Bringing cigarettes and a lighter onto a commercial flight is generally permitted, but the rules are highly specific and depend on the product type and its location within your luggage. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) enforces regulations designed to mitigate fire hazards. Understanding these guidelines before arriving at the airport is necessary to ensure a smooth security screening process for domestic travel within the United States. The rules differentiate between traditional tobacco, standard lighters, and electronic smoking devices, each having separate requirements for carry-on and checked baggage.
Carrying Cigarettes and Tobacco Products
Traditional tobacco products, including packaged cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, and loose tobacco, are allowed in both carry-on and checked baggage. The TSA does not impose a limit on the quantity of tobacco products a passenger can transport on a domestic flight.
While the TSA does not restrict quantity for domestic flights, international travel involves different rules. Bringing tobacco products into the United States from abroad is subject to U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulations. These rules typically limit the duty-free personal exemption to 200 cigarettes (one carton) and 100 cigars for returning residents. Any amount exceeding this limit must be declared and may be subject to federal excise tax and duty fees.
Rules for Lighters and Matches
The regulations for carrying ignition sources are much more restrictive than those for tobacco due to the inherent fire risk associated with flammable fuel. Standard disposable lighters and lighters that use absorbed liquid fuel, such as Zippo-style lighters, are permitted only in carry-on baggage or carried on the person. They are prohibited in checked luggage because of the potential for ignition in the cargo hold.
Passengers are limited to carrying only one standard lighter on their person or in their carry-on bag. If a carry-on bag containing a lighter is checked at the gate, the passenger must remove the lighter and keep it with them. An exception exists for checked baggage only if the lighter is completely empty of fuel or enclosed in a Department of Transportation (DOT)-approved airtight travel container.
Certain types of lighters are banned entirely from both carry-on and checked baggage due to their high-intensity flame. Torch lighters (blue flame, jet flame, or cigar lighters) are prohibited because they produce a hotter, more concentrated flame than standard lighters. Containers of lighter fluid or butane refills are forbidden in all luggage, as they represent a significant flammable hazard.
Matches are subject to specific rules based on their ignition properties. Safety matches, which only ignite when struck against the specific strip on the box, are allowed in carry-on baggage. Passengers are limited to one book or pack of safety matches. Conversely, “strike anywhere” matches, which can ignite on any rough surface, are prohibited from being carried in either carry-on or checked luggage.
Electronic Smoking Devices and Vaping Products
Electronic smoking devices, including vapes, e-cigarettes, and personal vaporizers, are governed by rules focused on lithium-ion battery safety. These devices must be transported exclusively in carry-on baggage or on the traveler’s person. They are forbidden in checked luggage because temperature and pressure changes in the cargo hold increase the risk of the lithium battery overheating, short-circuiting, and causing a fire.
To prevent accidental activation, passengers must take measures to prevent the device’s heating element from activating during transport. This involves turning the device completely off, removing the battery if possible, or placing the device in a protective case to shield the activation button. The lithium-ion batteries in these devices must not exceed a Watt-hour rating of 100 Wh.
Any e-liquids or vape juice carried in a carry-on bag must comply with the standard TSA 3-1-1 liquid rule. This rule mandates that all liquids be in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, and all containers must fit into a single, clear, quart-sized, resealable plastic bag. While the devices are permitted in the cabin, the use of any electronic smoking device is prohibited on all commercial flights and in most airport areas outside of designated smoking lounges.