Thought I would post this reply on topic in case anyone is interested. The question asked what restrictions were in place for lighters as airline carry-on items. The answer took 2 weeks and is verbatim below:

Thank you for your email message. We apologize for the delay in
responding to your message. Passengers are permitted to carry lighters that
are fueled with liquified gas (Bic-type) or absorbed liquid (Zippo-type).

The limit is 2 lighters or 4 books of matches (excluding
strike-anywhere) per person.
Lighters with unabsorbed liquid fuel, containers of lighter fluid,
lighter refills, and matches (safety or stike-anywhere) are NOT permitted
in checked or carry-on luggage.
TORCH LIGHTERS ARE PROHIBITED IN CARRY ON AND CHECKED LUGGAGE.
TSA Contact Center

For a complete list of TSA prohibited and permitted items go here . Then click on the link to "Permitted and Prohibited Items." This will open a PDF document that gives a complete list of what is and isn't allowed.

This has all been discussed before. Previous threads have brought up that many TSA screeners don't always follow their own rules. But I've never had, or heard of anybody else having, a problem with bringing matches or lighters on board aircraft.

Robert

The first post is a perfect example of the confusion. The email reported to come from TSA says "Passengers are permitted to carry lighters that are fueled with liquified gas (Bic-type) or absorbed liquid (Zippo-type)." The regulations ACTUALLY say that the liguified gas (bic-type) lighters must be DISPOSABLE lighters.
The intent of the regulation was that you may NOT carry on butane lighters which are the refillable type, but only those which are disposable and therefore sealed from the introduction of your own choice of explosive gas.
The TSA agents are going to do what they want to do, regardless of anything you show them in print or say. Live with it! In fact I suspect that this itself is strategic: terrorists can't anticipate what TSA will do.. because even TSA doesn't know.

Rbruce:

I seem to recall someone on this forum posting that they had lost an expensive lighter to the TSA.

Bountyhunter

Now that you mention it I do recall that incident. I don't remember the details or who posted it. I do remember reading it and thinking it sounded like the TSA screener wanted the lighter for himself. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Robert

wasnt that in the "equippedto fly coach" thread?

i remember reading it somewhere on here as well.

Believe it or not, the email did come directly from TSA. I didn't download the .pdf file because my only internet access for the time being is on my work machine and there has been some problem downloading or opening any .pdf files from it for a couple of weeks now. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered to email and wait the 2 weeks for a reply. I posted the question in the forum, but go no answer to it. I just wanted to know the regs and thought that it would be beneficial to post the reply for anyone else who might be looking for the answer without the bother of finding the TSA site and downloading. Sorry if it created any problem.

Adelante: YOU didn't create a problem. You made my point. The email coming directly from TSA is inconsistent with their own written regulations.

Ok. Yeah...I see what you mean.

And what is really kind of funny about all of this is that anyone who spends 5 minutes surfing the net can find directions on how to make a matchhead or lighter bomb ... which shows that logic and common sense are NOT involved in TSA decisions.