Things not to take on the flight

any americans know if i will have trouble taking cigarettes and a zippo on the airplane?

Last time I flew through the states (from Europe) they did not permit any flammable liquids (such as the butane in your zippo) on board. They also confiscated my tin forks that were in my camping set (you know, the fork-spoon kind that are flimsy). Darn dangerous weapons. No hairspray, either.

Cigarettes should be ok, I’ve brought those before. I’ve brought the normal cheap plastic lighters no problem, but not a Zippo type.

Don’t bring any explosives in your shoes. Matches are too obvious. You’ll get caught even if you’re trying to use a zippo to light the fuse. The man sitting next to you will hold you down along with other men on the flight. Then they will take you from your final destination to a jail where you will await sentencing.

Cigarettes YES

Zippo NO

Plastic lighter YES

thanks. matches are also a no-go?

You’re still allowed to take knitting needles. Just FYI.

I was able to bring my cigar and pipe paraphernalia on my trip from SFO to TPE. I put it all in my check-in luggage. That included my Dunhill cigar lighter. It was not confiscated. Yes, it was risky and probably really stupid, but I was lucky.

YMMV.

Is there a reason you don’t just deep six the Zippo? I am sure you’ll find a light as soon as you step outside?

I got caught with gum last time into Taipei. While popping out a piece, I got a 1/2 inquisitive, 1/2 holy-shit-this-is-it look from a Flight Attendant.

Of course, it helps when you have these damn swarthy good looks.

Seriously, I try and get profiled and have been left totally alone…all post 9/11 flights have been ezpz. Knock wood.

B4 I get any riffs about my “trying”, I have an ID with a seriously scary photo of myself (8/10 people that see it invoke prayer) and I always proffer it when asked for ID. For kicks. I guess it’ll take missing a flight to smarten me up.

Oh ya, I did have an adjustable wrench confiscated at Narita pre 9/11. I guess being a Scare Canada flight, I probably could have threatened any one of their bolts and demanded less taxes.

well, i just wanted to make sure i couldn’t take the zippo on the flight, i will bury it in my non-carry on luggage and bring some matches instead. and if they confiscate the matches, well, big whoop.

According to this, one needs to be cautious when one wears one’s nipple rings.

[quote]According to this, one needs to be cautious when one wears one’s nipple rings.
[/quote]

I’ve never had any problems with any of my piercings.
But can you take razors? As in those Mach3 things you shave your face with?

Matches are ok but must be on your person, not in your hand luggage. Doesn’t it say that on your ticket?

Based on personal experience, airlines don’t take kindly to collapsible batons and butterfly knives you forgot you had on you.

Things vary a lot - but I think it is goodbye to stuff “extracted” from your carry on bags or pockets in most places now. In Macau they even have a big aquarium thing on top of the X-ray machine with many samples of things removed from travellers.

Macau also proved that the people in front of the X-ray screen are not actually asleep. Twice I have been pulled over for having two plastic lighters in my computer bag. Apparently one is OK??? Give them the second one and receive a receipt that appears to say you will never see it again - and then you can keep walking.

i don’t have a ticket. theres like a $50 fee per paper ticket now or something. at least thats the way it is for the agent i bought my tickets from. apparently i have an electronic ticket waiting for me when i check in at the airport.

A coworker of mine was once told by Boise airport security that the cuticle nippers in her purse were an illegal weapon. [I’m not making this up.] They wanted to confiscate them, but she instead insisted on having Southwest Airlines retrieve her check-in baggage so she could put in the cuticle nippers.
Possibly more relevant to a trip to Taiwan, I’m told that aerosol cans of DEET and permethrin should not be in check-in baggage. There are non-aerosol versions that are okay.

i believe you. it reminds me of the time my school got scared that there was a terrorist attack (in the form of that white powder found on us mail) on a shipment of fruit. i would think this is a reasonable fear except for the fact that it was a school of at most 2300 students, in a town of less than that, in the middle of indiana.

anyway, i’m aware that the water can be less than pleasant in some of the southern parts of Taiwan. i’m guessing that it might be better in the north (where i will probably be focusing most of my job searching), but i’m still leaning towards bringing my water filter-pitcher. or maybe i should just wait until i have a job and have my mom send it to me once that happens. any advice?