Traveling with hookah: taking charcoal, tobacco and accessories on the plane - here's how!

You're probably familiar with the situation: you're going on vacation and want to take a hookah with you. But what do you need to be aware of, what is allowed and where should you be more careful?

To make sure you don't have any problems, here are a few tips, tricks and tips to help you enjoy your hookah while on vacation.

Traveling with your hookah - What do you need to consider?

In general, there is a lot to consider when traveling with a hookah, if you are not careful, you will either arrive with a broken hookah or with a lack of equipment, so read the tips and tricks carefully and pack your suitcase or bag wisely.

Which hookah items are allowed and what is prohibited?

In general, it can be said that most items can be transported on an airplane without any problems. Tobacco, bowls, HMDs, stainless steel hookahs, glasses - all no problem. However, you need to pay attention to how and where you pack these items, but more on this in the next section.

Now we come to the products that you should leave at home, including:

• Gas charcoal burner
• Lace and heavy objects in hand luggage
• Hookah charcoal (special case, see below)
• Large quantities of tobacco

Many of these items are either completely prohibited (e.g. gas cartridges on airplanes) or can lead to discussions at the airport. It should be noted that in some cases punches can also be considered weapons in hand luggage, so do not carry any sharp objects in your hand luggage or pack them in your checked baggage.

Can you transport hookah charcoal on an airplane?

Hookah charcoal is a special case, but here you must also distinguish between self-igniting charcoal and natural charcoal.

Self-igniting charcoal contains, among other things, fire accelerants such as black powder, so you should not pack it in your hand luggage or checked baggage.

Natural charcoal, on the other hand, can usually be transported on airplanes without any problems. However, you should check with the airline beforehand or ask the airport staff directly. It is advisable to pack it in your checked baggage, as it weighs a little more and is easier to stow there.

If you want to play it completely safe, check whether there is a local hookah store before you set off on your vacation. In most cases, you will also find natural charcoal there, especially in the tourist regions, where you can even find well-known brands of charcoal.

Hookah tobacco - What quantities are allowed?

There are strict regulations on this subject, which should be observed in any case, otherwise you may be fined by customs! You can remember the following to take tobacco with you on vacation without any problems or to take tobacco bought on vacation home with you:

Bring tobacco from an EU country:

The maximum amount is 1 kilogram per person. The prerequisite is that you are over 17 years old.

Bring tobacco from a non-EU country:

The maximum permitted quantity from non-EU countries is 250 Gramms per person. The prerequisite is that you are over 17 years old.

However, if you want to take more tobacco with you, this is not a problem. In this case, you should declare the tobacco to customs at the airport of arrival. To do this, simply go through the red exit (goods to be declared) and present your tobacco to the customs staff. It is advisable to bring the proof of purchase of the tobacco with you, as the price of the tobacco will otherwise be estimated by customs.

However, this is only really necessary if you exceed the permitted quantities.

What is a suitable hookah for vacation?

However, it is generally advisable to use so-called travel pipes or travel hookahs on vacation, as they are small and practical. You can stow them in your hand luggage or checked baggage without hesitation and you can even take them to festivals where glass is prohibited, for example.

As you have already learned, it is less practical to take a gas lighter with you, so it is better to pack your electric charcoal burner from home. To save space, you can also use smaller versions. Although this offers significantly less space for charcoal, it is definitely more practical for transportation.

Checked baggage or hand baggage - what goes where?

The question of where best to store the various items is one that concerns many people before they go on vacation.

The best thing to remember here is the following: You can stow all items, including tobacco, charcoal, charcoal burner and the water pipe itself, in your checked baggage. The weight and space in hand luggage is usually not completely sufficient and some products, such as heavy stainless steel smoking columns, can lead to discussions at the airport security checkpoint.

However, it is advisable to carry items such as the hookah glass (if you have to take a hookah with a glass) or the bowls well padded in your hand luggage, as these are either placed directly next to you or in the storage space above the seats. Here too, however, it is best to ask the airport staff whether these products are permitted in your hand luggage by your airline.

How do I protect the hookah in my suitcase?

To protect your hookah or accessories, there are a few simple tips and tricks to ensure that nothing gets broken or scratched.

• Towel: You can easily roll up all kinds of items in your beach towel to protect them. Just make sure that you don't put metal on metal, as this can lead to scratches caused by friction.
• T-shirts: You can also wrap a bowl in your shirts, for example, to protect it carefully. The bowl should only be cleaned beforehand to avoid annoying stains on light-colored shirts.
• A bag for your hookah: You probably already have a toiletry bag for your care items. Get yourself a suitable bag for your hookah equipment and put all your accessories in it so that you always have them handy in one bag (seals, head building accessories, etc.) This bag, for example, is super suitable where there is enough space.
• Hard-shell case: A hard-shell case usually weighs a little more, but your products are definitely better protected than in a normal suitcase or sports bag.

If you have any further questions about hookahs on airplanes, please send our team a message. We can certainly help you further.