A Guide to Airport Smoking Areas
The indoor smoking ban was established to protect individuals against the negative health effects of passive smoking or second-hand smoke (SHS). Phased throughout the UK in 2006 and 2007, the indoor smoking ban outlawed tobacco smoking in most enclosed public spaces – including restaurants, pubs, bars, nightclubs, cinemas, and airports.
An airport smoking lounge is a designated space where adult smokers and users of smoke-free alternatives may smoke or use their devices. The rules for smoking at the airport and in lounges vary by airport, as every airport is different. Whether you are booking a flight to go on holiday, a work trip or something else entirely, it is useful to know the rules within each airport.
As a rule, UK airports confine smoking, vaping and use of heated tobacco devices to designated smoking areas. They do not distinguish between smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes or potenially less harmful alternatives, such as vapes and heated tobacco products.
Can You Smoke After Going Through Airport Security?
It is useful to know that the majority of airports in the UK do not permit smoking once passengers enter the building or pass beyond security. Below is a list of UK and popular international airports with their current provisions for smoking, vaping and the use of heated tobacco products. Find airports with smoking areas below.
Manchester Airport (MAN)
All three terminals at Manchester Airport have designated smoking areas before security. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have designated outdoor smoking areas past security. Adult smokers, vapers, and heated tobacco users can use these after passing through security. Terminal 3 doesn’t have a designated smoking area past security.1
Luton Airport (LTN)
There are no designated Luton Airport smoking areas after security. Adult smokers, heated tobacco users, and vapers may use a dedicated smoking area outside departures at Luton Airport before entering the terminal.2
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Adult smokers, vapers and heated tobacco users should use the designated Heathrow smoking areas outside the terminal buildings. There are no designated smoking areas after security. You can’t smoke inside any of Heathrow’s terminals.3
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You should find signposted designated areas outside both of Gatwick Airport’s terminal buildings. Smoking, vaping, and the use of heated tobacco products are prohibited beyond security.4
Bristol Airport (BRS)
You should find a smoking area before security, near the ‘Arrivals’ exit. After passing through security, adult smokers, vapers, or heated tobacco users will find two areas available. You should find a terrace attached to the bar on the mezzanine floor - this is a smoking area. Or, head to the first floor. Another smoking area is available here.5
Stansted Airport (STN)
You will only find smoking areas at Stansted Airport before security. These are outside areas where adult smokers, vapers, and heated tobacco users can use their devices.6
Birmingham Airport (BHX)
Adult users can find Birmingham Airport’s smoking area beyond the security checkpoints. Once you are through security, follow signage to a designated area at the Meriden Bar in the Departures Lounge.7
East Midlands Airport (EMA)
Adult smokers, vapers and heated tobacco users may use designated areas before and after security. After passing through security, you will find the designated smoking area near Castle Rock.8
Liverpool Airport (LPL)
It is possible to smoke, vape or use heated tobacco products beyond the security checkpoints at Liverpool Airport. The airport has a dedicated airside smoking area on the lower level of Departures, just past the Kissing Gate Bar.9
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
Leeds Bradford Airport permits smoking, vaping and use of heated tobacco products in a designated area beyond airport security. It’s located on the ground floor of Departures. You can access this from the first or ground floor.10
Newcastle Airport (NCL)
It is possible for adult users to smoke, vape and use heated tobacco products beyond the security checkpoints at Newcastle Airport. A well-signposted airside area is available in Bar 11, but you must be a patron of the bar to access it.11
Glasgow Airport (GLA)
There are no smoking areas beyond Glasgow Airport’s security checkpoints. For adult smokers, vapers and heated tobacco users, there are dedicated areas outside of the airport before you head into the terminal building.12
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
For adult users wondering, “Does Edinburgh Airport have a smoking area?” The answer is no. Smoking, vaping or use of heated tobacco devices are only permitted in designated areas outside Edinburgh’s terminal building. There are no designated areas available beyond the security checkpoints.13
Dublin Airport (DUB)
There are no designated smoking areas beyond security in Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2. Adult users may smoke, vape or use their device outside the terminal building in one of the designated zones.
However, smoking, vaping or use of heated tobacco products beyond security is possible in Terminal 1. Once through security, adult users are advised to turn right and look for ‘Food Court 2’ signposts. Adult users will find this upstairs. Situated behind the Starbucks coffee shop is the Garden Terrace, where smoking, vaping and use of heated tobacco products are permitted.14
Malaga Airport (AGP)
Unlike some Spanish airports, Malaga Airport does not permit smoking, vaping, or the use of heated tobacco products beyond security. Adult users may use their device in a designated area outside the terminal building.15
Alicante Airport (ALC)
Smoking, vaping or use of heated tobacco products at Alicante Airport is only permitted in designated areas outside the terminals. Any adult users in the airport wanting to smoke or use their device should only do so in these facilities. There are no designated smoking areas inside the terminal, landside or airside.16
Tenerife Airport
Adult users should find smoking areas situated outside the terminals of Tenerife Airport. There is also a terrace in the priority lounge, available to Business Class passengers or people with Lounge Access cards and Priority Passes.17 Adult users may pay €39.45 to access the 24-hour VIP Lounge.18
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Smoking, vaping and using heated tobacco products are strictly prohibited within the public areas of Dubai Airport. For adult smokers or users of smoke-free alternatives, there are several smoking lounges in all three airport terminals - before and after security.19
Faro Airport (FAO)
There are no designated smoking areas in Faro Airport.20
1 https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/at-the-airport/airport-facilities/smoking-airside/
2 https://www.london-luton.co.uk/inside-lla/a-note-for-the-smokers
3 https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/terminal-facilities/smoking-areas
4 https://www.gatwickairport.com/faqs/at-the-Airport/
5 https://www.bristol-airport-guide.co.uk/terminals.html
6 https://www.stanstedairport.com/at-the-airport/airport-facilities/smoking-within-the-terminal/
7 https://www.bristol-airport-guide.co.uk/terminals.html
8 https://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/at-the-airport/airport-facilities/smoking-at-east-midlands/
9 https://www.liverpoolairport.com/news/2014/12/where-can-i-smoke-at-the-airport
10 https://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/at-the-airport/facilities/smoking
11 https://www.newcastleairport.com/preparing-for-travel/at-the-airport/airport-facilities/
12 https://www.glasgowairport.com/at-the-airport/airport-services/
13 https://www.airport-edinburgh.com/services.php
14 https://www.dublinairport.com/at-the-airport/help-and-support/airport-faq
15 https://www.aeropuertodemalaga-costadelsol.com/eng/complementary-services.htm
16 https://www.alcairport.com/airport-information/smoking-at-alicante-airport/
17 https://www.tfsairport.com/airport/smoking-at-tenerife-south-airport/
18 https://www.tfsairport.com/vip-lounge-airport-2/
19 https://www.dubaiairports.ae/while-youre-here/services
20 https://www.faro-airport.com/services.php
Where Can I Find an Airport Smoking Lounge?
The location of UK airports with smoking areas or lounges varies from airport to airport. Generally speaking, international airports do not allow indoor smoking, and designated smoking areas can usually be found outside the facilities.
Never light up a cigarette or use a smoke-free alternative in an area where it is not permitted. Airports have strict policies for a reason, so only smoke, vape or use a tobacco heating device in a permitted space.
Can I Vape or Use Heated Tobacco in an Airport Smoking Lounge?
The rules for smoke-free alternatives, such as vapes and heated tobacco, vary between airports. Typically, airports prohibit the use of vapes and other smoke-free alternatives as they do with cigarettes. That is unless the airport has a smoking lounge. You may be able to vape or use heated tobacco in an airport smoking lounge, but check the rules beforehand.
Our IQOS lounges - found in some airports worldwide - have been designed with IQOS users in mind. They offer comfort for adult users looking for a place to use their IQOS products.
Are you travelling by plane? It is also important to know that most international airlines ban vaping - you cannot vape on a plane. The same is true for heated tobacco.
Smoke-free products are not risk-free and typically provide nicotine, which is addictive. Smoke-free products are not alternatives to quitting and are not designed as cessation aids. The best decision any adult smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine consumption entirely.
Read more about travelling with vapes from our ultimate vaping travel guide.
Read more about travelling with heated tobacco with our travel guide
This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.
