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Travelling With IQOS: Flights, Trains, Charging and Packing Sticks

By the iqoser team · Updated · 5 min read

ILUMA i ONE in Electric Purple with the cap closed, ready for travel

The ILUMA i ONE is easy to travel with: one piece, one USB-C cable, no cleaning kit. The things that need thought are where it goes in your luggage, where you can and can't use it, and how many TEREA sticks to bring. This guide covers flights, trains and long road journeys, starting with a checklist you can run through the night before.

The night-before checklist

  • Device fully charged (about 90 minutes from empty over USB-C).
  • USB-C cable packed in your hand luggage, not your suitcase.
  • A reputable wall adapter, plus a plug adapter if the sockets at your destination are different.
  • Enough TEREA for the trip, plus a little spare (see below for how to work it out).
  • A hard case or small box for the packs so they don't get crushed.
  • Your airline's rules on devices and power banks checked, if you are flying.

Flying

Keep it in your hand luggage

Battery-powered devices like the ILUMA i ONE generally belong in the cabin with you, not in checked baggage. Airlines set their own rules, so check with your airline before you fly, and do the same for any power bank you carry. Keeping the device with you also means it isn't sitting in a hot cargo hold or getting thrown around on a conveyor.

Never use it on board

Don't use your device on the plane at any point, including in the toilets. Treat it exactly as you would a cigarette. The same goes for the aircraft door, the aerobridge and the bus to the plane.

At the airport

Use it only in designated smoking areas, if the airport has them, and follow the signs. If there's no designated area airside, plan your last session before security.

Trains

Long train journeys are where people get caught out, because hours pass without a break. Don't use the device inside the coach, in the vestibule, in the toilets or on platforms. Wait until you are off the train and away from the station to a place where smoking is allowed.

On an overnight journey that can mean a long gap. Many people find it easier to plan for that in advance than to spend the journey watching the clock.

Cars, buses and cabs

In a bus or a shared cab, don't use it. In a private cab, ask the driver first and accept a no. In your own car, open the windows and think about your passengers; our guide to using IQOS in the car has more on this, including why the device should never be left in a parked car in the heat.

Charging on the move

At about 20 sessions per charge, a weekend away may need only one charge, while a longer trip will need regular top-ups. The USB-C connection makes this simple: the same cable and adapter can charge your phone and your device.

  • Abroad: you need a plug adapter for the socket type, plus a reputable USB adapter. Cheap unbranded chargers are best avoided anywhere.
  • Power banks: use one from a known brand, keep it in your hand luggage, and check your airline's rules for power banks.
  • Hotel rooms: charge on a desk or table, not on the bed under a blanket, and not on a sunny windowsill.

Our charging guide covers good habits in more detail.

Packing TEREA

One stick is roughly one session. To work out how many to bring:

  1. Count how many sticks you usually use in a day.
  2. Multiply by the number of days you'll be away.
  3. Add a day or two's worth as a buffer for delays.
  4. Divide by 20 to get the number of packs, rounding up.

For trip-length tables, see our TEREA travel guide for Goa.

Then pack them so they arrive in good shape:

  • Protect them from crushing. A hard glasses case, a small tin or a box works. This matters most for the capsule blends, Sun Pearl and Oasis Pearl, whose capsules can be clicked by accident if the pack is squashed.
  • Keep them dry. A zip-lock bag helps in monsoon season or near the sea.
  • Keep them cool. Don't leave packs in a parked car or in direct sun.
  • Keep them in the original packs so you can always see which blend is which.

Protecting the device on the road

Close the cap whenever the device is in a bag or pocket, to keep out lint, dust and sand. Keep it away from keys and coins. If you are heading somewhere sandy or very hot, our ILUMA i ONE guide for Goa covers beach-day care.

Being a considerate traveller

You will often be in shared spaces when you travel. Heated tobacco produces an aerosol, not smoke, but it is not nothing for the people around you, and it is not risk-free for you either. Stick to designated areas, keep away from children, and when in doubt, wait.

Questions

Can I take my IQOS ILUMA i ONE on a plane?

Generally it goes in your hand luggage, not checked bags, but airlines set their own rules. Check with your airline before you fly, and never use it on board.

Can I use IQOS on an Indian train?

Don't use it inside the coach, in the vestibule, in the toilets or on platforms. Wait until you are off the train and somewhere smoking is allowed.

How do I charge my device abroad?

Use your USB-C cable with a reputable USB adapter and a plug adapter for the local socket type.

How many TEREA packs should I take on holiday?

Multiply your daily sticks by the number of days, add a day or two as a buffer, and divide by 20, rounding up.

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