I haven't been traveling much since last summer when the ban was lifted. What are the effects of lifting the ban? Has anyone still had their lighters confiscated? Is there a limit to number of lighters that can be brought on board? Also, has the policy changed in international airports?

Lighters are allowed, except for torch lighters. Effects are less bag checks. No limit, but if you walk through with a 100 lighters in a ziplock, you might get a couple checks.

2 weeks ago I was outside MCO with a woman who had hers confiscated at PHL, I gave her one of the 4 I had in my bag when I passed through security, also at PHL!

..."Uhh, your lighter is okay but we are confiscating the 3.6 oz. bottle of shampoo 'cause you could light dat and God only knows what would happen....now, those 9 other 3.0 oz. bottles wit dat clear liquid dat smells like gasoline, dats okay...."

TSA Logic - Keeping The Tewowists Confused and Layered.

Was her old one a torch lighter? They make a big stink about how much more deadly it is I wouldn't be suprised if it wasn't though.

donsig - Stop being logical, youll blows up the interweb.

What does the TSA define as a "torch lighter?" Is there a certain criteria? Is it the kind with the blue flame or even the long ones that can be used for lighting a grill?

I had a very nice and expensive "torch" lighter confiscated after clearing customs in DTW a couple years ago. I had purchased it empty during a stop over in Manila and had no problems getting it through in my carry on. I simply explained that it was empty and that i had no means of filling it. After clearing US Customs and rechecking bags it was confiscated by an officer who had a bulge in her pocket which appeared to be a pack of Newport. Although I suspected she was confiscating it for her own use, I was pretty much powerless to do anything. Maybe I SHOULD have checked it but quite frankly it was of value and I didn't trust the baggage screeners or handlers from 3 seperate countries enough to put it there.

I guess it would be better to just carry a BIC and be on the safe side. They aren't worth much and can be easily obtained. I was thinking of packing 3-4. id imagine having more than a reasonable amount could justifiably raise suspicion. In any case, its a lot better than the disposable matches, especially considering we were limited to 4 books of those.

That's the beauty of it, TSA has not given a clear definition of "torch" lighters, other then telling us they have a blue flame and burn hotter. I don't think that's a reasonable guideline.