Personal experience with TSA and Cigars?

[MarkinAZ]

In August, I flew from Burbank to Yuma via Phoenix on business for a week. Then, returned Yuma to Burbank again via Phoenix. In both instances, I had packed my small herf box in my check-in bag. The Palio and PB207 were packed in my shaving kit which was also packed in my check-in.

Everything made it to Yuma. On completion of the return trip back home, I opened my check-in bag and noticed a small leaflet placed inside, that indicated my bag had undergone a random inspection by TSA in Yuma. All cigars, Palio, and PB207 were accounted for...

[Weelok]

My experience is cigars are fine checked or carried but good idea to pack them in some bubble wrap but your choice.

Matches need to be in carry on. I've had matches confiscated twice in checked luggage and the rules say they will take them in checked but your ok to bring them as carry on. Go figure?

Cutters I'd put in checked to be safe.

Forget lighters but they will allow BICs as carry on. No jet lighters.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...d-items.shtm#9

They are a less rabid these days but as in all cases TSA is free to use random logic and once they confiscate something just smile and move on. Arguing wont get your items back and just make you frustrated.

Have a safe trip

[N2 GOLD]

Carry on DO NOT check in....

Only check in your lighter & cutters...

I flew with my cigars at the beginning of the summer. I brought a five count Cigar Caddy (filled), a five-pack of Origen Originals, a cheap steel cutter, and a Bic. I packed them all in my carry-on. The guy doing the x-ray did stop and look a little more closely at my stuff and then asked me if I had a torch or soft flame for my sticks. No biggie.

[Barcode]

I had them ask me to open my Pelican case so they could see what my cigar stand was. While it was open she did a quick swab rub to make sure there was no explosive residue on the case. But other than that no problems and I always carry on and I usually have a print out of the TSA rules in the case.

[MurphysLaw]

I flew a week and a half ago, cigars, bic lighter, and punch in my carry-on, not a word was said about any of it at either airport.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by MurphysLaw

I flew a week and a half ago, cigars, bic lighter, and punch in my carry-on, not a word was said about any of it at either airport.

Soft flame lighters like Zippo's and Bic's are OK. Only torch lighters are forbidden.

Guillotine style cutters are supposed to be OK too. I usually carry a cheap ligher and cutter with me and check my more expensive cutter. Never had a problem.

[bighairlogo]

heres a link to the prohibited items list
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...ted-items.shtm
and phone number
1-866-289-9673
always good to call and hear it from them before losing any sticks or accessories

[replicant_argent]

Never trust the luggage monkeys/TSA with your cigars, carry them on. For that matter, I have had an early/introductory model EverTorch in checked luggage 60% disassembled and the parts (all of them tiny, mind you) just tossed back in loose, after they "inspected" it. Groping old ladies and kids, unable to see that a lighter is just a lighter, etc. There is a reason I am a cynical, cranky, approaching curmudgeonly old man.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by bighairlogo

heres a link to the prohibited items list
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...ted-items.shtm
and phone number
1-866-289-9673
always good to call and hear it from them before losing any sticks or accessories

Unfortunately, whoever you might have spoken with on the phone will NOT be the one screening you. Informative? Maybe. But I wouldn't bank on it.

[jledou]

In general carrying on Cigars, a bic type lighter and a guillotine style cutter has not been a problem for me flying both domestically and internationally except for no lighters at all in China.
I don't fly with my Palio just in case but I have not had a problem so far to date.

[bighairlogo]

Originally Posted by pnoon

Unfortunately, whoever you might have spoken with on the phone will NOT be the one screening you. Informative? Maybe. But I wouldn't bank on it.

[kydsid]

Oh the stories I could tell about my personal experiences with TSA

[Blak Smyth]

I carried my cigars on before, I was stopped after the bag ran through the xray and they searched my bag. They pulled out a summer sausage and said "Ahhh, it's just summer sausage. Sets the detector off everytime". No issues with the cigars, but it had me sweating.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by pnoon

Unfortunately, whoever you might have spoken with on the phone will NOT be the one screening you. Informative? Maybe. But I wouldn't bank on it.

I agree Peter. I am also not sure that carrying a copy of the rules and regulations would help you when you are questioned -- even though the regulations state that both soft-flame lighters and cigar cutters are permitted...

[Parshooter]

I've had TSA open and go through my traveldor full of banded Cuban cigars. They aren't looking for illegal cigars, just stuff that can blow **** up.

[poker]

I used to travel for a living (field service engineer) for years both domestically & internationally. TSA dosent give a rats @ss about your cigars (Cuban or non-Cuban) and focus on items they deem dangerous. I have traveled with banded cigars in both checked and carry on luggage. I never carry a torch style lighter. My cutter is usually always in my checked luggage if I bring one at all. Never had a problem to this day.

Just for the record US Customs is the one looking for contraband, not TSA.

[markem]

Originally Posted by poker

I used to travel for a living (field service engineer) for years both domestically & internationally. TSA dosent give a rats @ss about your cigars (Cuban or non-Cuban) and focus on items they deem dangerous. I have traveled with banded cigars in both checked and carry on luggage. I never carry a torch style lighter. My cutter is usually always in my checked luggage if I bring one at all. Never had a problem to this day.

Just for the record US Customs is the one looking for contraband, not TSA.

but for the record, I almost always have a non-metallic torch lighter in my luggage shoved in the shaving kit. I use the cheapie from DealExtreme (which is changing to dx.com), specifically this one:
http://dx.com/p/compact-1300-c-butan...&s=1455&u=4179
I order it in quantities of 25 or 50 and pass them out like candy. In 5 years, I am on lighter #3.

[Nathan]

I bring a cheap cutter and my 8 count with a bic regularly and never get bothered.

[cjhalbrooks]

Hey b I will bring a lighter and gilly to pass if your worried. All I ask is bring good cigars to pass lol