Practical Travel Safety Issues - Is a Carton of Cigarettes Allowed in Carry-on Luggage?

I am flying to Visit my cousin this weekend and in the state i live in cigarettes are almost half the price of where he lives. He wants me to bring him a carton when I come, but I don't plan on Checking any Luggage Just a carry on and my laptop bag. Will I have any issues with this? What is the TSA's policy on this?
they would still be sealed from the factory also...

Thanks!

They aren't allowed anymore after the DHS heard a rumour from a friend of a friend who'd heard from his barber's mother sister-in-law that al-Qaeda were going to smoke on a plane and give everyone lung cancer

They aren't allowed anymore after the DHS heard a rumour from a friend of a friend who'd heard from his barber's mother sister-in-law that al-Qaeda were going to smoke on a plane and give everyone lung cancer
I heard that they were being confiscated on the basis that the tobacco could be combined with tap water in the lavs to make a chaw that could then be spat upon the crew in violation of Federal Law.
Please obey all instructions, all lighted signs and placards, and no chaw.
Dave

Welcome to FlyerTalk matb2005!

Should not be a problem. I am a non-smoker but always encourage smokers to take advantage of lower taxed cigarettes. It must be my Scots-Irish blood. :)

thanks for the welcome!

I dont fly often but i will be on here alot...

I start with the TSA in 2 weeks..

Just dont flame.. lol

I am flying to Visit my cousin this weekend and in the state i live in cigarettes are almost half the price of where he lives. He wants me to bring him a carton when I come, but I don't plan on Checking any Luggage Just a carry on and my laptop bag. Will I have any issues with this? What is the TSA's policy on this?



I can't imagine why the hell they wouldn't be allowed.

thanks for the welcome!

I dont fly often but i will be on here alot...

I start with the TSA in 2 weeks..

Just dont flame.. lol

Your smokes will be fine, but your hair gel...
I assume you will probably be flying thru the airport that you are going to be working at? Make sure you know what you're doing, ya don't want to look like a moron in front of your new co-workers :)
Good luck with your new job.

I am sure they will find reasons why, in future, we will not be allowed a carry on luggage. The following step afterwards - left for your imagination.
BTW, a warm welcome to FT (FlyerTalk).

They are fine. My wife has even brought in REALLY dangerous cigarettes from ZRH - they were FRENCH!! Welcome to FT!

I think the law is up to ten packs for your personal consumption. After that, they can get you for avoiding taxes.

They are fine. My wife has even brought in REALLY dangerous cigarettes from ZRH - they were FRENCH!! Welcome to FT!

They were not "French Smokes" they were "Freedom Smokes"......come on, get the terminology right!:D


Cigarettes are allowed as carry on, but your matches are restricted. If you connect through some 3rd world country due to an equipment change the security personnel tend to prefer Marlboro to Camel when taking bribes.

I think the law is up to ten packs for your personal consumption. After that, they can get you for avoiding taxes.

They have customs now between US domestic airports now? Damn, this taxation thing is really starting to spiral out of control ain't it?;)

I can fit four cartons in my rollaboard (plus a weeks worth of clothes), and I don't smoke.

They were not "French Smokes" they were "Freedom Smokes"......come on, get the terminology right!:D


Cigarettes are allowed as carry on, but your matches are restricted. If you connect through some 3rd world country due to an equipment change the security personnel tend to prefer Marlboro to Camel when taking bribes.

I like Freedom Smokes, makes me want a Gitane and I dont even smoke. ;) We didnt have to worry about ending up in a third world country, depending on how you currently classify the United States, on a ZRH-JFK nonstop unless something went very, very much wrong. ;)

They have customs now between US domestic airports now? Damn, this taxation thing is really starting to spiral out of control ain't it?;)

Actually in some states I think the law is even more restrictive in moving things between states because of taxation. I think in some cases there is no allowance, that said, since there is no customs it isnt often enforced. I have read intermittent news stories about someone getting busted however, usually with liquor rather than cigarettes. One I remember was Ohio police nailing someone buying booze in Kentucky and the other was someone in Maryland getting busted buying booze in the District. In both cases from low/no tax areas to higher tax areas.

They have customs now between US domestic airports now? Damn, this taxation thing is really starting to spiral out of control ain't it?;)

Unfortunately, it doesn't require a customs agent to "find" the contraband. I think a TSA agent looking at multiple cartons in a suitcase could also cause a problem. For example, here's Tennessee's law for transporting cigarettes across state lines:

"Possessing more than 20 packs (or two cartons) of cigarettes not bearing Tennessee revenue stamps is a misdemeanor. Such products and any vehicle(s) used to transport them are subject to seizure. Possession of more than 25 cartons of untaxed cigarettes is a Class E felony."

“If Revenue agents believe that an individual is transporting more than two cartons of cigarettes into Tennessee, the vehicle carrying the cigarettes will be stopped and searched,” Commissioner Farr said. “If more than two cartons are found, the cigarettes will be seized and agents have the discretion to make arrests and seize the vehicle.”

"You know what I got for Christmas this year? It was a banner ****in' year at the old Bender family. I got a carton of cigarettes. The old man grabbed me and said "Hey. Smoke up Johnny." " - John Bender, The Breakfast Club

Welcome to FlyerTalk! You'll have no problem with a carton (or even two) of smokes.

I heard that they were being confiscated on the basis that the tobacco could be combined with tap water in the lavs to make a chaw that could then be spat upon the crew in violation of Federal Law.
Please obey all instructions, all lighted signs and placards, and no chaw.
Dave
It's not a threat anymore - they've removed the water from the lavs

It's not a threat anymore - they've removed the water from the lavs

We need to start using the same "threat logic" used by the TSA Department of Scientific Justification for Exploding Water and Other Things:

Cigarettes, when used for their intended purpose, go up in smoke.
Bombs, when used for their intended purpose, go up in smoke.
Therefore cigarettes might be bombs, and/or bombs might be cigarettes.
Urgent Action Item: Request massive additional funding from Congress for more study of this potential critical national security issue. :rolleyes:

"Possessing more than 20 packs (or two cartons) of cigarettes not bearing Tennessee revenue stamps is a misdemeanor. Such products and any vehicle(s) used to transport them are subject to seizure. Possession of more than 25 cartons of untaxed cigarettes is a Class E felony."

“If Revenue agents believe that an individual is transporting more than two cartons of cigarettes into Tennessee, the vehicle carrying the cigarettes will be stopped and searched,” Commissioner Farr said. “If more than two cartons are found, the cigarettes will be seized and agents have the discretion to make arrests and seize the vehicle.”

Better to fly than to drive then, although the airline might be ticked at you for getting their Boeing or Airbus impounded.

Unfortunately, it doesn't require a customs agent to "find" the contraband. I think a TSA agent looking at multiple cartons in a suitcase could also cause a problem. For example, here's Tennessee's law for transporting cigarettes across state lines:

"Possessing more than 20 packs (or two cartons) of cigarettes not bearing Tennessee revenue stamps is a misdemeanor. Such products and any vehicle(s) used to transport them are subject to seizure. Possession of more than 25 cartons of untaxed cigarettes is a Class E felony."

“If Revenue agents believe that an individual is transporting more than two cartons of cigarettes into Tennessee, the vehicle carrying the cigarettes will be stopped and searched,” Commissioner Farr said. “If more than two cartons are found, the cigarettes will be seized and agents have the discretion to make arrests and seize the vehicle.”


......and the TSA checks this often? I can't imagine the TSA checking for tax seals. But since we're discussing Tennessee, how much moonshine can I fly with across state lines with?:D

On allot of airlines, on international flights the FA's go up and down the aisles and sell cartons of duty free smoke during the flights. Marlboro's are $12 a carton on EVA which is an AMAZING deal.

They have customs now between US domestic airports now? Damn, this taxation thing is really starting to spiral out of control ain't it?;)
Well of course. Haven't you heard of New Mexico? ;)


Actually in some states I think the law is even more restrictive in moving things between states because of taxation. I think in some cases there is no allowance, that said, since there is no customs it isnt often enforced. I have read intermittent news stories about someone getting busted however, usually with liquor rather than cigarettes. One I remember was Ohio police nailing someone buying booze in Kentucky and the other was someone in Maryland getting busted buying booze in the District. In both cases from low/no tax areas to higher tax areas.
I have friends in Delaware (no sales tax) who routinely "smuggle" cigs up to friends in NYC. The DE folks tack on a $5/carton fee to cover gas and the New York folks GLADLY pay so as to avoid local taxes!

There were rumors that PA State Police would send plain clothes officers to scope out the parking lot of Liquor World--a liquor store the size of a grocery store just inside the DE border--looking for PA cars. Liquor in PA is only sold by state-run stores. They would usually do this around the big holidays...Memorial Day, Labor Day etc. If they see some poor schmo loading up his car with booze for the BBQ, they'd radio the plate to a waiting trooper camped out by the rest stop just inside the PA state line. The waiting trooper would then pull over the unsuspecting Citizen on the pretense of speeding etc. Then the trooper would ask to search the car for illegal drugs etc. Of course Joe Citizen agrees because he's go nothing to hide. The trooper then "discovers" the booze in the trunk and writes up a big fat ticket for interstate liquor trafficking, tax evasion etc.


......and the TSA checks this often? I can't imagine the TSA checking for tax seals. But since we're discussing Tennessee, how much moonshine can I fly with across state lines with?:D
Well as much as you can fit in your kippie back but no more than 3oz per container. Of course, if you state it's for medicinal purposes, well then bring the jug! :D

But since we're discussing Tennessee, how much moonshine can I fly with across state lines with?:D

Don't forget that for safety reasons your hooch must be under 140 proof. Ask your supplier for his special Air Travel Edition White Lightnin. :D

as of right now...how many cartons can I bring with me from CA to NY

any difference between carry on and checked?

I heard that New York State checks all incoming international custom declaration forms from New York State residents who declare their allowable Federal tax free liquor and cigarettes and send them a bill for the New York State taxes on these purchases because New York State has a zero tax free limit.

Mr. Elliott

One I remember was Ohio police nailing someone buying booze in Kentucky and the other was someone in Maryland getting busted buying booze in the District. In both cases from low/no tax areas to higher tax areas.

Yup. There's a big liquor store in Covington, KY, right at the end of the bridge from Cincinnati. On the other hand, in northern Ohio, there's an Ohio state liquor store on the Pennsylvania line.

But I can remember when Pennsylvania police arrested people for buying milk in Ohio. It's not a tax issue - Pennsylvania has, or had, high minimum prices for milk.

would they say something on 4 cartons?

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I heard that New York State checks all incoming international custom declaration forms from New York State residents who declare their allowable Federal tax free liquor and cigarettes and send them a bill for the New York State taxes on these purchases because New York State has a zero tax free limit.

Mr. Elliott

Hasn't happened to me yet but I haven't brought in whisky for a while. I find it hard to believe. Did you actually get a bill?

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Hasn't happened to me yet but I haven't brought in whisky for a while. I find it hard to believe. Did you actually get a bill?

I live in Connecticut, but it was in an article I read in the New York Times a few years ago, but maybe New York State decided it was not worth the money to collect a few dollars in taxes.

Mr. Elliott

as of right now...how many cartons can I bring with me from CA to NY

any difference between carry on and checked?

Unless you are driving in a truckload and get pulled over by NY police and don't have a manifest, they will never know (or care). Not like there are arriving customs checks for interstate flights (yet).

Carry on will reduce the risk of damage. Checking will increase the risk of a TSO or baggage handler contracting lung cancer from your stolen cigarettes.

Yup. There's a big liquor store in Covington, KY, right at the end of the bridge from Cincinnati.


The Party Source. It's in Newport. There used to be one in Covington, too, but I think it closed.

In any event, you are correct. The costs are significantly different between Ohio and Kentucky for booze. The Ohio Patrol used to stake out the Party Source stores during the holidays and radio to their troopers just across the bridge to stop cars w/Ohio tags headed back into the state. They did it during high-volume times and occasionally at other times through the year. They would then ticket/arrest/issue summons for bringing too much booze into the state.

Not sure they're still doing it.

I bring a couple of cartons with me to Hawaii two or three times a year in my carry on. No one has ever even batted an eyelash at me about this. There is no law that I know of about carrying ciggs from state to state.

The only thing the TSA ever asked me about it was if I planned on smoking a lot while away. I asked him if he had ever bought ciggs in Hawaii and told him how much they cost over there and that I was going to be there for three weeks. He laughed and I was on my way.

You will be fine.