How To

Can You Bring a Cart on a Plane? What the TSA Actually Says

3 min read
DaVinci MIQRO-C compact vaporizer — TSA cart travel rules

The TSA rule for carts is about the battery, not the cartridge. A properly packed 510 battery travels through airport security like any other small electronic. The part that deserves real thought is not the TSA rule but the law that applies to what is in the cartridge.

DaVinci MIQRO-C compact vaporizer for travel
Compact, carry-on friendly hardware travels like any other small electronic.

What the TSA rule says

TSA allows vaping devices in carry-on bags only, and requires travelers to prevent the heating element from switching on accidentally. The rule exists because of the lithium battery: a battery fire in the cargo hold is out of the crew's reach, while one in the cabin is not. The contents of a cartridge are not part of that rule.

The rules that apply to carts

Carry-on only. Your 510 battery and any cartridges go in your carry-on. A battery found in a checked bag is removed.

Liquids rule. A cartridge holds oil, which TSA treats as a liquid. Carts go in your quart-size liquids bag under the 3-1-1 rule: containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less in one clear bag. A standard 0.5 g or 1 g cart is well under that.

No use in flight. Using a vaping device on board is prohibited under federal rules, and aircraft lavatory detectors react to vapor. Wait until you land.

What happens at the X-ray

Screeners look for aviation safety threats. A powered-off 510 battery and a cart in your liquids bag scan as a small battery and a small container of liquid. Bags usually get a second look because of loose batteries with exposed terminals or because the scanner cannot read an overstuffed bag.

The cannabis question

TSA is not a drug enforcement agency, but if an officer comes across something that appears to break state or federal law, they refer it to local law enforcement. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law, and airports and airspace fall under federal rules even in states where cannabis is legal. Flying between two legal states does not change that.

DaVinci makes vaporizer hardware, including the ARTIQ, and does not sell cartridges. What you carry and use is your responsibility under the laws of the places you leave and land. Check them before you fly.

Packing a 510 battery for a flight

  • Detach the cartridge from the battery
  • Put cartridges in your quart-size liquids bag
  • Keep the battery powered off, in your carry-on
  • Carry spare batteries in a case so the terminals are covered
  • Clean the battery before you pack it

International flights

The carry-on battery rule is consistent around the world. Cannabis law is not: many countries treat any amount as a serious offense, entirely apart from airport screening. Read our guide to flying internationally with a dab pen before any trip abroad.

The short version

Carry-on only, battery off, carts in your liquids bag, no use on board. For the full rules on flying with a dry herb vaporizer or an e-rig, read can you bring a vape on a plane.

Shopping for a 510 battery? The DaVinci ARTIQ fits standard 510 carts and delivers vapor 90% cooler on average. See all 510 thread batteries.

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