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:ML/NJDear 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
That we missed this is ridiculous. Their story is that they use air transport to fly confiscated items out of area? It sounds to me that the supervisor is trying to blow of Mr. Murphy.
Sure the TSA spends money on security, and they spend money (supposedly) flying this stuff "somewhere" to be destroyed. If TSA acts like every other federal agency I know (except the Dept of Education), then they have to document nearly everything that is transposted and ensure that each item is destroyed. This is, after all, not much different than the local constabulary destroying confiscated items after trial. How much money do they spend on the paperwork, and the army of clerks to manage the data? Oh, I forgot, the TSA doesn't require any paperwork from the traveller that the property has been confiscated, or destroyed.
Anyone happen to know where this mythical el destructo place is that TSA uses (or at least John Wayne Airport), and whether they have an auction to try and recover the value of government property?