Recently, I sent a simple question by e-mail to the TSA:

Could you please let me know if all cigarette lighters will be banned under
the new regulations or only those containing butane as specified by the
Intelligence Bill?

I travel to the States often and carry a Zippo (which has no butane). Will
this be permissible in the future?

The reply obviously required considerable thought and analysis as it took three days for them to respond, but it unquestionably went straight to heart of my inquiry:

Thank you for your e-mail message. So that we can better assist you we encourage you to call us at 1-866-289-9673.

If you are outside the United States and cannot use the toll free-number, please call us at 1-571-227-2900.

We encourage you to visit our website at http://www.tsa.dot.gov for additional information about TSA. All travelers, and particularly those who travel infrequently, are encouraged to visit the section on travel tips before their trip. The website has information about prohibited and permitted items, the screening process and procedures, and guidance for special considerations, that may assist in preparing for air travel. You can go directly to these tips at www.TSATravelTips.us.

We hope this information is helpful.

TSA Contact Center

I really think, Dovster, that this is a sign from God that he wants you to quit smoking.

I am not certain. I asked God and he sent me an e-mail giving me His Customer Support telephone number and the URL of His website, indicating that I could get the answer there.

Would you mind sharing His e-mail address? I too have a few unanswered questions. Shoot, I would even be happy to get the URL for His website or the customer service number.

Is that guy Peter still answering the calls? I hope so. The last time I talked with him, he was a lot more informative than Intelligence Bill.

You can click through from www.walla.co.il

I've got it! I've got it!

That's why all those Biblical dudes went barefoot or just wore sandals! There are shoe sniffers at the "pearly gates" !!

Good lord! Who knew?

Thanks for the great laugh! A good way to start the day. ^

ROTFLMAO! At last, someone with a sane explanation for all our security woes! Did you know that these biblical dudes wore only sackcloth as well?

They were Delta FA's and, unlike the pilots, not unionized. Therefore they couldn't afford anything else.

Hmmm, that explains the snack I got on board the other day, it tasted kinda like locusts and honey!!!

And now I've finally figured out what to do with that leaf of lettuce in my meals.

My friends, bow your heads and lettuce pray.

Nothing upsets me more than when I get this kind of response from customer service. You ask a simple question and they tell you to call. Or you ask one question in no uncertain terms, and they "answer" a completely different question.

And if someone had replied quickly.....then you would have said they have too much help or they should get back to shoe sniffing or too much time on their hands or the hundred other replies I have seen here.....the response directed you to where to find your answer....

I bet you would not have been happy if the Admiral himself answered you....because most of the PITA's here would not be.....all of you know so much..... find the bill and read it yourself...you obviously feel so superior to TSA surely you can figure the answer out yourself....why rely on those you feel are so poorly trained....and we all know ,according to you, TSA will do what they want anyway....

Oh and OP? why do you carry a zippo lighter with no lighter fluid anyway? I can guess...but I am curious as to your reply....

No, the response does not direct me where to find the answer. The TSA list of banned items has not been updated on the website.

I would have been happy if anybody had given me a straight answer -- be it an admiral, a yeoman second class, or an ex-PFC.

All they had to say was:

1. Your Zippo will be allowed.
2. Your Zippo will not be allowed.
3. We have not yet decided.


I thought I remembered you being a former teacher. Is "reading comprehension" no longer part of the curriculum?

Nowhere did I say I carry a Zippo lighter with no lighter fluid. I said that a Zippo does not contain butane. Butane was specifically banned under the new Intelligence Law but lighters which do not use butane were not. The question remains whether or not the TSA will allow such lighters.