Forget Smintair, the (still-grounded) airline for smokers. An electronic cigarette alternative called SuperSmoker, which delivers nicotine through a heated tobacco-flavored mist, is trying to get permission to allow its product in airplanes. They’re allegedly negotiating with an unnamed airline to allow their product onboard.
The product’s typo-filled website argues: “Because it isn’s [sic] a real cigarette and there isn’t real smoke, this electronic device can’t be placed under the smoking prohibition.”
Uh huh. Sure, there aren’t burning tobacco leaves, but there’s visible smoke, even if you look at their own ads. I’m sure nonsmoking passengers will love having burning-tobacco scented vapor surrounding them for hours.
So, any guesses as to which airline would enter into negotiations with this product’s manufacturer? I’m smelling a European low-cost carrier… but which one?
A cheesy promotional video for the SuperSmoker is below, if you want to see what these things look like in practice (though not on a plane…)
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February 10th, 2009 at 9:02 am
will pigs fly?
February 10th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Yikes! My spam filter thought your email was a phishing attempt. I can see it was just trying to do its job.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Was this video posted as an April 1 joke or something? Too bad…it hearkens back to the good old days when cigs were allowed everywhere. Just kidding. I noticed smoking rooms in the airport on a recent trip through Germany. Perhaps planes can set up similar rooms/closets, etc.?
February 13th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
C’mon folks. Lets try to have an open mind to a new idea here.
I got the cabin crew on a particular airline to let me smoke MY electronic cigarette (different brand) on the plane!
I detail a step by step method I used in a post I wrote on my blog about electronic cigarette smoking on airplanes.
Check it out!
February 20th, 2009 at 5:50 am
Not only an open mind, how about a remotely truthful article? It isn’t smoke, nothing is burning, it certainly isn’t tobacco scented, and it immediately dissipates nearly as your breath does. It doesn’t surround anyone for hours and no SHS leavings are involved.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:37 am
The post is really informative. Personally, I feel that the revolutionary electronic cigarette is the best option for the smokers who want to quit smoking altogether as well as enjoy their urge for nicotine. Also, by smoking the electronic cigarette, you are not going to violate the rules against smoking. While purchasing the smokeless cigarette look for the accessories and refill programs available with it.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:56 am
The electronic-cigarette topic is getting some big-media attention since this post came out. For what it’s worth:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29435175/page/0/
March 28th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
This should be BANNED on airlines. You can’t fly for a couple of hours without smoking? If you can’t, you have a problem.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
David Michaels,
Why would you care and why should it be banned it has no effect on you what so ever. lol what a joke.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:08 am
Sounds like this blog was written by someone very UNeducated about the e cig. Probably should educate yourself before you start writing. You have completely lost it!! The vapor smells like air and dissapate as stated above. And the vapor coming from it is probably safer than the air you breath in your city. Talk a bout a joke!!!
June 11th, 2009 at 1:41 am
Please, tell the public the trueth e- cig’s companies!! It is not a cheap product for one thing, and now we still do not know if we can use it on planes, or if it is safe, geez……
July 31st, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I think the whole plane’s thing is because of James Bondian type worries of suicidal saboteurs “putting something” besides the nicotine cartridge in there that would blow poison gas out or something (far-fetched maybe but look at the paranoia, I’m not saying whether its justified or not) ….
September 4th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
The initial argument for banning cigarettes is that second hand smoke infringed upon the rights of the non-smoker. Now the non-smoker wants to infringe upon the rights of the smoker. Understand the “smoke” here is water vapor. Is it the fact it looks like a cigarette that bothers people, or the fact that someone is making a choice to do something which does not meet with the approval of others? Just FYI, airline air quality has been reduced since the smoking ban on airlines, due to less fresh air intake, and less filtration of the recycled air.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
[...] Electronic cigarettes on airplanes Back in February, I posted about a report of an impending deal between an electronic cigarette manufacturer and an unnamed [...]