U.S. Travel with Cuban Cigars

[smokum]

Guys...I am heading to Sarasota for the Thanksgiving Holiday week...I plan on bringing along 30 cigars or so in an Extreme travel humi which is like a small briefcase. Should I carry it on or pack it in my luggage ?? Any other helpful hints ? I dont want my stuff confiscated. I imagine it would look like 30 sticks of TNT under Xray !!

[yossie]

» Guys...I am heading to Sarasota for the Thanksgiving Holiday week...I plan

» on bringing along 30 cigars or so in an Extreme travel humi which is like

» a small briefcase. Should I carry it on or pack it in my luggage ?? Any

» other helpful hints ? I dont want my stuff confiscated. I imagine it would

» look like 30 sticks of TNT under Xray !!

put the bands off.:-D

[Tampa1257]

Bob, I have traveled all over the country with my cigars in a travel humidor. I always carry them as carry on luggage. The TSA people have no clue as to what a Cuban cigar is so leave the bands on, not a problem. Cigar cutters are allowed, but lighters are still an issue. I have one of the TSA approved lighter carriers that has to go into checked luggage. Other than that, maybe some of us can get you to come out and play one evening while you are in the area? Just bring along a few extras, you get around us and your wife will think you have become a chimney!

[Sandman]

Just like Tampa said, leave the bands on and carry on. They don't give a damn. I have done this many times in the past 2 years. Also it seems they could care less coming back into the country from abroad. I have done this twice in the past year (both Ft Lauderdale and L.A.) and they didn't take a 2nd look, even after going through the giant X ray machine.

[VigorishSLC]

I have never had a problem travelling within and out of the US. I even stash one of my lighters deep within my toiletry kit and it has made it with me at least a dozen times.

[smokum]

Thanks guys, thats a relief. Tampa...I know a bunch of you are trying to hook up after Thanksgiving and I wish I could make it. These kids run me ragged once we step of the plane in Sarasota ! My wife already thinks I'm a chimney so I have that covered.:-D

[trumpetchris]

Just to be safe, I'd pull the bands on any Habanos. Bring them as carry on- and put the bands in your checked bag, re-clothe them when you arrive.Better to have a naked stick than a fine.

[Matthew]

As people have said, no issues with TSA, so don't worry.

I'd do carry-on so that your babies are not subjected to temp and pressure extremes that the cargo areas encounter.

[tigger]

I'm probably overthinking this, but you might put your smokes in a ziplock and carry them in your carry on, and put the humi in your checked luggage, then put it all back together on arrival.

Seems to me that the travel box in a carry on invites scrutiny, and while I doubt TSA generally would have any issues with the origin of your smokes, all it would take is one "informed" and angry worker bee to make your trip difficult.

[Colt45]

I too have traveled with various size caddies on numerous occasions - larger sizes as a separate carry on,

smaller sizes tucked into my carry on bag. I once even had a small ten count wooden humidor, complete

with hygrometer and humidifier, in the bottom of my carry on - I've never had a problem.

One suggestion I would make, and this is my personal opinion, is to not add any water to the

humidifier in your traveler. If anything, I might even consider using some type of de-humidifier.

I've found that these airtight travelers really hold the humidity, and that packed with cigars, actually

can create an over humidified environment. At this time of year, Florida's west coast can still be

relatively humid.

On more than one trip, I've ended up with damp cigars that wouldn't draw. Have a great trip!