As smoking has been banned on flights for many years it is perhaps surprising that people still might ask can you bring a lighter on a plane but of course as so many people travel with only hand luggage today, and may wish to smoke when they arrive, perhaps it isn’t so surprising.
So it is important that you understand what the rules are with regard to can you fly with a lighter so that you do not get yours confiscated.
The rules can be different if traveling abroad and passing through airport security in another country too.
The Quick Answer: Are lighters allowed on planes? TSA rules allow you to bring a lighter on a plane but there are restrictions on where you can carry it and what type of lighter you can take. Disposable and zippo-type lighters (without fuel) can be carried in your carry on but generally, lighters containing fuel cannot go in checked bags.
Absolutely, you can carry a lighter on a plane but you are allowed to only take one lighter on board the aircraft with you. The lighter can either be in your carry on bag or in your pocket.
But … you must not remove the lighter during the flight.
Note: In most of Europe you can take a lighter on board with you but it must only be carried on your person, not in your carry on.
It is quite surprising in some ways that you can take one in the cabin at all as pretty much anything else that is potentially dangerous are either only allowed in checked bags or not allowed at all.
You cannot take all types of lighter in the cabin with you in your hand luggage though. Basically, you can take only take butane lighters and zippo lighters with you on board.
To be on the safe side I would always advise that you take a cheap disposable one. Then, if it were to be confiscated, it wouldn’t be such a big deal. After all, you wouldn’t want an expensive one, or one with sentimental value (your grandfather’s Zippo perhaps), to be taken away.
This is a recent reply to someone asking about carrying lighters on a plane:
1: You arre allowed one disposable or Zippo-type lighter in carry-on bags. Please note that disposable and Zippo lighters without fuel are allowed in checked bags.
2: Lighters with fuel aren’t allowed in checked baggage unless they adhere to the Department of Transportation exemption, which allows up to two fueled lighters if properly enclosed in a DOT-approved case. For more on traveling with lighters, please see: http://bit.ly/2ShflvS
TSA cigarette lighter rules state that you cannot carry lighters in checked baggage that have any fuel in them (see next paragraph). This applies to Zippo or disposable lighters. But why you would want to take an empty disposable lighter with you I cannot imagine.
According to the TSA website, the exception is that you may take two with fuel in them in your checked baggage provided they are in a DOT-approved lighter case.
These are approved airtight cases designed for lighters that allow up to two lighters to be carried in checked baggage. You can buy them on Amazon – Exotac fireSleeve lighter case.
You are only allowed to take one lighter in your hand luggage or in your pocket. In much of Europe you must keep it on your person, in your pocket so it is probably best to always carry it there.
The reason for this is the unlikely event of it lighting automatically. If it happened in your pocket you would immediately be aware of it and stop it. If it happened in your carry on in the luggage bin above your seat then a bigger fire could start before it was noticed.
You can also take up to two lighters in your checked bags but they MUST be in a DOT approved lighter case.
The following types of lighters are not allowed in carry on or checked baggage: arc lighters, plasma lighters, gun lighters, jet lighters, electronic lighters, torch lighters, chef torches, micro torches, utility torches, E-lighters, blue flame lighters or cigar lighters.
It is perhaps not surprising that you cannot take novelty lighters in the shape of a gun – although some try to!
This is a reply to a passenger asking can you bring torch lighters on a plane:
You are permitted to take a zippo lighter that contains fuel with you through the airport security checkpoint and onto a plane in your carry on bag. However, only a zippo lighter without fuel is permitted to be packed in your checked baggage.
The most often asked question on Google regarding lighters is “Can you bring a Bic lighter on a plane?” The answer is yes. Because disposable Bic lighters are butane lighters you can take them in carry on.
As a Bic lighter is classified as a disposable lighter you may take one with you in your carry on, or on your person in your pocket.
You can take a Bic lighter in checked baggage but only if they are in a DOT approved lighter case.
Perhaps you will not be surprised to hear that you cannot take any form of lighter fuel on an aircraft, whether it is butane, some other gas, petrol or any other form of fuel.
This applies to taking lighter fuel in either carry on bags or checked baggage. Don’t even attempt it as the security agents will not be amused. Buy some at your destination or use disposable lighters.
You can take one box/book of safety matches in your carry on, or in your pocket, but they cannot go in your checked baggage. You are not permitted to be carrying matches that are non-safety matches or strike-anywhere matches at all.
Cigarettes can be taken on a plane without a problem and you can take a lighter with them provided it is one that is allowed in either carry on or checked bags. See the rules above.
See my full posts about these for further information:
Although I have never smoked, both of my wives have been smokers. Oddly both had given up when I first met them but started again soon after. It must be something about me! So I do have some experience knowing what it is like for smokers to go so long without a cigarette.
Since the biggest problem is caused by nicotine withdrawal, chewing nicotine gum seems to be the consensus of most people that helps the most. An alternative would be a nicotine patch. Others try sucking candy or mints.
Perhaps if you are going on a very long flight it might be the time to kick-start giving up completely. Well just a thought!
You may also be interested to know if you can vape on a plane? and if you will be flying out of a UK airport you may find my article “Can you smoke in UK and Irish airports? A full list of airport smoking areas” of interest.
Actually, as someone who has never smoked, I find it quite interesting when I am at an airport waiting to meet someone arriving on a flight.
I see so many people who come out of the arrivals hall, with their cigarette already between their fingers, and their lighter in the other hand, heading for the exit as fast as they can. They light up, literally, as they pass through the exit! I guess they do need their lighters.
Can you bring a lighter on a plane? The TSA rules state that you can bring a lighter on a plane but there are restrictions on where you can carry it and what type of lighter you can take.
Disposable and zippo-type lighters (without fuel) can be carried in carry on but generally, lighters containing fuel cannot go in checked bags.
Cigarette lighters must be kept on your person (in a pocket etc) or safely in your carry on bags at all times and should never be taken out while onboard. Lighters containing fuel are not permitted in your checked luggage. Lighter fluid is never allowed.
Generally lighters are permitted on domestic flights in most countries of the world, including the US. But they must be on your person and not in checked luggage if they contain fuel.
Butane cigarette lighters are allowed on a plane in your carry on baggage or in your pocket. Butane torch lighters (the sort used to light pipes) are not permitted in a carry on bag.
If a lighter (or fumes) are detected in your checked luggage then the bag will likely not be allowed on the plane and the lighter confiscated. Your checked baggage will certainly be opened to check.
You can only pack empty lighters in checked bags (none that contain fuel) so as Bic lighters are disposable there would be little point in packing one there.
