America's #1 Online Cigar Auction
first, best, biggest!

I was going through a security checkpoint last week at a local airport and they confiscated my butane lighter. I was fuming inside (no pun intended but it was my favorite lighter) but didnt want to cause a scene. The thing that ticked me off most was that other people were taking regular Bic lighters through the checkpoint while they were taking my butane lighter. I asked the security guard why they were taking the lighter and he said it was an "incendiary" device. Apparently it must be impossible to set anything on fire with a regular lighter or matches. What a bunch of idiots.

Anyways, I called the airport this morning to ask them the difference between a regular ligher and a butane lighter when setting things on fire. They couldnt answer the question. So off I went to the Transportation Security Administration website. I found the following that some might find useful if they only fly a few times per year. The whole lighter thing is confusing, but other items on the list may be enlightening. You'll be happy to know that you can now take toy Transformer robots on a plane.

http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/permitted_prohibited_6-2003.pdf

One thing to note is that airports dont follow this list exactly. I had a cigar cutter confiscated last April and it is on "the list" as an approved item. Go figure?!?!?!

Anyone have a similar experience when flying? Dont misunderstand me, I'm all about safety on an airplane, but if they ban one kind of lighter, they should ban all lighters and matches.

My daughter was flying back from St. Louis and she had 4 lighters in her purse all bic types. For some reason they took 2 but let her keep 2. I guess there's a 2 lighter limit like carry ons.

In your carry-on or on your person you can take the disposable types but not one that can be refilled. What logic is behind that eludes me.

The butane torch lighters seem to pose particular problems, not to mention confusion, for the security people. They tell transport of butane on a commercial airline is prohibited. In other words, if you tell them you have one in your checked baggage their is a pretty good chance they will confiscate it. I made this mistake about a month ago. The baggage check-in inspector said it could not go into "checked" baggage, but I could carry it with me. Go figure. True to form, at the security screen area a different TSA guy was going to confiscate it. He felt bad because it was a really nice triple jet Colibri. I talked him into letting me keep it if I purged it. So we stood there holding up traffic for several minutes while I purged and he listened to the sound of exhausting butane. Pretty funny story after the fact but irritating as hell at the time.

I never thought about asking to purge the lighter. I would have done it given the opportunity. There was no line behind me and we had the time. I had made an attempt to get my checked baggage back and put it in there, but later found out that lighters are not allowed in checked baggage. Regardless, the checked baggage line was too long by that time.

There is also a new thing going on at airports where the TSA does not recommend that you put locks on your luggage. If they want to inspect your bags, they will cut the luggage locks. I took the chance and locked mine anyway. It went through without a problem. I saw some peoples luggage come off the conveyor belt that had locks on them. They didnt cut the locks, but they ripped the zipper apart to open the luggage. To close the luggage back up, they wrapped yellow tape around the bag to keep stuff from falling out of it.

How fast you gentlemen forget. Do you remember the terrorist who tried to ignite his plastic explosive filled sneaker while in flight, he tried to ignite it with a bic. Had he use a butane/torch lighter it would have worked better and in less time, also he could have used a torch lighter as a weapon against his subduers. Just a thought. JonR

LOL @ Robbie!!

John

I feel safer now.

I travel about every week and always carry a cheap lighter and cutter with me in my briefcase. I probably have them taken about every 5 or 6 times I go thru security. The funny part is on many occasions the inspector will say "sorry you can't take this on board", hold up the lighter (cutter or both) and simply stick it in his pocket. I find it amusing as much as annoying.

How does a butane lighter in checked baggage pose a threat to safety?

I travel weekly for business and found that the following works best:

1. Put your good cutter and lighter in your checked baggage. Don't mention it's in there. They can't take what they don't know about.

2. Take a cheap lighter/cutter in your carry on if feel the need to smoke while waiting for your flight/connection.

3. If they want to confiscate your lighter/cutter, step out of the security line, find the information desk and ask about mailing your items home. They will usually take care of it, or point you in the right direction. I've had to mail my Leatherman home on a few occasions.

4. If no postal service is available, take your item to your airline's baggage claim office and ask if they'll hold it for you. Be sure to get a claim check.

It seems like a hassle, but it's much better than surrendering your prized cutter or lighter to security. Each airport seems to have their own policy on what is allowed on the aircraft, and can even vary between the security personnel. Some are over-zealous and others are nonchalant. Hope this helps.

E4A

I was returning from Denver a while back and the guy in front of Me at security had his jaw wired shut. He was carrying a small pair of wire cutters so if He got sick He wouldn't choke to death on his own vomit. He was trying to explain this through clenched teeth ( wired shut of course) as they led Him away. How or if He got home I've wondered ever since.

Folks, do not attempt to carry-on a "torch" lighter, as it is considered a potential weapon. You can get by with it in your checked luggage but from my experience, if it is in you carry-on you can expect a 100% confiscation. Most airports will still let you carry-on a regular butane lighter, i.e., the BIC variety or a variation thereof, but I've had to leave my torch lighters with lost and found until I return to collect it. BTW if you have a fairly tight time frame to catch a flight and you have your torch lighter on your person or in your carry-on, you can save a lot of time by leaving it with lost-and-found prior to going through the security check gate to make you flight. Speaking from personal experience......