[ml/nj]

What insanity!

Besides everything else, I guess I wonder why the Airline wouldn't charge the guy ten bucks and mail his dangerous cargo wherever he wanted it mailed. Treating customers like that is a sure path to bankruptcy.

ML/NJ

[Mulder]

F*cking Nazi bastards.

[ErnBatavia]

A Screwdriver has helped take off the edge.

I'm surprised they let him have one of those!

[basil]

Just one more reason why we drive everywhere these days. Of course that is only possible since we are retired and have no schedules to meet. We've got so many AA free air miles accumulated, it's a pity that we don't feel inclined to use them because of all of the silliness going on at airports. We can only hope they will wise up one of these days.

[agitator]

This guy is an idiot. He should have told them to take their tickets and stuff them where the sun doesn't shine and then filed suit against the little Nazi that swiped his lighters. Why is it that people willingly subject themselves to a trip through Nazi Germany (i.e., the US air transportation system), then complain when some dimwitted twit steals their stuff, then continue to pay them for the service???

[Welsh Rabbit]

Does anyone know if a Leatherman multi-tool is allowed in checked luggage?

[Dixielander]

Cigar Dave needs to hear about that incident. Here's his website address: http://smokethis.com/home/index.shtml

[strela]

But I was really upset. It wasn't the money lost. It was something more disturbing. I felt that American Airlines had taken something more from me. Those were my lighters, personal things that I valued. One of them had traveled around the world with me. They were like old friends.

The author apparently treats his "old friends" in a fairly cavalier manner. The part of American Airlines' web site dealing with baggage policy states clearly "Ask before you pack your luggage or carry on board the following items, as they may be classified as dangerous goods or weapons which are restricted for transport by air ... Flammable Liquids or Solids: Fuel, paints, gas torches (including micro-torches and torch lighters) ...

A little due diligence on the author's part before traveling could have prevented his expensive surprise. Sorry, but I can't buy into the "poor li'l oppressed cigar smoker me" spin on this one.

(And another thing: I just can't see paying $150 for a freaking lighter. But hey, if you really want a $300 pair of socks, this is America I guess ...)

[KCmark]

It's not a license to steal. I've had to remind them of that twice now as they tried to take nice pens. Call security (local cops on airport duty) and tell them the airline is stealing. Of course, you have to have the time as you will probably miss your flight.

We have to stand up people. Do you feel safer? I don't.

[CholeraJoe]

Sue the B*stards! Lose weight, lose sleep, wake up screaming from the PTSD induced by their irresponsible and reckless behavior.

[savedbygrace]

Go to American Airlines' website and write an email to them. Or call. Whatever.

As much money as they are losing each day, I doubt it will matter much to them if you tell them you won't fly on their airline anymore, but you'll feel better for having vented.

[Servant of the Nine]

It is becomming obvious from reports that the screeners at John Wayne are purely and simply thieves, on the same level as say, Nigerian Customs Inspectors.

On the other hand I have already figured out that anything that matters needs to be Fed-Ex'd the day before

So9

[Copernicus]

Is there a Bushbot Ping List? I really need to know HOW this is supposed to help W get re-elected in '04?

Even as he tried to bond with the current generation of military when he landed on the Abraham Lincoln, he sent WWII Medal Of Honor winner Joe Foss TO HIS GRAVE with a fresh memory of some TSA idiots who tried to confiscate his Medal of Honor.

Examine the pilot casualty statistics for WWII to get some sense of just what a Medal of Honor meant and tell me that a outrage of that magnitude was not worthy of some response from the Bully Pulpit of the White House.

Oops! Too late. The man is dead.

Meanwhile, Tom Ridge and the boys are teaching every Barney Fife Police department how to harass people on the open highway with Government Mandated Traffic Jams known as Seatbelt Checkpoints.

And of course, we now have the Universal Internal Passport known as the Drivers License complete with Federal Social Security Number.

What part of the liberal agenda does this administration oppose?

$15 Billion to Africa for AIDS? No problem.

Restrictions on freedom of speech? No problem.

Can someone help me out?

Best regards to all,

[StriperSniper]

I wonder why the Airline wouldn't charge the guy ten bucks and mail his dangerous cargo wherever he wanted it mailed.

I can see it now, ten bucks for a box packing and handling, ten bucks for postage, then they load it in the same plane they wouldn't let it on in his luggage.

;-)

[Catspaw]

http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/tsa_ppitems_06-02-2003.pdf

* You may take up to 2 butane lighters and/or safety matches in your carry-on baggage. You cannot pack lighters in your checked baggage. "Torch" lighters are not allowed in either checked baggage or carry-on baggage.

Note Some personal care items containing aerosol are regulated as hazardous materials. The FAA regulates hazardous materials. This information is summarized at http://cas.faa.gov/these.html

[ml/nj]

I found this follow-up elsewhere on CA's site:

Readers have responded passionately to European editor James Suckling's recent editorial, which documented his losing two lighters to overzealous airline officials on a recent trip from California to Chicago. Some shared his opinion, others were opposed, and many debated the dizzying and often conflicting rules about bringing cigar accessories on an airline. One reader, however, showed the true spirit of a cigar aficionado by offering to go to the airport to retrieve the lighters, if they were still available. Here is his follow-up letter:

Dear James:

I wasn't certain that I'd hear back from you so quickly. Given that I wasn't sure I would hear back before heading to San Diego tonight (Thursday) for the weekend, I took the liberty of calling American, who wouldn't give me a number for the American desk at John Wayne, insisting they didn't have a phone there, but instead gave me lost and found. Lost and found turned out to be the local sheriff stationed at the airport, who told me I needed to talk to the TSA rep. After being transferred back and forth twice more, and describing what happened, I was told there was nothing that could be done, because they take all the confiscated articles and FedEx them nightly to a location to be destroyed.

In the aftermath of September 11, I was prevented from flying with a carry-on lighter, but was told I could check it in my luggage. Since that time, I have made sure to check my lighter, although the last couple of times I flew I did carry-on a non-torch lighter. The TSA employee at John Wayne told me that their policies are changing all the time. Now the policy is that you are allowed to carry-on a non-torch lighter, but cannot have a lighter in your checked luggage. A torch-type lighter is not allowed in any circumstance.

The TSA employee advised me to check their web site, www.tsa.gov , before flying each time, because their policies are changing all the time. I suppose this is what we should expect when we combine government bureaucracy with an industry that does its best to alienate the customer.

Sorry I wasn't able to help out. It really would have been no trouble, as it would have been ten minutes out of my way. As you can see, I have faced the same problem and needed to find out the policy before my next flight in any event.

Please take care and keep up the good work!

Best Regards,
Dan Murphy

ML/NJ

[AdA$tra]

What a bee-atch.

[WFTR]

This article is just one more piece of evidence that proves the point that I make in Saving a few more jobs. As the new security laws make flying a more unpleasant experience, flying will lose market share. Once a traveler was past the novelty of it, flying was never very pleasant, and it is getting worse. When the airline industry is completely destroyed, maybe someone will realize how stupid these laws are. In the meantime, the laws are finishing the economic destruction that Osama bin Laden started.

WFTR
Bill

[LibKill]

Meanwhile, islamists go unchecked.

I guess I may never fly again unless my workplace orders me to, and maybe not even then.

[xrp]

Some people in my company say that the TSA has been confiscating their laptop security cables. It's a cable about 36 inches long with a 4 digit combination lock at the end for securing a laptop to a stationary object. My co-workers said they were told that the cables "could be used to strangle someone". I asked if their shoelaces, belts and purse straps were confiscated and they said no.

[GilesB]

This reminds me of a problem The Lovely Ann Coulter had a while back....silver earrings that looked like 45 caliber bullets were stolen from her by a thug at a "security" checkpoint.

I nearly had a .45 plug type cigar cutter taken from me at LAX - but I was able to shame the idiot at the checkpoint by pointing out the distinct differences between reality and appearance - but this was before 9/11, I could never get it through now.

The fact of the matter is, the rules are simply arbitrary and capricious, with no serious attempt at increasing security - but merely making the sheeple BELIEVE that security has been increased.

Finally - the arguments against this man that refer to the cost of the lighter (e.g. my cheap Bic works just fine) are simply classist and envious, and certainly not the viewpoint of a true conservative.