PCA Magazine Winter 2020

18 PCA The Magazine | WINTER 2020 PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG • Torch flame lighters are prohibited in both as a carry-on and checked bags. • One (1) book of safety (not strike-anywhere) matches is permitted as carry-on item, but all matches are prohibited in checked baggage. Snip the Tip • Small scissors with blade of less than 4 inches (pivot hinge to tip) are permitted. • Common handheld punch, guillotine, and V-cutters are permitted in carry-on and checked baggage, but, keep in mind that TSA agents have discretion to confiscate “sharp objects” they believe may pose a threat. • Any exposed blade must go into checked baggage and be in a case or sheath. Keeping it Safe • Cigars are permitted as carry-on and checked baggage. • Pressurized cabins and luggage compartments of airplanes are not conducive to cigars, even for short trips. • Hard-sided, foam-lined humidors offer necessary protection. • DOT-approved capsules are the only way to safely transport soft flame lighters in checked baggage. The bottom line: Assume TSA is on high alert and plan accordingly. If stopped, understand the agent has the authority to restrict items and passengers from flight. I highly recommend being courteous and respectful and asking for alternatives to having your item confiscated. At Tampa International Airport, aka Cigar City, the local TSA agents clearly don’t want to harass cigar tourists spending money in their city. The TSA agent I encountered was very helpful and gave me a few options: 1) have my lighter confiscated and eventually sold at auction; 2) have my lighter placed into a checked bag with the possibility that it might get flagged again by the gate security; or 3) utilize a third-party contractor to ship the lighter home. I chose option 3, partially as a field experiment for this article. For $28, MailSafe Express returned my lighter to my home address six weeks after I returned home. These bins are being installed in several airports throughout the country, and are specifically designed to ship items, for a fee, when they’ve been flagged during airport screenings. Typically, the shipping time is two to four weeks, but in my case a delay was incurred due to the holidays (something to keep in mind when traveling during busy mail times). As this was my first experience using this service, the TSA agent walked me through the process, even though the service is not run by the government. When I was done, I immediately received a tracking number for the item that I was shipping. It was slow and expensive, but it worked. And that’s where this story ends. Federal Briefing cont. Did you find that perfect lighter/cutter combo while on vacation? Ask your retailer to ship it to you. The extra fee is worth knowing that it won’t end up in TSA’s treasure trove. F E D E R A L B R I E F I N G