Another Tale of TSA Brilliance!

[Corylax18]

I was flying back to Denver from Las Vegas late last night and forgot to put my FOH Cigar Traveler lighter in my checked bag. TSA uses Electronic/computer based scanners to check the majority of the carry on baggage at the airport and the software was able to identify and flag the empty plastic case, but not the internal fuel cartridge.

The TSA agent pulled my bag aside, rummaged through it, found the "Torch lighter" in question and told me he would have to confiscate it because "Torch lighters can get hot enough to burn through the Aluminum aircraft skin."

Not wanting to loose the outer case, I explained that what he was holding was an inert, non functioning piece of plastic without the fuel cartridge, he repeated that it was a torch lighter and was forbidden in either my checked bag or a carry on. He gave it to another agent who walked it over to the supervisors desk to place it with the rest of the items they confiscate for "removal and destruction" At this point I asked to speak with the supervisor, and he was more than willing to do so. (It was late, the airport was empty)

I proceeded to remove the fuel cartridge from my bag, put the lighter together and show the supervisor how it worked. I then offered to give them the fuel cartridge (the dangerous part, that I have several more of) so that I could bring the lighter body onto the plane.

The supervisor disassembled and reassembled the lighter a few times, lit it, took it back apart and handed all three pieces back to me with an apology. He showed it to both of the other agents I had interacted with and told them why he was letting it through and that they could do so in the future if they saw something similar. He then proceeded to tell me how I can more easily get it (A torch than can burn through aircraft skin) past TSA in the future. If anyone is curious, just make sure all three pieces of the lighter are separated from each other and in different areas of your bag if possible. 

[Ethernut]

That’s funny that you got popped for the the lighter. Traveling like I do, I always instinctively separate the lighter into 3 pieces and have them in separate areas of my bag and have never had a problem. Very nice to have my favorite torch wherever I am! Glad they didn’t take it man!

[Islandboy]

That’s actually a promising tale of interaction and intelligence...you know, the way it should work.

[Silverstix]

Did this same thing when traveling internationally a couple of weeks ago.  Put the disposable lighter in my wifes backpack, and the torch outer plastic piece in my bag.  Nice to see that TSA is telling you how to smuggle potentially dangerous stuff onto the plane, what a bunch of morons.

[Connoisseur Kim]

Thank you for sharing the funny experience! I am actually surprised that how TSA agent told you to carry FOH lighter more safely instead of confiscation!

 

 

I feel glad that I also have FOH torch like you! By the way, how do I bring my XIKAR Executive II safely to my country? It is my Bday torch so I really want to keep it as well [it is available in my country but way too overpriced ($110+)].

 

나의 SHV-E300S 의 Tapatalk에서 보냄

[El Presidente]

Cory

Buy a lottery ticket.  You have witnessed TSA/Border Patrol at an airport change their mind. 

 

[Fuzz]

Just don't carry half a dozen of the fuel component in your carry on, like somebody I know.

[El Presidente]

4 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Just don't carry half a dozen of the fuel component in your carry on, like somebody I know.

Hey!  We were on our way back from Cuba. I was tired! 

It wasn't a good look when they found 10 fuel canisters in my carry on 

[Fuzz]

4 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Hey!  We were on our way back from Cuba. I was tired! 

It wasn't a good look when they found 10 fuel canisters in my carry on 

Ben didn't appreciate it when he got pulled out of line, and had his bags thoroughly examined.

Though, that guy with the 2 bottles of Coke didn't seem to have problems getting through the scanner. Was hilarious when the "COP" confiscated the one he was drinking... so he pulled out the other when she left.

[Corylax18]

4 hours ago, Ethernut said:

That’s funny that you got popped for the the lighter. Traveling like I do, I always instinctively separate the lighter into 3 pieces and have them in separate areas of my bag and have never had a problem. Very nice to have my favorite torch wherever I am! Glad they didn’t take it man!

I usually break it down and check it too, but I had been in Vegas for 4 days and still had a bit of a buzz working. I didn't even realize it was still in my pocket until after I check in. 

4 hours ago, Islandboy said:

That’s actually a promising tale of interaction and intelligence...you know, the way it should work.

One of the officers was a bit of a dick, but the other one and their supervisor were very cool about the whole thing. I was also calm, respectful and the soberest one in a group of drunk A$$holes, so they may have just wanted to get rid of us. ?

28 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Cory

Buy a lottery ticket.  You have witnessed TSA/Border Patrol at an airport change their mind. 

 

You have no idea. It was the luckiest weekend of my life. It started with a free room upgrade at check in, then I rolled the dice for about 40 minutes, cleared the board and paid the table about $13,000 before I crapped out, At check out they comped the room for one night, then this incident and finally there were open seats on an earlier flight back to Denver, so I got home an hour and a half earlier. I only wish I'd bet heavier! 

[Drguano]

I had a Xikar torch lighter in my carry on when I flew from Minneapolis to Puerto Vallarta and no one noticed. Coming back, same lighter was in my carry on. The Mexican equivalent of TSA found it,  The guy held it up, looked at me, flicked the torch and produced a nice blue flame. I thought it was a goner. "Uno momento, por favor..." He went over to two other guys, they looked it over, lit it a few times and then put it in a bin by itself and ran it through the X-ray. They chatted a bit more and then handed the Xikar to me and went back to work.

[ac031898]

Totally by accident I found these MK single torch lighters at the gas station down the street from me for $1.49 apiece...looks like a standard disposable soft flame lighter and is priced right for TSA confiscation. Keep one in my travel bag now and haven’t had any issues in over 20 flights. It’s also refillable. Good option for travel since they’re so cheap!

[Connoisseur Kim]

2 hours ago, Drguano said:

I had a Xikar torch lighter in my carry on when I flew from Minneapolis to Puerto Vallarta and no one noticed. Coming back, same lighter was in my carry on. The Mexican equivalent of TSA found it,  The guy held it up, looked at me, flicked the torch and produced a nice blue flame. I thought it was a goner. "Uno momento, por favor..." He went over to two other guys, they looked it over, lit it a few times and then put it in a bin by itself and ran it through the X-ray. They chatted a bit more and then handed the Xikar to me and went back to work.

Glad that you got your XIKAR lighter back! Seems that it really varies a lot (not sure about airport security and customs in my country since they are really rigorous unlike the past)...

[IanMcLean68]

Nothing is sacred. I've heard that Father Christmas lost his whiskers flying TSA, hey!

[Capt. Corona]

TSA clowns....

Recently traveled from Sky Harbor to Detroit metro.  No problems what so ever.

Coming back 5 days later and leaving Detroit ....

The only difference in our carry on luggage was the clothes were worn and just jammed back in the bags.  They stopped us both and proceeded to take both our toothpaste tubes....my shaving cream...and when they got to her facial products she hell no and said she would check her bag.  Now mind you, I was right in front of her and the things they took from me were still sitting right there on the counter.....I asked since she is checking her bag can you just put my tooth paste and shaving cream in her bag?  OH NO...that has already been confiscated and we can't do that!  Are you kidding me?

So they escort her back down stairs to allow her to check the bag for a belly ride and she comes back thru "tightened security" once again approximately 10 minutes later.

We're sitting at the gate waiting for our flight and she opens her purse and shows me her canister of pepper spray they missed TWICE in a matter of 10 minutes and I open my cigar travel container and show her my torch lighter still intact. 

I feel so much safer flying now that TSA has cracked down and tightened up on their security.  

[Corylax18]

9 hours ago, LonesomeHabanoAficionado said:

Glad that you got your XIKAR lighter back! Seems that it really varies a lot (not sure about airport security and customs in my country since they are really rigorous unlike the past)...

Yeah, this. Just like bringing cigars back through customs, you never know what's going to happen. Technically, blue flame torch lighters are banned on airplanes, hence the multi piece design of the Cigar Traveler lighter. I've never had a torch lighter pinched from my checked bag, and I've forgotten them/gotten them through in carry on as well. I think it really depends on the agents on duty. 

2 hours ago, Mr. Z said:

Can't blame the agent for that; after all, nobody ever went wrong just following orders.

I thought the Nazi's had pretty thoroughly debunked that one for us. I literally couldn't disagree any more than I do.

However, I completely agree with the rest of your statement. I'm pretty sure that it was a computer that flagged it initially, they were using one of the newer , more mechanized systems with the automatic bin return, real fancy stuff. The agents were courteous, professional and easy to work with/talk to. I returned the favor and treated them in the same fashion. 

I've traveled more than enough to know that they don't "pick on" people, well never me atleast.? I would argue that the only thing they really did wrong was let me on the plane with the assembled torch lighter after they told me it was banned and why. 

19 minutes ago, Capt. Corona said:

TSA clowns....

Yeah, they stopped publishing the test scores when the agents dropped to about a 95% failure rate. 

[aphexafx]

1 hour ago, Corylax18 said:

I thought the Nazi's had pretty thoroughly debunked that one for us. I literally couldn't disagree any more than I do.

Indirectly comparing a TSA agent who was simply following their subordinate directives (aka, doing their job) by questioning/pulling a torch lighter to the perpetration of crimes against humanity by the Nazi regime?  Jeeze.  ?  It is, in fact, their job to follow their directives and orders.  The TSA, like any agency, has a chain of command.

No system is infallible.  There are a lot of over stressed and hard working people in the TSA system.  I recommend everyone direct their superiority elsewhere.  They aren't trying to be brilliant.  They are trying to keep you and your families safe during air travel.  ?

[Edward7]

Glad it worked out. TSA is there for traveler safety. Often they seem pretty unqualified or unreasonable to deal with, but I think we too would sometimes lack patience if we had to deal with volumes of ridiculous people. The overwhelming majority of passengers fly less than once a year which means they have no grasp on rules, and do stupid sh*t all the time. Check out the stuff TSA confiscates daily on their Instagram page. It's hilarious.

[David88]

Wow that sounds pretty decent and helpful of them. Although I pity the next poor soul that they called over, they would have needed to treat someone pretty awful to get their karma back into balance!

[Corylax18]

22 hours ago, aphexafx said:

Indirectly comparing a TSA agent who was simply following their subordinate directives (aka, doing their job) by questioning/pulling a torch lighter to the perpetration of crimes against humanity by the Nazi regime?  Jeeze.  ?  It is, in fact, their job to follow their directives and orders.  The TSA, like any agency, has a chain of command.

No system is infallible.  There are a lot of over stressed and hard working people in the TSA system.  I recommend everyone direct their superiority elsewhere.  They aren't trying to be brilliant.  They are trying to keep you and your families safe during air travel.  ?

My goal wasn't to compare the individuals, just the underlying thought process. Nazi's were the 1st and most glaring example that came to my mind, but there are countless other examples of un-questioned "Order Following" being the wrong choice.

I don't necessarily like TSA or the fact that we need them, but unfortunately we do(in theory) and its not the TSA's fault that we do. In this instance they treated me professionally and respectfully, so no problems with the people. The reason for this post, and my negative thoughts towards TSA in general is that they let me on the plane with the banned lighter, told me how to smuggle it on the future and according to all published reports I've seen the allow roughly 75% - 95% of banned items onto planes everyday. 

I guess that success rate places them in range with the rest of the agencies in the U.S. government, but "blindly follow orders" clearly isn't generating acceptable results in practice. I won't heap praise or even respect any person, organization, or government agency that fails the VAST majority of the time. 

[ayepatz]

 

I always love it when we prove that, at FOH, we’re better than the rest of the internet. ?‍♂️

[Corylax18]

15 minutes ago, ayepatz said:

 

I always love it when we prove that, at FOH, we’re better than the rest of the internet. ?‍♂️

I've never heard of that before, but I googled it and proceeded to laugh very hard. Thank You Sir.  

[HopeUgood]

On 4/3/2019 at 12:02 PM, LonesomeHabanoAficionado said:

Thank you for sharing the funny experience! I am actually surprised that how TSA agent told you to carry FOH lighter more safely instead of confiscation!

 

 

I feel glad that I also have FOH torch like you! By the way, how do I bring my XIKAR Executive II safely to my country? It is my Bday torch so I really want to keep it as well [it is available in my country but way too overpriced ($110+)].

 

나의 SHV-E300S 의 Tapatalk에서 보냄

Mail it to yourself wherever you are going, otherwise you are rolling the dice I do believe. I foolishly flew to vegas with my new Colibri torch. I made it to Vegas but got popped on the way back. I am sure I could of repositioned some things to hide the lighter but after the 5 min conversation I had just had with TSA, they would of been pissed to find the same guy with the same lighter. I walked out of security with the lighter and walked up to some random working and asked him if he would enjoy this bran new lighter as it wasn't coming home with me. 

[Connoisseur Kim]

3 hours ago, HopeUgood said:

Mail it to yourself wherever you are going, otherwise you are rolling the dice I do believe. I foolishly flew to vegas with my new Colibri torch. I made it to Vegas but got popped on the way back. I am sure I could of repositioned some things to hide the lighter but after the 5 min conversation I had just had with TSA, they would of been pissed to find the same guy with the same lighter. I walked out of security with the lighter and walked up to some random working and asked him if he would enjoy this bran new lighter as it wasn't coming home with me. 

Thanks buddy!

[Oscar300]

I fly the same airline to Turkey every year, on the way out it needs to be in my case, on the way back it needs to be in my hand luggage.

Same plane, same staff.  The airport decides on the rule.

Ass hats, the lot of them.