On my recent flight out of Terminal 3 at ORD, TSA came across one of my turbo butane lighters that they must have seen through the Xray machine. I wanted to smoke in the Admirals Club and I didn't realize there were any restrictions I had one in each jacket pocket and one in my carryon bag. He took the one in my jacket pocket. He started playing with it. I could tell right away that he liked it and was going to keep it for himself. He went to go speak to 2 supervisors/managers about this matter. This is what he said: "refillable butane lighters were not allowed into the main cabin. only disposable lighters were allowed." he was very "sorry" and asked me if he could escort me back to the ticket counter. I guess for the counter agent to somehow find my checked luggage and for me to put it in there and then wait again to go through security.

I told him no thank you and have a nice day and asked if I could continue on. He was again apologetic and sent me on my way. I was not sarcastic or threatening in any way. I just wanted to get to the AC lounge(it's quite a distance from the front of the airport)and have a cig lit by one of my remaining 2 lighters.

What's my point? I am not mad that they took my lighter. A little annoyed maybe. I am miffed by how they didn't find the other lighters and why on the rest of my trip(5 airports worldwide)I never had a problem with my lighters. More troubling is that I saw many folks in the smoking room at the AC with lighters similiar to the one that got took.

I wanted to pull another lighter out of my pocket in front of TSA but I wisely chose not to Losing one was enough for the day. I didn't want to lose another lighter trying to make a point.

A little consistency might help.