PCA Magazine Winter 2020

PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG WINTER 2020 | PCA The Magazine 17 F E D E R A L B R I E F I N G Federal Briefing A TSA Guide for Cigar Enthusiasts By Joshua Habursky and Patrick Anderson See if this experience sounds familiar: I’m a seasoned traveler. I left the hotel with plenty of time. I’m TSA Pre-Check approved. I even bought the CLEAR upgrade and status with American Airlines so I don’t have to wait in line or show my ID. But I’m also an avid cigar enthusiast with an eclectic collection of accoutrements to prove it. In December, I attended the Cigar Heritage Festival in Tampa and bought one of the Rocky Patel torch double flame jet lighters at King Corona Cigars as a souvenir from the trip. It’s a memorable lighter, displaying bold red paint that looks something like a light saber and is priced at about $85–90. As I walked through airport security ready to catch my flight back home, I was selected for the random screening. From here, the blue shirts of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) proceeded to probe my luggage and inform me that I could not bring my magnificent new lighter onto the aircraft. We often hear that cigar culture transcends politics, race and socioeconomic status. Let’s go ahead and add geography to that list. One of the great joys of being a cigar enthusiast is that wherever flame touches leaf, we discover an entourage. Cigar culture, more often than not, brings out the best in people. It demands that we be prepared to pass the light to the needy, guide the traveler to the cigar shop and open up to our fellow man/woman. We are invited to speak freely, judge openly and be respected for—and respectful of—our differences. Nowhere is this better celebrated than on the road. Whether for business or pleasure, travel is the prime opportunity to further indulge in your passion: Explore a historic shop, take in the hospitality at new cigar lounge or light up with fellow rogues at the last cigar-friendly steakhouse bar for 500 miles. With a little planning, your next business deal or family vacation can easily include a few hours of cigar diplomacy. Ask any frequent flyer and they’ll confess to an entire section of their closet dedicated exclusively to travel. Noniron shirts, hardy suits, sample size toiletries prepacked in zip- close bags—all designed to expedite packing and minimize attention from TSA agents. No one wants to hold up the line or find a family heirloom lost during screening. Unfortunately, there is no easy-to-follow flow chart to guarantee fully a perfect experience with the TSA. And it’s imperative for every traveler to understand that at the end of the day, frontline TSA agents are empowered to make decisions unilaterally for the safety of travelers. That said, there are some general guidelines that can help ensure you are able to comfortably enjoy a cigar on your next trip. Lighting Up • Disposable and “Zippo” soft flame lighters are allowed in your carry-on. • Soft flame lighters with fuel are prohibited in checked bags, unless they adhere to the Department of Transportation (DOT) exemption, which allows up to two (2) fueled lighters if properly enclosed in a DOT approved case.