Airlines and fire-lightiing equipment: experience

I recently flew from London (Heathrow) to Vancouver, BC, and back.

I had my smaller-sized firesteel in my (checked) suitcase (protected by heat-shring tubing, a zip-loc, and inside a pair of socks inside a shoe).

I also had a spark-lite in my wallet. This is part of my EDC, and is in a zipped pocket inside what I use as the coin pocket, so it was right on top of a number of coins. In addition, I had a book of safety matches in my pocket. I understand that this is all ok so far as safety regulations go - I didn't carry a lighter as those are (I then believed) banned. I was, however, interested to see if I would have any problems at security.

I didn't (in either direction).

Furthermore, on the way out (Heathrow security) the two chav-types ahead of me both had butane Bic-type lighters that they put in the tray with their cigarettes and other personal stuff, in clear view. They didn't have any problems either.

Before returning I gave the mini-bic I had bought for EDC over there to a friend, went through security at YVR (again, no problems) and bought a bottle of duty free vodka (Grey Goose) in one of the airside shops - along with a disposable souveneir lighter (maple-leaf design).

As those crazy North-Americans say: "go figure" :-)

eeph

The silly regulations are in the US only. If you were flying in / out of Seattle they would have taken the lighters.

A glimpse of life in The Netherlands.... <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Actually, the UK and Canada have plenty of silly regulations too. (ISTR that CATSA still ban nail scissors, which even the TSA now permit.) Furthermore, when I've flown into the US before I haven't been searched on landing (though I suppose customs might feel like it, but they're looking for different stuff anyway, and you've usually been reunited with checked baggage by then anyway) and the screening at LHR was exactly the same as if I'd been flying to the US.

eeph

Does not sound like the same screening in the US. No way would the lighters in the tray be allowed on a US flight.
It sounds like airports in other countries are not screening as tightly for US bound flights as airports in the US.
I fly a lot for business and I see people getting caught with lighters and such all the time. In fact the last airport checkpoint I went through had a row if confiscated lighters sitting on top of the x-ray machine.

The upside is you can go out of the terminal where smoking is allowed and just pick up a free lighter that a departing passenger tossed. Leave one going in and get one coming out.

Yep, same as if flying to US, not from/in US (in case that wasn't clear).

I was searched more thoroughly flying out of Washington Dulles, but TSA security requirements seem a bit silly if they're not applied to inbound flights over US soil too. Then again, TSA security requirements just seem a bit silly anyway.

eeph