Airlines - New Rule Prohibiting Lighters

[Ed]

Penni -

I have taken the liberty of altering the topic name to make it easier for interested parties to find the thread.

Also, since this affects a lot of people planning their vacations and other airline trips, I'm going to move it to the Vacation Planning forum.

[hope2survive]

I smoke and I understand the rule. I don't like it because it's an inconvienience to me - but I'm not complaining because I understand it's for the greater good. I imgaine I'll be able to buy a lighter at the airport once I get off the plane.

As for whether or not you can smoke in aiports - I've found that there are still many airports where you CAN smoke. Atlanta, GA has smoking lounges in each of the councourses. At the Pittsburgh airport, you can smoke in any of the bars or sit down dining establishments (they have separate smoking areas).

As to why it's a big deal for people who smoke, after a long flight without a cigarette, one of the first things on your mind is having one because of the nicotine addiction and I know that I'm usually outside having one before I'm looking for my luggage.

I do wish people would stop being so judgemental about smoking. I fully understand that it's bad for me but I don't want to quit right now. That's my personal choice and I'm allowed to make it. I won't sue the tobacco companies if something happens to me and I would understand if my health insurance carrier would not pay for benefits related to illnesses that I caused. I realize that the benefits to smoking outweigh the reasons to keep smoking by a long shot, but I'm just don't care right now and I'm allowed not to care. I'm considerate of other people when I smoke and obey all the rules, but I still do have the right to smoke. I just don't appreciate all the holier than thou comments from folks and being made to feel like some kind of inferior person. I don't go around telling people that they shouldn't eat that donut because they're fat and it's bad for them, so why do people feel they have the right to tell me that I shouldn't smoke? It's cool that people don't like the smell of cigarettes or wouldn't want to smoke, but can you just lay off on all the judgemental attitude about it?

[ March 30, 2005, 05:53 AM: Message edited by: hope2survive ]

[TiggerRPh]

Mike -

I don't smoke...I think it's disgusting and I don't like being around smokers because of the odor and I get all congested, but if you want to smoke and acknowledge the risks and realize that if something happens it's your choice to smoke not the fault of the tobacco compaines...fine, I have no problem with you smoking.

But back to the thread at hand...I guess I don't understand why this rule should have come as a surprise or shock to anyone. There are so many things that you can't bring on airplanes now that you could in the past, you can't smoke on an airplane and smoking has been severely cut back in the airports...why would anyone think that you could bring a lighter on board?

[Tink1]

OK, we are not going to change the rules so smokers will have to adjust. (I am one!)

I think there should be a bin that you toss your lighter into and get a token. Then when you get to the next airport. drop in your token and grab another lighter! LOL Kinda like the quarter in the shopping cart thing.

Well........its an idea anyway!

Nanc