Jazmin Li
Smoking on airplanes flying to, from, or within the United States has been banned since 2000. While most airports in the United States are completely smoke-free, there are still a few US airports where smoking is permitted. Airports across America are looking for excuses to close their airside smoking lounges, and COVID-19 provided the perfect reason to do so. However, some airports still provide airside smoking lounges, and a few even go the extra mile to ensure that visiting smokers have an enjoyable experience.
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What You'll Learn
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has smoking lounges in each concourse
- McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas has indoor smoking lounges and gaming areas
- Washington Dulles International Airport has smoking lounges across from gates B37, C2, and D30
- Nashville International Airport has a smoking lounge near gates B-10 and C-10
- Key West International Airport has a free, outdoor smoking patio
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has smoking lounges in each concourse
As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors, including Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Salt Lake City, JFK, and Newark, to name a few. However, there are still a few US airports that permit smoking indoors, such as Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, McCarran Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, previously accommodated smokers with smoking areas in each concourse. However, due to growing concerns for public health and space optimization, the Atlanta City Council passed a total smoking ban in July 2019, which took effect on January 2, 2020. This ban includes cigarettes, cigars, and electronic cigarettes, and applies to both the airport's domestic and international terminals.
As a result of this ban, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport closed its indoor smoking rooms and designated outdoor smoking zones outside the security-controlled areas. This means that passengers who wish to smoke must exit the secure concourses, use the designated smoking areas, and then go through security again to catch their next flight.
To assist passengers affected by this change, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport implemented a "30-day accommodation program" in January, providing free nicotine lozenges in various airport shops and restaurants for those with limited access to the exterior smoking zones.
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McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas has indoor smoking lounges and gaming areas
As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors, and smoking on airplanes flying to, from, or within the United States has been banned since 2000. However, a few U.S. airports still permit smoking indoors, including McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.
McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas currently has two indoor spots where passengers are allowed to smoke. These include the pre-security Budweiser Racing Track Lounge and an enclosed casino gaming lounge in the D Concourse near Gate D-46. When the new Terminal 3 opens, there will be two additional enclosed gaming lounges near gates E-1 and E-15. Another gaming lounge is planned for the C Concourse, past the C Annex Security Checkpoint, which will be accessible to passengers from the A and B concourses.
While McCarran International Airport provides designated smoking areas, smoking is prohibited in all other indoor areas, including restaurants, bars, and lounges. Passengers who wish to smoke outside of the designated areas must go through security each time they re-enter the airport.
The inclusion of smoking lounges in McCarran International Airport can be attributed to the significant segment of customers who smoke and may do so even in unauthorized areas. However, the presence of indoor smoking lounges in airports has been a subject of controversy due to public health concerns. Critics argue that airport employees and travellers who do not smoke are unnecessarily exposed to second-hand smoke, and the allocation of space for smoking lounges could be better utilized for other purposes such as retail, charging stations, and extra seating.
As a result, some airports, such as Salt Lake City International Airport, have announced plans to close their smoking lounges to address public health and space concerns. Despite the ongoing debate, the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas continues to accommodate smokers with its indoor smoking lounges and upcoming additional gaming lounges in the new terminal.
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Washington Dulles International Airport has smoking lounges across from gates B37, C2, and D30
While smoking on airplanes flying to, from, or within the United States has been banned since 2000, some US airports still have smoking areas. Salt Lake City International Airport, for instance, used to promote its five post-security smoking rooms as a convenience for smokers making connections. However, the airport recently announced a schedule for closing down these lounges, citing public health and space concerns as the reasons for the decision.
Washington Dulles International Airport is another airport that has recently implemented a no-smoking policy. However, it still has smoking lounges across from gates B37, C2, and D30. These lounges are located in Concourse B, Concourse C, and Concourse D, respectively.
Concourse B at Washington Dulles International Airport has 28 gates, including B37, B38, and B40-B51. The concourse offers various amenities, such as lounges for different airlines, dining options, and shops. Concourse C, which is accessible by train from the main terminal, is home to United flights and has 23 gates. In addition to three United Club lounges and a United Polaris Lounge, this concourse also provides shopping and dining options. Concourse D, which services United at Dulles, has 27 gates, including D30 and D32.
It is important to note that smoking is only permitted in designated areas at Washington Dulles International Airport, in accordance with the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority Regulations. Violations of the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act carry a civil penalty.
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Nashville International Airport has a smoking lounge near gates B-10 and C-10
As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors. However, Nashville International Airport is one of the exceptions to this, as it has a smoking lounge located near gates B-10 and C-10. Known as the Graycliff Smoking Lounge, this facility offers a warm and elegant space with comfortable seating and subtle lighting. It also features a state-of-the-art ventilation system to ensure a clean atmosphere.
The Graycliff Smoking Lounge is open daily, with varying hours for the B and C Concourses. The lounge in the B Concourse is open from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm, while the C Concourse lounge is open from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. To enter, guests must be 18 or older and pay a $5 entrance fee, although this fee may be waived for clients who make a purchase of $10 or more. Wireless internet connection is available, but it only generates a single-use password that can be used on one device.
The lounge offers a range of beverages, including coffee and cocktails, which can be purchased separately. It is worth noting that some reviews mention that the prices for these items are relatively high. In addition to Nashville International Airport, other U.S. airports that have allowed indoor smoking as of 2024 include McCarran in Las Vegas, Memphis, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi.
However, it is important to note that public health concerns related to secondhand smoke have led to increasing calls for smoke-free policies in airports. As a result, some airports, such as Salt Lake City International Airport, have announced plans to close their smoking lounges to address these health risks and free up space for other purposes like retail and seating. Similarly, Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, has faced pressure to create a smoke-free environment but has not yet closed its smoking areas due to concerns about exposing other areas of the airport and security lines to secondhand smoke.
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Key West International Airport has a free, outdoor smoking patio
While most airports in the United States are completely smoke-free, there are still a few that provide airside smoking lounges. One such airport is Key West International Airport, which has a free, outdoor smoking patio.
Key West International Airport (code: EYW) consists of a tiny terminal with a few eateries and gift shops. There are no private lounges at this airport, but there is a smoking area located outside the terminal. The outdoor smoking patio is one of the best airport smoking lounges in the United States. It stands out because it doesn't have an entrance fee and it seems like it was provided not just out of obligation, but also out of a desire to ensure that smokers find their time at the airport pleasant and comfortable.
The airport also offers other amenities such as mobile charging points, lockers, nearby hotels, and 24-hour food options. There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas, or rest zones, or pay-per-use lounges at the airport. However, there are hotels near the airport that provide airport shuttles, such as the Hampton Inn Key West and the Margaritaville Beach House Key West.
Smoking has been banned on airplanes flying to, from, or within the United States since 2000. Despite this, a few US airports still allow indoor smoking, including McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi. Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, also has no plans to close its smoking areas. However, many other airports, such as Salt Lake City International Airport, have recently announced schedules for closing their smoking lounges to prioritize public health and space concerns.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2019, some of the US airports with smoking lounges include Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, McCarran International Airport, Nashville International Airport, and Denver International Airport.
Yes, as of 2019, Washington Dulles International Airport has a smoking lounge at Gate B37. Salt Lake City International Airport also had five post-security smoking rooms, but they were closed in 2023.
Yes, some US airports have adopted a "'pay-to-play' system, where smoker-friendly cigar shops and cocktail lounges allow smoking, but only after a minimum purchase.
No, it is unlikely that you will be able to vape in a smoking lounge if smoking is not allowed in that particular area.
Smoking lounges at US airports are a dying breed and may close without notice. Airports across America have been looking for excuses to close their airside smoking lounges, and the COVID-19 pandemic provided the perfect reason to do so.
