fdecarlo

Just curious if any Fodorites have been asked to leave their lighters when boarding flights, or is the TSA letting people slide for now?

janisj

This has been the rule since last April. Why would you want to sneak a lighter through? You can't smoke on the plane anyway so just get a lighter or matches after you land.

cjbryant

Yes, TSA is enforcing the no lighter rule and confiscating lighters if they detect them.

MaureenB

We found this out the hard way. We'd bought novelty lighters in London for some friends, and had to throw them out at the gate in Amsterdam.

ms_go

I don't carry a lighter, but a man in front of me in the TSA line at O'Hare a couple of weeks ago had a lighter detected and confiscated.

fdecarlo

Thanks guys.

And Janis, no one said anything about sneaking anything through. I simply wanted to know whether this ridiculous rule is being enforced.

Also, just FYI up to 3 books of matches are still allowed. Just not the self-igniting kind.

You know I can't wait for 2008, when we're finally rid of these professional fear mongers.

E

I'm not a big fan of smoking, but it would be a bummer to have a really nice ligher confiscated. Not everyone carries Bics--my Dad had an engraved silver one he carried for 20+ years.

nytraveler

Don;t understand why this is a silly rule. Why do you needs to bring something explosive aboard a plane?

You can;t smoke in planes or airports anyway - so what's the need?

Kinch500

Yes it is enforced. I had mine taken away this past August. Not going to Seattle but coming from there.

FYI-Nytraveler- Some airports still have smoking lounges as disgusting as they are....

nytraveler

Kinch -

I know they still allow some places in europe - thought they were banned at all US airports since it's been years since I've seen an airport allow it - and we don;t allow smoking anywhere here.