Can You Bring Cigars On A Plane?

Can You Bring Cigars On A Plane?

Until 1971, most of the airlines allowed unrestrained smoking, both in the cabin and flight deck. But by the year 2000, the governments of most of the countries strictly prohibited smoking in planes. 

It was primarily for the risks of fire, batteries, and other problems that smoking was no longer allowed within the airport radius. However, it’s only natural for cigar lovers to want to carry their favorite cigars with them at the time of traveling to their favorite place.

 The first thing that strikes their mind is “Can I carry cigars on both domestic and international flights?” The answer is, Yes! You are well-advised to bring a cigar and by doing that, you are not breaking any law. 

However, there are some rules and regulations that must be maintained. If you are not careful enough, you might be under 2 conditions in general. One, Damaging your favorite cigar and the other, is violating transport rules and regulations.

Don’t worry! We are here to help you make your journey with your favorite cigar smooth and hassle-free. In this article, we have pulled all the tips that will help you to plan your next trip with cigars.

Some Basic Points To Consider While Packing The Cigars

We all know that cigars react to temperature and moisture. You have to keep them under a suitable environment of 70% humidity and 70-degree moisture which is absolutely perfect for cigars. But, it is not possible to have such a temperature on the plane. 

So, what now? Well, the first thing you have to do while packing the bags is to keep your cigars away from anything with a strong and unpleasant aroma. It can affect the taste of the cigars severely.

The Course of Action: Buy Humidor

You can get a cigar case with proper humidity adjustments. Cigar cases are also available in pocket-sized versions that allow you to carry about 3-4 cigars at a time. Those are specially designed for cigar lovers like you who also happen to travel a lot. Certain traveling humidors also come with 5 cigar holders. 

But chances are, those humidors would not do well in maintaining proper humidity for the cigars. These humidors are mostly made of wood, metal, or plastic. The wooden and metal ones require the installation of special humidification devices as the seals are not air-tight. Whereas, the plastic ones are designed to be fully airtight. These humidors ensure your cigars remain intact even if they fall in the water.

The Course of Action: Safe-Keeping

Always keep the cigars in such a place where they can at least be safe. It is recommended to store cigars in the checked baggage. You never know how airport workers will deal with your carry-on suitcases. 

Hence, try to keep your cigars and humidors in the checked luggage. Set the humidor in good humidity to save your cigar from dryness. Dryness can negatively affect the freshness of your cigars. Bottle of any liquids is also prohibited in flights, so leave the liquid humidification solution back to your home.

Certain Restrictions

The restriction of cigars varies from one place to another. The above-mentioned restrictions are the same worldwide. For instance, Cuban made cigars were strongly prohibited in the US. 

Although now, they are permitted with certain exceptions. The US airport authorities might have some queries regarding the cigars since it comes under their standard safety protocol. Hence, you have to keep yourself prepared accordingly.

What About The Cutters and Lighters? – Can You Bring Cigars On A Plane?

You can carry cigar cutters with you too. But you have to assure the authorities that they are in a safe position. The Transportation  Security Administration prohibits scissors and blades that are longer than 4 inches. 

Blades shorter than that generally do not cause a problem. You can also rely on the punch cutters and V cutters as they are not considered to be harmful by TSA. 

Coming to the lighter’s part, it depends entirely on the TSA rules and regulations. Before carrying them, it is advised to have a brief look at TSA Restrictions on cigar lighters. Most of the torch lighters are denied by the airport authorities. 

So, try to avoid carrying a torch lighter with you. If you are not sure about the fact then call the airport authorities and ask what they allow you to carry them while boarding the flight.

You can also opt for a cheaper product at the time of travel. There are plenty of reliable cutters and lighters available in the market. It’s obvious you will never like to lose your precious lighter and cutter to a TSA fellow. 

So, better not to risk it and carry a cheaper one instead. You can use a Zippo as they are approved by the TSA. You can put your lighter within the case and rest assured.

TSA Guidelines For Cigar Lovers

Here are some of the guidelines issued by The Transportation Security Administration that will help you plan your flight trip with cigars.

●        Soft flame lighters with fuel are not allowed to carry in the checked bags.

●        Handled punch, V-cutters, the guillotine is allowed to carry in the checked bags.

●        Small scissors and blades (more than 4 inches) are prohibited.

●        Exposed blades should be kept in the checked baggage.

●        Foam-lined humidors should have the necessary protection.

●        Cigars are permitted to carry in both checked and carry-on luggage.

The Bottom Line:

We understand it’s a great deal for cigar lovers to be able to carry their precious cigars with them. If you’re one of them, always make sure to pack your cigars keeping in mind that TSA is on high alert. 

If you follow all the rules and regulations, it’s unlikely you’ll face any issues with the authorities. We have tried to brief you on the major guidelines and for more information, you can visit their official website.

Have a pleasant journey this time with your beloved cigars!