Report: Plane Lighter Ban to Be Lifted

[wakeme2008]

Source: AP

uly 20, 2007
Report: Plane Lighter Ban to Be Lifted
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 4:30 a.m. ET

NEW YORK (AP) -- Airline passengers will be able to bring many types of cigarette lighters on board again starting next month after authorities found that a ban on the devices did little to make flying safer, a newspaper reported Friday.

Starting Aug. 4, air travelers will be allowed to carry on disposable butane lighters, such as Bics, and refillable lighters, including Zippos, according to The New York Times. A prohibition on torch-style lighters, which have hotter flames, will continue.

''Taking lighters away is security theater,'' Transportation Security Administration chief Kip Hawley told The Times in an interview.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Air-Travelers-Lighters.html

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Sounds like all of the Bush Admin.

[liberal N proud]

1. But baby formula and other personal care liquids will be restricted to 3 oz

These people play with the travelers restrictions with abandon. Further evidence that the current "gut feeling" terror frenzy is nothing but propaganda designed to excite fear in the public.

[Sal Minella]

2. Apparently the cigarette companies kicked up a bigger fuss than the baby formula companies.

[DrDan]

3. either that or there are a lot of bush contributors that smoke

[MiniMe]

6. You can't carry more than 3 oz and they don't want you to breastfeed

Well, that makes a lot of sense. :sarcasm:

[420inTN]

14. Formula is not restricted to 3oz when traveling with toddler or infant. n/t

[peace13]

4. How about my water?

Can I bring my own, sealed water on board? Still too dangerous I imagine.

[liberal N proud]

5. Still too dangerous

They can't tell if it is really water or something like that.

[Dora]

21. Yes, but you must purchase it after you pass through security.

You cannot pass bottled water or any beverages through the security checkpoint. Once you have cleared security, you can carry beverages that you purchased in the airport onto the plane.

[Vinca]

7. ''Taking lighters away is security theater,'' As opposed to what?

The last time I checked you couldn't start a fire with baby formula or shampoo, but call me crazy. If you can't smoke on a plane, what exactly do you need a lighter for anyway? (And will someone shut up that screaming, hungry baby??):banghead: If there are going to be multitudes of security rules, at least make them semi-sane.

[wakeme2008]

8. This is JUST about security theater period

When they took away lighters, you still could bring onboard matches. :banghead: both can start a fire....

[sinkingfeeling]

9. I'm glad to read that! What a waste of money! I was going to start a chain of

'Rent a Ligther' shops in airports, so that people travelling could rent lighters between their flights, but never got it off the ground!

[kath]

10. So when the hell are they going to admit that taking away toothpaste, shampoo, perfume,

yogurt, water, pop, etc, etc, and making everyone take off their goddam shoes is also "Security Theater"?

:eyes:

[Maeve]

11. Okay--so when can we keep our shoes on again?

:shrug:

[uppityperson]

12. Good for TSA Admin to notice and say "security theater"

Now they need to stand up and do more, get rid of the stupid rules that are more "security theater".

[sandyj999]

13. I Thought Smoking Was Banned on planes............

So what's the point? Or have I missed something?

[TheCentepedeShoes]

15. So - something that can

start a fire is ok, but Mr 'pede's Toothpaste of Mass Plaque Destruction was confiscated in Albuquerque yesterday.

[Warren Stupidity]

16. Great. I'll start smoking again. It's been 30 years, why not? nt.

[Bake]

17. For you non-smokers, here's the point.

Imagine this. You got to the airport two hours ahead of time. You sit around waiting for your flight and craving a cigarette, but you can't do anything about it (chew a whole box of Nicorette, maybe, but that's just not the same). Then you board your plane. It sits there for another thirty minutes on the tarmac until it finally takes off. You're in the air for, say, a couple of hours. When you finally get to your destination, you're running -- literally RUNNING -- up the jetway, to baggage claim, to get your bag and get outside so you can finally -- FINALLY -- feed the monkey that's been jumping up and down on your back all this time.

But you've got no lighter. Oh sure, the gift shop will be happy to sell you a Bic for $7 or $8. BTW, those are usually about $1.39 at the convenience store down the road from you.

Hell yeah, let me carry a lighter on in my pocket or brief case!

OH -- one other point. I'm on a week-long business trip. At home, I always carry an engraved Zippo. I just like the feel and smell of it. It's part of my little ritual. But off on business, I'm stuck with a cheesy Bic disposable that blows out in the faintest puff of breeze when I go outside to the leper colony to smoke.

That's the point.

Bake

[dkofos]

18. I always just left my lighter in my pocket and walked thru.

Never got caught.

[truthisfreedom]

19. It's security theater where cigarettes are apparently the star performer.

At least we know who has the biggest influence on the TSA.

[depakid]

20. Now, can we please have our water back?

This is truly Kafkaesque.