airport security

[mrspadge]

can i take a cigarette lighter onto a plane leaving from gatwick

[Trotbot]

Depends where the plane is going. To the USA, no. To most other places, yes.

[ugly_bob]

didn'y know that about US. You can take ONE lighter onto the plane with you, none in the hold luggage. Throw away any free lighters you get on the end of duty free fags - the airlines don't like these

[chazza]

I think it depends on the airline

I took 2 lighters on a plane from New York last month with no problem.

Check with the airline

[heathfield]

It's airline dependent at UK airports, but security don't know whose flight you're on and don't seem to care. But lighters are definitely prohibited when boarding any flight in the US.

[chazza]

Heathfield I would disagree, as I said above, I boarded a flight at a New York airport and was never even asked if I was carrying lighters (which I was)

[Trotbot]

Chazza, just because you took lighters onto a plane does not mean you were allowed to, it just means they were not found. Check in desks on flight to and in the USA have signs that state lighters are now prohibited on flights. Bet they didn't ask about paint either, but you can't take that on board either.

However, there will be lots of cases where people do take lighters on board that security have missed. Can you take a lighter on board, no. Will you be able to in practice, possibly.

[chazza]

Should they not even have checked if i had them though? I would still say that the answer to the original question is 'yes'

[chazza]

Sorry should have added, there were no signs at the checkin desks either