Your experience? Toughest International Airports on Lighters.

[El Presidente]

 

It can be tough trying to navigate lighter regulations at airports around the world 

When I travel overseas, I generally take three lighters with me in check-in. The lighters are fully bled of gas and I rarely have any issue. 

Leaving Vietnam however, my bags were screened and I was called to security. Vietnam has a zero tolerance policy on lighters in check-in, bled of gas or not. In front of security, I showed that the lighters didn't "light", and they kindly said I could take them through carry on, which I did. Downside is that I am next transiting through Singapore which allows you one small normal flame lighter in your pocket but no torch lighters. Of course I now had three to navigate Singapore check-in with.  Arriving in Singapore and faced with this situation, I simply placed all three DuPont lighters in the screening tray with my phone, laptop, shoes etc and held my breath. I dodged a bullet as the tray was not set aside by screening and I arrived back in Oz with all three lighters in tow. 

Your experience with International Airports and cigar lighters? 

 

[Fuzz AI]

7 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Your experience with International Airports and cigar lighters? 

Ask Ben about that. I recall Ben having a spot of bother at the gate screening when we flying back through Panama. Didn't help that he looked like death warmed over, and had a bunch of lighters in his carry-on that you put there!

[El Presidente]

1 minute ago, Fuzz AI said:

Ask Ben about that. I recall Ben having a spot of bother at the gate screening when we flying back through Panama. Didn't help that he looked like death warmed over, and had a bunch of lighters in his carry-on that you put there!

.....good toughening up exercise 

[Chas.Alpha]

In the U.S., all torches go into checked bags, I think a bic is the only thing you can have carry-on. 🤔

[cnov]

I lost a torch lighter, v cutter and Xikar cutter at Sharma El Sheikh. I think the bastard just wanted them. 

[Skm672]

The toughest on lighters is India. Even matches don’t go through. You can fly in but leaving is always a challenge.

[abcd1234]

Regularly flying to and from LUX - Stockholm I never had issues with lighters (jet flame, soft flame) or cutters at least. 

[Engenheiro]

My anecdote:

Traveling from Toronto to Portugal, my lighter (ST Dupont Ligne 2) was in my carry-on, and full of butane. Security pulled me aside to check it out, asking if it was a torch.

Security then activated the lighter and blew on the flame to extinguish it, ensuring it was indeed a soft flame. 

Bled or not, I likely will never fly with my Dupont again. Don’t want to risk it being commandeered. 🙃

[BrightonCorgi]

I would never think of traveling with a nice lighter. Bic if anything at all.

[Dr vonPuffenberg]

I've flown with Bics and I think accidentally with a torch but never brought one on purpose. Flying to Madrid on Saturday and I'm not going to bring anything. I'll just grab something cheap when I land and if that means no torches for a week, so be it. I don't mind if I lose a cheap torch, I just don't want any hassle while flying with the wife.

[Greenhorn2]

I buy a cheap POS when I get to my destination and just leave it there.

[ATGroom]

On 5/4/2026 at 10:57 AM, El Presidente said:

Vietnam has a zero tolerance policy on lighters in check-in, bled of gas or not.

A lot of locals were saying to carry the jet lighters in your pocket leaving Vietnam, but my experience (in other countries) has always been that jet lighters are fine in checked baggage but get taken if you have them in carry on.

I decided to roll the dice and put two plastic torches (with gas) in the pocket of my checked so they could take them without opening the main bag, and a Dupont (new in box, no gas) deep inside the bag. I watched the board of the people being called for inspection very anxiously, but my name never showed up and all lighters arrived in Hong Kong just fine.

For those who want to travel with a torch in carry on, Mus put me onto these cheapies from AliExpress a few years ago.

Basically it looks like a Bic but is actually a torch. You have to twist the ring around and then strike the flint. They also make more plasticy models that look even more Bic like.

I've carried them many times, including having had the security people inspect it and try and strike the flint, without having a confiscation.

[Stogeyfish]

I have used this domestically and internationally, including recently entering/exiting Vietnam. Always crossed my fingers but have never had any issues.

[Çnote]

On 5/3/2026 at 7:57 PM, El Presidente said:

all three DuPont

Ballsy to carry a small fortune around. 

[El Presidente]

1 hour ago, Çnote said:

Ballsy to carry a small fortune around. 

30 years taking lighters and never an issue if bled and in check-in. Overconfident 

[pohlmad]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

30 years taking lighters and never an issue if bled and in check-in. Overconfident 

Once you get to your destination, is it a struggle to find the ST DuPont specific butane to then use the lighters?  I love my DuPont lighters but never travel with them because of that inconvenience. Maybe you have the trick you can share!

[El Presidente]

5 minutes ago, pohlmad said:

Once you get to your destination, is it a struggle to find the ST DuPont specific butane to then use the lighters?  I love my DuPont lighters but never travel with them because of that inconvenience. Maybe you have the trick you can share!

As long as it is 11 X plus, I am not fussed. Generally I have a LCDH or similar around to source. 

[JohnnyO]

On 5/3/2026 at 11:18 PM, Chas.Alpha said:

In the U.S., all torches go into checked bags, I think a bic is the only thing you can have carry-on. 🤔

In the US you can check in as many torches as you want if they are empty but they have to be in a specific DOT approved case. In hand you can have one disposable lighter (Bic) or Zippo type, you could even have a gas grill lighter. Coming out of Cuba they don't want you to have any lighters. Matches you have to sneak on in your carry on. Nassau, Bahamas is the only legitimate cigar lounge I have seen recently and they also had a large outside smoking area. Miami in D35 (TGI Fridays) has a smoking area as well. John 

[wooly]

I've had them confiscated in both Heathrow & Manchester in the UK, along with Madrid in Spain. 

I'm positive it's because they like the lighter. Since the aforementioned instances, I've carried a cheap free jet lighter and never had a problem. 

[VeguerosMAN]

My ST Dupont maxijet was confiscated at El Dorado International airport in Bogota, Colombia in 2019. A security officer told me that they will mail it back to my address in the US, but it still hasn't arrived. I am losing hope.