[konaice]

What about matches?

Well since you can't smoke on any US airline, why would you need either?

Butane lighters tend to flare at altitude, if turned up to high, they can throw a 1 foot long flame jet at altitude.
(Planes are only pressurized to an effective altitude of 5000 feet).

I suspect there is some intelligence (beyond the shoe bomber) to justify this.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

You need the matches for when you land. Why should you be forced to replace matches or lighters that you already own? You can fly with them TODAY. Why should that be changed?

[Living Free in NH]

I suspect there is some intelligence (beyond the shoe bomber) to justify this.

Then why wait until February to start the policy?

[dickmc]

Butane lighters tend to flare at altitude, if turned up to high, they can throw a 1 foot long flame jet at altitude.

What a remarkable observation. Funny I don't remember any foot long lighter flames in Denver at 5,200 feet elevation.