Air Plane Advice for a Smoker...

[MammaNicholas]

DH is a smoker, and I'm wondering, will he be able to get through security and board the plane with a lighter or matches? Should he just leave that stuff home and get something to light his cigarettes when we get there? If so, do they sell stuff like that at MCO or at the Disney Resorts? TIA

 

[mom2of2]

he can have matches...no lighters and yes you can get a new lighter in MCO

 

[CleveRocks]

Up to 4 books of safety matches are allowed in his carry-on/on his person. Matches are not permitted in checked luggage. "Strike anywhere" matches are not permitted on the aircraft at all.

Lighters are not permitted on the aircraft at all. The only exception is a lighter than has been drained of all its fuel, and that may be packed in checked luggage only.

This link ...

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1012.shtm

... will bring you to the page on TSA's website that has links to the prohibited items list.

 

[clkelley]

That's what I do, bring 4 packs of book matches with me. I leave the lighter in my car in the home airport, then when I arrive at my Disney resort, stop by the gift shop and pick up a lighter. I then leave the lighter near the ashtray outside of MCO. I don't bother with hunting for a lighter at MCO, would rather get on down to Magical Express and on to Disney.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I usually have a book of matches on my person when entering the airport, then in my luggage I pack a lighter or two. I've never had a problem. Since we can no longer lock our suitcases, my cigs are in my carry-on . . .

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

then in my luggage I pack a lighter or two. I've never had a problem.

You need to stop this NOW, unless they meet the requirements, as it is prohibited (see link to TSA rules inpost above:

All lighters are prohibited as carry-on items. Lighters without fuel are permitted in checked baggage. Lighters with fuel are prohibited in checked baggage, unless they adhere to the DOT exemption, which allows up to two fueled lighters if properly enclosed in a DOT approved case. If you are uncertain as to whether your lighter is prohibited, please refrain from bringing it to the airport.

It's kind of scary thinking about all of the prohibited items people obviously are putting into their luggage. Anyone remember the oxygen tanks on the crashed ValuJet?

 

[Suzyq9241]

My dh is a smoker and he would like me to find out.... If he were to purchase a couple of cartons of cigs would they let you put them in your suit case for home on the way back...

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I usually have a book of matches on my person when entering the airport, then in my luggage I pack a lighter or two. I've never had a problem.

That's bad advice. I agree with what lost*in*cyberspace wrote.

The TSA should find the lighters during the x-ray check of your checked luggage. The TSA will open your luggage, confiscate the lighters, and send them out for disposal.

The Department of Transportation classifies lighters as hazardous materials. They are prohibited from checked luggage. The concern is that fuel vapors could explode.

As the following article indicates, the prohibition of lighters in carry-on luggage could change in the future — but it hasn't happened yet:

Lift airline ban on lighters, TSA urges, USA TODAY, 06/29/06​

 

[ducklite]

My dh is a smoker and he would like me to find out.... If he were to purchase a couple of cartons of cigs would they let you put them in your suit case for home on the way back...

He can pack 180 cartons in his suitcase as long as you are traveling domestically and they all fit.

Anne

 

[Slsguy]

I think you can only have one - I think it was changed. I flew to LV and had a lighter in my bag (carry on) and one in my pack of smokes (forgot about it) and the lady made me open my pack (set of the detector) and said I would have to leave one with her...

No idea if that was a fluke or what but she said I could only bring one on the plane...

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I think you can only have one - I think it was changed.

Slsguy is mistaken.

Lighters are still prohibited items. See the TSA Prohibited Items page, which includes the following comment in big letters:

Bringing a prohibited item to a security checkpoint — even accidentally — is illegal.​

 

[Jennick]

Just flew Airtran a week ago. Lighters are still prohibited both in carry ons and checked baggage. We knew this because we checked ahead of time, so I carried 4 books of matches and my hubby did as well. I was not aware that they sold lighters at the airport or resorts, thanks for the tips on that. It would have made things a lot easier for us. We had our town car driver stop at a gas station so we could buy 2 lighters. He was like is that all you need? yep!!

 

[ladysoleil]

My dh is a smoker and he would like me to find out.... If he were to purchase a couple of cartons of cigs would they let you put them in your suit case for home on the way back...

You can travel with cartons, but I would advise you not to put them in your suitcase. Cigs are attractive to a petty bag pilferer- small, easy to hide, consumable, slightly expensive, and something people commonly carry on their person.

We packed a mostly full carton in checked luggage only once (our carryon was full) and I'm sure a couple of packs went missing from it on the way home. Not a big loss, but annoying. Better to stow them in a carryon.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I know this will come off sarcastic, but it's not meant to be like that . . .but years ago, people were allowed to smoke on airplanes . . .so if lighters are prone to fuel leakage and shouldn't be smuggled in on persons or in your claimed baggage because of fear of possibly causing some kind of leakage which would lead to something catching on fire and exploding, then why the heck did they allow it years ago?

 

[ducklite]

I know this will come off sarcastic, but it's not meant to be like that . . .but years ago, people were allowed to smoke on airplanes . . .so if lighters are prone to fuel leakage and shouldn't be smuggled in on persons or in your claimed baggage because of fear of possibly causing some kind of leakage which would lead to something catching on fire and exploding, then why the heck did they allow it years ago?

For the same reason that years ago kids didn't need to be in car seats, cars didn't have seat belts, and nuclear bombs were detonated above ground in the dessert--we didn't know any better.

Anne

 

[clkelley]

It was also determined that after the "shoe bomber" attempt on board an aircraft, that if he had a lighter, he would have been successful. His particular airport had banned lighters, so now all airports are banning lighters aboard aircraft.