Southampton Airport (SOU)

Southampton Airport operates a strict no-smoking policy inside its terminal building, in line with UK law. The only place you can smoke or vape is the designated outdoor area on the central forecourt, before you go through security. Once you pass through security into the departure lounge, there are no smoking or vaping facilities of any kind.

Before Security

The single designated smoking area is located outside the terminal on the central forecourt. This is an open-air landside spot accessible to anyone before check-in or security. Head outside through the main terminal entrance and you will find it on the forecourt area in front of the building. There are no indoor smoking rooms, no sheltered smoking cabins, and no other designated spots landside.

• Smoking: permitted on the central forecourt only

• Vaping and e-cigarettes: permitted outside the terminal building before security only

• No smoking or vaping is allowed anywhere inside the terminal building, including corridors, check-in halls, or any enclosed space

After Security

There are no smoking or vaping facilities airside at Southampton Airport. The departure lounge, gate areas, and all areas past the security checkpoint are entirely smoke-free. There is no paid lounge with a smoking terrace or smoking room after security either. The Spitfire Lounge is the only passenger lounge at Southampton, but it does not offer any smoking facilities.

Vaping Rules

Vaping and e-cigarettes are treated identically to traditional cigarettes at Southampton Airport. You may use a vape device outside on the central forecourt before security, but it is prohibited inside the terminal building and also prohibited when walking to or from aircraft (whether on foot or by bus). Since 1 June 2025, single-use disposable vapes are no longer legal to sell in the UK, so travel with a rechargeable, refillable device.

Transit and Connecting Flights

If you are connecting through Southampton and need to smoke, you will need to exit the secure zone, go outside to the forecourt, and then re-clear security before your onward flight. Southampton is a small single-terminal airport, but re-clearing security still takes time, so factor this in carefully if your connection is tight.

Bottom Line

Smoke before you enter the terminal on the central forecourt outside; once you are through security, there are no options at all, and no paid lounge can help you here.