This post is for smokers. Are you allowed to take a lighter with you as carry-on, or on your person? Can you bring a lighter on a plane? Do lighters need to go in checked luggage? Where do you put your lighter when flying? How many lighters can you take on a plane?
Yes, you can take a regular cigarette lighter like a clipper on a plane in your pocket. But there are a number of rules that you should be aware of.
International airport security might be different than the US. Most countries around the world allow you to take 1 lighter in your pocket or in your carry on but not in your checked luggage. However cigarette lighters are banned on planes in the Philippines.
The TSA cigarette lighter rules are quite clear. Here is a screengrab from the TSA website:
U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) allows you to have one butane or zippo-style lighter on your person or in your carry-on baggage, though nowhere else (Except for specific circumstances, but we’ll get to that).
A disposable BIC style lighter is perfectly acceptable to take on a plane as well as a refillable clipper style lighter.
Here is Katherine getting confirmation from the TSA about her bic lighter on Twitter:
Lighter gas or fuel is not allowed on planes!
No, not even in those fancy DOT-approved airtight travel bags. You’re gonna have to make do with what you’ve got when it comes to fuel. So the best advice is to make sure your one permitted lighter is fully refilled before your trip.
Can I at least mail myself more, ahead of time?
Again, that one’s a real loud-and-clear ‘no’. Unless you’ve completely emptied and cleaned a lighter, you’re definitely not allowed to mail those ahead of you. Never, under any circumstances, can you mail a lighter. And the same goes for lighter fluid or butane refills, you can’t mail those either.
And empty lighters? What about those?
Well, if you’re extremely thorough, they’re theoretically a yes. Empty lighters aren’t considered hazardous by the DOT and therefore aren’t regulated as stringently as filled lighters are.
The issue here is that the DOT’s idea of ’empty’ and yours are probably quite different. As far as you’re concerned, it’s ’empty’ if you can’t get a light off anymore. For the DOT, it’s ’empty’ if it is absolutely barren of fuel and fuel residue.
The good news is that since more than 20% of the world’s population smoke every 5th person you ask will probably be able to give you a light.
And don’t forget that they will probably have shops where you are going too ;)
That’s answered similarly to the first question.
Yes, in exceptionally small quantities. You’re permitted one pack of safety matches on your person or carry-on.
Much like fuel though, you’re absolutely not allowed to carry more matches in your checked baggage, even in approved travel bags.
Yeah quit smoking – Needing to take a long flight is a good time to start think about quitting and staying alive to play with your grandchildren etc etc bla bla bla ))
Okay okay… you didn’t come here for a lecture I’m sure. If you’re not ready for that…
Well… nicotine patches work for lots of people, and they pass on planes. If those don’t do it for you, nicotine gum has been considered by many to be a good backup.
If both of those have managed to fall short for you, hard candies can tend to do the trick for when the urge starts to really dig into you. Beyond that, a lot of it’s just going to come down to discipline and strength of mind during those long flights.
And any tips on preparing for a trip in the first place?
Here is where you have by far the most control over how your flight and the followup will be. The first thing to be sure of is to properly plan your time before the flight, making sure to leave a little window to finish a cig before you have to get on the plane.
Beyond that, be sure to have taken the time to find a smoker-friendly hotel or other accommodations before leaving, because the fee for smoking in a non-smoking hotel is definitely not worth it, no matter what your craving is telling you.
In general, be aware of your needs and be willing to take the time to manage yourself and your schedule before stuff gets hectic.
