Cigar Smokers? The Colibri Tranzpack?

[Romeo Delta]

Any cigar smokers out there?

My lovely GF gave me a triple torch lighter for Valentine's Day (we can't be together on the day itself, so we celebrated a little early). I know that butane lighters can't be carried on, and aren't supposed to be taken in checked bags either. In talking to several different TSA agents about it, half of them said that they can't be carried under any circumstances, while others have said that they can come aboard in the checked bag if they're carried in a Tranzpack.

Does anyone have any experience with the Tranzpack? All the adverts say it's "DOT" approved (which doesn't necessarily mean it's "TSA" approved), but does it get your lighter through to your destination in your checked bag? Or does TSA still confiscate it for whatever reason?

And since these Tranzpacks are a bright yellow, does it just become a great, big yellow flag to be waved, saying "Steal Me, please?"

Thanks!

RD

[Ten West]

No idea.

I have a Dunhill Unique (Gas) lighter that I always carry. It's been in my pocket contents on several flights last year and nothing was said.

I'd better check the rules before I go next time. Don't really want to get that confiscated. It was one of the Concorde onboard sales exclusive ones that you can't get any more.

I'll be interested to see the outcome of this thread.

[BOFH]

Please do let us know how you get on, with any references you might have.

My Du Pont will never be surrendered.

They'll be pulling out our gold teeth next.

BOFH

[50pesos]

The tranzpack will work it must be in your checked luggage.

Ship it Fed Ex it the other alternative

[Romeo Delta]

Ship it Fed Ex it the other alternative

Aye, there's the rub... I'm flying almost every week. To Fed Ex my lighter everywhere would be an expensive endeavor. Good to know the Tranzpack will work. I bought one the other day, and will give it a go.

I just worry about the 50% of TSA agents I talked to who told me it wasn't allowable under ANY circumstances. I don't have a whole lot of worries about the guys and gals at RSW, as they see me every week. But the good people everywhere else-- that's a different story.

[clareprop]

Possibly they'd be worried that if you took it on-board, you might stand up and shout "Take me to Cuba......!"

[Romeo Delta]

"...so I can light up my Cohiba without paying the $10k fine!"

(I mean, I gotta restock my Cohibas, Montecristos, and Romeo y Julietas SOMEhow...)



Next flight scheduled for 24 Feb. I'll let you know how things go after that.

[wiggy]

Ten West

As far as I understand it the IATA rules ( which IMHO are not the best written bit of prose) a gas lighter is allowed on your person only , but not in your checked baggage and no refills onboard at all.......needless to say thogh some airlines may be more restrictive so it's worth checking their websites most have a link to their list of prohibited items.

[Romeo Delta]

I'm guessing flying everywhere else in the world might be less restrictive when it comes to lighters, and especially gas lighters. But TSA adds their own rules to the IATA version, making things even more restrictive. Here in the US, according to TSA | Transportation Security Administration | U.S. Department of Homeland Security, butane lighters are illegal in carry-ons or checked bags. Only a few people seem to know about the Tranzpack exception (even my friends at Delta (not just words, they literally are my friends) told me there was no way to bring them on board).

No one really gave me a clear answer from TSA or the airlines, so I thought I'd ask here (because many of us have BEEN there on the front lines, and at the front or back of the lines).

[gci2]

For many years, the Goa (India) authorities have gone to great pains to ensure no passenger has a lighter on his person on entering air side. They are very quick to spot lighters in Carry on bags (X-Ray) & personal searches . Passengers are apt to place these items in checked bags in order to avoid confiscation - I would imagine this process has the potential to endanger the aircraft more than if a passenger were to carry a lighter on his person.

[Ten West]

There you go then. If it's the Americans and the TSA then all bets are off as they can't be argued with.

I only fly in the free world I'm afraid, so I have no idea whether you'd get through check-in with a gas lighter or whether they'd think you're a risk to national security!

Let us know how you get on. I'd be interested.

[Romeo Delta]

Well, so far, so good. Flight to ORD, lighter made it in one piece without much incident. TSA did go in and check things out, but everything arrived.

Let's see how things go on the return.

[Romeo Delta]

Okay, it looks like this thing works. Two trips so far, and the lighter has made it both times. So if anyone (US primarily, I'm guessing, as it appears those of you in other countries have been moving around without much hassle) wants to carry around your torch lighter without shipping it FedEx every time, this might be an answer for you.

Off to smoke me a Hoyo de Monterrey with the nice Dark Sumatra wrapper...

[denis555]

In my smoking days I carried my lighter everywhere and it was very handy when I transited through a US airport with a 3 hour wait.

Never had a problem except for one flight out of Lagos where said disposable was confiscated along with a long forgotten book of matches with just one ( probablly unusable ) soggy match inside.

Stange as one of the security supervisors was happily puffing away in a restricted area - perhaps thats where he got his lighters from...

[Ten West]

He's probably been knocking out all his confiscated Dunhills and S T Duponts on Fleabay to go towards his retirement fund!