According to the TSA, tobacco is allowed in your carry on bags and checked bags, this includes cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco like chewing tobacco, and any other type of tobacco too.

All airlines currently follow TSA guidelines.

However, it is important to note that chewing tobacco is prohibited in some countries, so it would be a bad idea to travel to these countries with any chewing tobacco in your possession, whereas others restrict the amount that you can bring into the country for personal consumption.

Many airlines, though not all, prohibit dipping on a plane too.

Let’s take a closer look at both of these aspects.

Bringing Chewing Tobacco on Domestic Flights

If flying domestically within the USA, you will mostly be fine to bring chewing tobacco on a plane regardless of where you are flying to in either your checked bags or carry on bags.

The only thing to be aware of is that a couple of states, including California and Massachusetts, as well as several localities in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and Rhode Island, have some form of a ban on the sale of flavored smokeless tobacco.

Bringing Chewing Tobacco on International Flights

When flying internationally, it’s important to follow the laws of the country you will be traveling too.

Unlike the USA, there are several countries around the world that have outright banned smokeless tobacco products, including chewing tobacco.

  • Canada: There will be no problem bringing chewing tobacco on a plane when flying into Canada.
  • UK: There are no restrictions on chewing tobacco in the UK, so it is fine to bring it on a plane and into the country.
  • Mexico: This is no ban on chewing tobacco in Mexico, so again, there is no issue in bringing it with you.
  • EU: While the sale of snus is prohibited in the EU except for Sweden, chewing tobacco is not banned or regulated in the EU
  • Australia: While it is illegal to commercially import or sell smokeless tobacco products including chewing tobacco in Australia, you are allowed up to 1.5 kg for personal consumption.

Airline Regulations for Chewing Tobacco on a Plane

The FAA, which stands for the Federal Aviation Administration and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the USA, does not ban passengers from chewing tobacco, but airlines may have their own policies.

This is because while other passengers are not at any risk of being exposed to secondhand smoke, dipping, which involves spitting into a receptacle after chewing, isn’t pleasant for other passengers.

Let’s see which airlines allow passengers to dip on a plane and which ones do not.

  • Alaska Air: Alaska Air does not permit the use of chewing tobacco while flying
  • Allegiant Air: Allegiant forbid the use of all tobacco products on their flights
  • American Airlines: Dipping is forbidden when traveling with American Airlines
  • Delta: Delta prohibits the use of all smokeless tobacco products on board, including chewing tobacco
  • JetBlue: Jetblue’s stance is that chewing tobacco is not considered a safety hazard, so is allowed to be use onboard
  • Southwest Airlines: Southwest is one of the few airlines that allow passengers to consume chewing tobacco onboard
  • United Airlines: All smokeless tobacco products are not permitted to be used on United Airlines flights

As you can see, most airlines prohibit the use of chewing tobacco onboard, with the exceptions being JetBlue and Southwest.

As an alternative, you can bring nicotine pouches like Zyn on a plane, which all airlines should allow you to use.

You Can Bring Cigarettes on a Plane

You can bring cigarettes on a plane in both your carry on bags and checked bags.

In most instances, you will be limited to bringing 200 cigarettes, or one carton, into the USA.

You Can Also Bring Cigars

You can bring cigars on a plane in both your carry on and checked bags.

If you are flying domestically within the USA, there is no limit to how many cigars you can bring on a plane.

If returning to the USA, you are allowed to bring back a maximum of 100 cigars, though are not allowed to bring back any Cuban cigars, regardless of where they were purchased.

Ella Dunham, a Freelance Travel Journalist and Marketing Manager, boasts an impressive career spanning eight years in the travel and tourism sectors.

Honored as one of "30 Under 30" by TTG Media (the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper), a "Tour Operator Travel Guru" and "Legend Award" winner, Ella is also a Fellow of the Institute of Travel, a Member of the Association of Women Travel Executives, has completed over 250 travel modules, and hosts travel-focused segments on national radio shows where she provides insights on travel regulations and destinations.

Ella has visited over 40 countries (with 10 more planned this year).