or overheated.
According to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), lithium battery fires are one of the most serious safety risks on aircraft. These batteries are commonly used in devices such as vapes, laptops, smart watches and portable power banks.
Air safety guidance in both the UK and US says electronic smoking devices and spare lithium batteries should be carried in the cabin, not packed in hold luggage. If a carry-on bag is checked at the gate or planeside, passengers are typically told to remove vapes, power banks and other spare batteries and keep them with them in the aircraft cabin.
The CAA says batteries carried by passengers in checked baggage present a higher hazard than those in the cabin, because crew can respond more quickly to a fire that starts on board.
Footage included in a recent BBC report showed how quickly such fires can take hold, with flames able to spread within seconds and become very hard to contain.
One recent example came from an Air China flight in October 2025, when a blaze broke out in an overhead storage area and was believed to have been caused by a lithium battery.
Because of that risk, passengers are being told to carry vapes in the cabin rather than placing them in checked bags. The same advice applies to other battery-powered items including phones and power banks.
Experts also say that if laptops are packed in hold luggage, they should be fully switched off.
The CAA has also recently updated its guidance on lithium cells, batteries and power banks, with tighter rules that came into effect in March 2026.
Giancarlo Buono, Director of Aviation Safety at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said:
“Flying is by far the safest way to travel, and we want to keep it that way.
“Pack right for a safe flight, and that means don’t put your batteries in your checked bag. Take them into the cabin with you.
“This simple tip will make your flight safer for you, and the other passengers you’re flying with.”
Airlines are also reminding customers to check the rules before flying. Gareth Salt, Vice President of Health, Safety and Security at Virgin Atlantic, has encouraged passengers to familiarise themselves with the guidance.
Meanwhile, the Head of Security at Heathrow Airport, Tonya Fielding, added:
“Flying is already one of the safest ways to travel, and we are committed to keeping it that way for every passenger.
“We’re pleased to be joining forces with the CAA to raise awareness of the dangers posed by incorrectly packed lithium batteries, with the risks still not fully understood by some travellers.
“As we approach one of the busiest periods of the year, we are working closely with our airline partners to make sure passengers have clear guidance to travel safely and confidence.”
Passengers are also being reminded that vapes must never be used or charged on board, and that batteries should be protected from accidental activation or short-circuiting by keeping them in their original packaging, a protective case or an insulated bag where required.