As a non-smoker, I'm still concerned to ask smokers, are you struggling to find a place to smoke during your travels? Airports are NOT smoker friendly. Most people don't realize this, but if you aren't prepared you can easily find yourself stuck for several hours without a place to smoke.
Navigating Airport Smoking Areas: What Smokers Need to Know
However, with some advance research, you can still find smoking areas at most airports around the world. This guide is here to show you where and when you can smoke when traveling through the world's busiest airports.
Whether you're into Canadian cigarettes or some other type of tobacco product, you'll want to read this before your next trip.
Airport Smoking Areas: The Harsh Reality Today
Airport smoking policies have changed significantly over the past decade. Let's start with the facts:
- Only 46% of the top 50 busiest airports in the world are completely smoke-free.
- In the United States, 32 of the top 35 busiest airports have gone 100% smoke-free indoors.
Don't get too excited yet though. The US has some of the strictest airport smoking policies in the world. Let's look at where you can actually smoke in US airports first.
US Airport Smoking Areas: The Only 3 with Indoor Options
Let’s break down your actual options at major airports in the United States of America…
Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport
Las Vegas is the most smoker-friendly airport in the US. You can smoke at these locations inside the airport:
- Enclosed gaming lounges at B, C, D, and E gates.
- Barney's Lounge at C gates.
- Budweiser Racing Track Lounge (in the pre-security area).
- Designated outdoor areas near ticketing and baggage claim areas.
Miami International Airport
Miami has one limited indoor smoking option:
- The "open air" atrium connected to TGI Friday's restaurant on Concourse D.
Miami skates by with this loophole because the "atrium" area has four walls and a roof with a gap cut out at the roofline. Airport officials have classified the space as "open air" smoking under the rules.
Nashville International Airport
In Nashville, you can smoke inside at one location:
- Travelers Post on Concourse B (drinks and cigars served!).
Outdoor Smoking Areas: Your Best Option at US Airports
Most US airports only allow smoking outside in designated smoking areas. Here's the inside info on outdoor smoking areas at airports:
- Designated outdoor smoking areas are at least 20-25 feet from all terminal entrances.
- Popular US airports with outdoor smoking areas include Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Boston.
- You'll have to exit security, smoke, and re-enter through security again for flights with connecting layovers.
International Airport Smoking Policies
Travelling outside of the US? Airport smoking policies change greatly by region. Asia has the most permissive policies. Most major Asian airports still allow some designated indoor smoking areas, including:
- Singapore Changi Airport
- Tokyo International airports
- Several Chinese airport hubs
Europe is a mixed bag. While many European airports have smoking lounges or designated areas, policies are a bit different country to country.
The interesting part is that there's a lot of evidence that pollution from designated airport smoking areas is extremely high. According to one study, pollution levels adjacent to smoking areas are five times higher than at completely smoke-free airports. Pollution levels INSIDE smoking areas can be 23 times higher than smoke-free airports.
Keep this in mind for your own health as well when visiting foreign airports.
Pre-Security vs Post-Security Smoking Areas
One final distinction with smoking areas is whether they are pre-security or post-security. Most airports now only have outdoor smoking areas located pre-security.
Pre-security outdoor areas:
- Outside terminal entrances
- Parking garage areas
- Ground transportation pickup areas
Post-security smoking areas are becoming very rare. When they do exist, they're usually limited to:
- Enclosed smoking lounges (rare)
- Outdoor terraces or patios
- Designated restaurant/bar areas
The key insight: Most smoking areas are located before security checkpoints. After you smoke, you'll have to go back through security again.
Planning Your Travel Smoking Strategy
If you want to reduce the stress of traveling while still smoking, plan ahead. Here's how to research and map out your airport smoking breaks during travel:
Before You Travel
- Research both your departure and arrival airport's smoking policies online. Most airport websites list their smoking policies along with a map of the designated smoking areas.
- Check out connection airport policies too. If you have a long layover and need to smoke, you can plan your time more efficiently by knowing in advance where you can smoke.
During Travel
- Allow extra time for security screening if you need to use outdoor smoking areas during connecting flights.
- Consider nicotine gum or patches if you're on a long flight and can't make it back through security for a smoke break. Airport gift shops often sell nicotine gum, patches, and other cessation aids.
International Connections
International airports can have wildly different smoking regulations. Countries differ greatly on whether they ban e-cigarettes, and some have stronger tobacco regulation than others. Research the laws for your destination country before you travel with any smoking products.
Health and Safety Considerations
Airport smoking areas aren't just about traveler convenience – it's also a health and safety consideration. Airports consider several factors:
- Secondhand smoke exposure to non-smoking passengers and airport employees.
- Air quality studies have shown significant air contamination even in adjacent areas to airport smoking rooms.
- Modern airport ventilation systems are designed for smoke-free environments. Adding smoking areas throws a wrench in the ventilation system, requiring specialized HVAC systems to manage the air quality.
The bottom line is that adding smoking rooms at airports is not a trivial consideration from the airport's perspective.
The Future of Airport Smoking Areas
Airport smoking policies continue to get more restricted. Trends show that in the future, more airports will:
- Ban indoor smoking areas completely.
- Reassess their policies as even traditionally smoker-friendly airports start to prohibit smoking inside based on health data and customer feedback.
- Introduce their own restrictions on e-cigarettes and vaping. Airports that ban traditional smoking also prohibit vaping/e-cigarettes in most cases.
- International policies become more standardized as countries move to more strict no-smoking airport policies.
Making the Most of Limited Smoking Options
Given the current restrictive climate around airports, smart smokers adapt their travel strategies accordingly.
Tips that work:
- Time your smoking breaks strategically – smoke right before going through airport security, and right after you leave airport security at your destination.
- Book longer layovers when possible to give you the time to exit security, smoke, and re-enter without stress.
- Consider airport hotels for extended layovers. Many airport hotels have their own designated smoking areas, or allow smoking in certain rooms.
- Pack plenty of tobacco products. Bring enough so you can make it through the entire journey without having to buy expensive products at airport gift shops with limited selections.
Wrapping It All Up
Airport smoking areas are almost non-existent these days, but they aren't 100% extinct yet.
The bottom line: Indoor smoking is still permitted at only 3 major airports in the US. Outside the US, many airports have outdoor designated smoking areas. If you research ahead of time, know where the smoking areas are located at your departure and arrival airports, and allow extra time for security re-screening, you can avoid unnecessary stress.
The only variable you can't control is how long security re-screening will take. Give yourself extra time and plan accordingly.
If you have any questions or experiences with airport smoking areas to share, comment below!
