Why have I never been stopped by the TSA for carrying on a lighter? ?

Question

I’m a smoker and have flown many times since I started, always carrying a lighter in my pocket and sending it through security with my belongings. I thought lighters were prohibited, as indicated on the list of items you cannot bring on board. If that’s the case, how have I managed to board every single flight with a lighter in my pocket (not in checked baggage, although I always have another one in my suitcase)? It goes through the X-ray machine, I pass through the metal detector, and I collect it afterward. Why is this allowed? Are there certain circumstances that permit this? Do they make an exception when they see my pack of cigarettes with the lighter?

Lilly Ward · Accepted Answer

Okay&hellip;  Here is TSA&rsquo;s take on lighters..https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/what&hellip;https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/what&hellip;https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/what&hellip;TSA allows most lighter&rsquo;s to be brought on board as carry-on except for torch lighters. (FAA says torch lighters is too risky.)To get the story straight&hellip;.You are at the checkpoint&hellip; you take the lighter out of your pocket and send it through the x-ray&hellip; you collect it at the other end.It is prohibited in checked baggage due to it being a fire hazard. This is an FAA regulation. TSA&rsquo;s primary mission is to keep weapons and explosives off of commercial aircraft. Hazardous material is very secondary. However, when found it is given to the airline for disposal according to FAA guidelines.

Maymie Rodriguez · Answer

You can bring one lighter on board with you. They may not have noticed one in your checked bag or else they would have removed that; it is a significant safety issue.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/what…

Reinhold Schneider · Answer

For a while there, they were seizing them.  What I thought was funny was that there were always lighters in smoking areas at airports.  Sort of a “help out your fellow smoker” thing.

Wallace Reinger DDS · Answer

You thought wrong, I guess. No, they aren’t making an exception for you. For years, they have allowed one Bic-type lighter(non-refillable disposable) or Zippo-type lighter per passenger in carry-on luggage. Maybe they just didn’t think it was worth making a fuss over a second lighter.

Ulices Cummings

Why have I never been stopped by the TSA for carrying on a lighter? ?

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