[Bluegrass Conservative]

It took them this long to ban lighters? I mean, if smoking was already banned, what need would anyone have for a lighter???

[Namyak]

A lighter is just something you always carry... in my pockets, I always have a lighter, a small collapsable knife, and a box of stick matches... I could see them not allowing me to take my knife on board, but has anyone ever been harmed with a lighter on any flight?

[Prime Choice]

I mean, if smoking was already banned, what need would anyone have for a lighter???

Because there are things called "layovers" and "smoking designated areas."

This latest move is just another piece of nanny-state insanity that will buy us no additional security at all.

[blinachka]

It took them this long to ban lighters? I mean, if smoking was already banned, what need would anyone have for a lighter???

Smoking on all commercial flights is banned...but there are still places in this country where one may have a cigarette in the airport bar or "smokers lounge" while waiting for a flight. Bags have already been checked at this point so it's not possible to put the lighter into a checked bag for the flight. There's also the matter of arrival at the destination. Many smokers will go have a cigarette before going to the baggage carousel to retrieve their bags (as it is quite unusual for the bags to be ready for pickup when one reaches the carousel...in my experience one usually has to wait at least 10 - 15 minutes). I'm assuming the allowance of matches is meant for persons who would be in this type of a scenario.

[AdamSelene235]

I mean, if smoking was already banned, what need would anyone have for a lighter???

Uh, if you're traveling to the developing world and don't want to check luggage.

[dalereed]

"what need would anyone have for a lighter???"

To light my cigarette the instant I can get outside the terminal on arrival!

[Old Professer]

Candles? Campfires? Incense sticks?

[SunTzuWu]

It took them this long to ban lighters? I mean, if smoking was already banned, what need would anyone have for a lighter???

I might want to set a liberal on fire!

[Ginifer]

"It took them this long to ban lighters? I mean, if smoking was already banned, what need would anyone have for a lighter???"

To light your cigs before the flight and after you get off the flight in a smoking area.

[Mears]

Maybe so they could smoke when they arrived at their destination!!! Why else?

[longtermmemmory]

For many a lighter is a personal item.

For smokers they just don't smoke on the airplane but they have the cigarets for the smoking lounges or areas.

(this is a feeeel good legislation. You can BUY nail cutters once you get through security)

[johnb838]

Umm... when you get there?

[Tempest]

Uhhhmmm because you could still use your lighter after you got off the plane??? Along withthe pack of cigarettes in your pocket that you didn't smoke.

[freedumb2003]

I mean, if smoking was already banned, what need would anyone have for a lighter???

My wife carries a lighter that she uses to heat up her eyebrow pencil. I like to have a lighter on hand, just in case.