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Do any airlines allow still allow smoking on-board international flights, or is this something that has been banned across the board everywhere? If this is because of fire hazard regulations, what about e-cigarettes?

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funnily, even though smoking is banned on US flights by the FAA, by law, all airplane lavatories still have to have an ash-tray. It's a very interesting read: standalone-sysadmin.com/blog/2012/05/engineeringinfrastructures – Mark Mayo May 22 '12 at 6:19
^ I've always wondered why that is so! In fact, that's one of the things that made me ask this question. – Ankur Banerjee May 22 '12 at 9:17

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up vote 8 down vote accepted

I believe this chart will be of use to you.

I used to wonder why they even bothered to have "No smoking" signs, but now I realise - Air Algeria, Cubana, Garuda, Iran Air and more still allow smoking in certain sections.

The chart is quite old, but my friend flew Cubana at the end of 2010 and confirmed that there was smoking onboard his flight then.

EDIT

According to Answers.com:

1979: Cigars and Pipes banned on aircraft 1988: Smoking banned on US Domestic flights under 2 hours 1990: Smoking banned on US Domestic flights under 6 hours 1998: Smoking banned on all US Domestic flights 2000: Federal law introduced banning smoking on all flights by US airlines.

I can't seem to find any information about when it was banned in the UK, other than the mid 1990s.

There is no overall law or treaty that bans smoking on all international flights. See related links for information about which countries (most of them) have banned smoking on aircraft departing from their airports.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the world's first public health treaty. The FCTC entered into force on 27 February 2005. The FCTC contains different measures designed to reduce the devastating impact of tobacco on health and economics. As of January 2009, 168 countries have signed the treaty, and 161 countries have ratified the treaty, becoming Parties to the FCTC.

Nosmoke.org recognises that 2010 marked the 20 year Anniversary of smokefree U.S. domestic flights, and the ten year anniversary of smokefree flights in and out of the United States.

And according to the New York Times, smoking was ALWAYS permitted on the Concorde.

In addition, several flyertalk forums refer to attempts to start smokers-only airlines, although these ideas seem to largely have been all hot air, gone up in smoke, or flamed out...

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Last week I noticed for the first time the non-smoking sign being replaced by a no-electronic devices sign. This was on a KLM flight on one of their new embraers – Andra Jan 30 '12 at 23:05
oh wow, not seen that before. Sign of the times, makes sense. – Mark Mayo Jan 30 '12 at 23:20
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Seems outdated to me. It's marked 'updated July 15, 2003'. For instance, 'Indian Airlines' doesn't even exist by that name any more (and certainly doesn't allow smoking in its new avatar Air India, AFAIK). – Ankur Banerjee Jan 31 '12 at 0:01
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afaik Garuda no longer allows smoking either, at least on international flights. – jwenting Jan 31 '12 at 6:38
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Or domestic flights. That chart is way out of date... – jpatokal Apr 3 '12 at 1:42
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Electronic cigarette might be an option on some non-smoking non-US flights. The best is to ask to cabin members:

Flight attendant: Would you like something to drink?

Me: Yes, I would like apple juice, and may I ask you a question?

Flight attendant: Sure

Me: Is it OK if I use my nicotine inhaler on the plane? [I then show them my pen-style e cig]

Flight attendant: Nicotine inhaler? I don’t know. What is that?

Me: It’s a source of nicotine for smokers similar to nicotine gum or the nicotine patch. It is completely legal on airplanes and not affected by smoking bans, but I always ask because sometimes when I exhale a mist may come out of my nose and mouth and I don’t want other people to think that I am smoking. The mist is just water vapor that delivers nicotine to my lungs. May I show you what I am talking about?

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I would LOVE to go on a flight that has fight attendants. :D – Ankur Banerjee Jan 31 '12 at 9:55

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