I went in a work trip from São Paulo to Belo Horizonte (Congonhas → Confins) with my SC31 Pro on my bag, they saw it on the x-ray and they didn’t care about it at all, but my soldering iron was seized (pointy thing bad). You should be fine, they might make an inspection at worst to make sure it’s not a laser. I wouldn’t risk bringing flashlights with aggressive strike bezels though, that might be too much.
Yes… but they sure can make you miserable if they are having a bad day…
That’s true. Which is basically every single day. Seriously though, have you ever seen a happy person working in airport security?? Lol. Can’t blame them. Imagine the crap they have to go through everyday and others people non sense.
I’ve honestly had the best results just knowing when and who to give the littlest bit of ego stroking. “Good morning” as you show your ID. “Thank you” when they tell you which queue to go to. I’m an “unusual” traveller (androgynous person with a backpack full of strange electronics and “an accent” 
) but it’s overall kept harassment to a minimum. I’ve even got sent through precheck despite not having precheck using this strategy.
I’ve never had an issue carrying on flashlights or batteries, and I’ve carried on as many as 12 flashlight along with spare batteries. 4 lights were for my family and me and the rest were for co-workers of my daughter, who was then working for the Peace Corp in Uganda. TSA in San Francisco and New Year never said anything and neither did the airport security in Uganda.
On a vacation to Peru I packed 4 flashlights and 4 headlights into my carry-on, again no problems or questions getting through airport security.
Over the past 10 years I’ve probably taken 50 flights and I’ve had no issue with flashlights, batteries, or power banks.
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The other thing, forgot to mention earlier, that I heard from Deviant Ollam: Have a prepaid envelope addressed to yourself in your bag. If security gives you trouble amount something, you can just put it in there and send it yourself. Better than losing it, anyway.
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I seriously doubt security agents will stand and debate FAA regulations, even if you’re waving printed paperwork at them, their decision is instant and final.
Also, good luck being allowed to separate batteries from lights or even being allowed to post anything (also, posting lithium cells is a problem in most places).
Bottom line is don’t take anything you can’t afford (€/$/£ or sentimental) to replace.
That said, single cell, non- aggressive light(s) will probably be fine. With transits/multi-leg journies included, I would guess I’ve gone through airport security 40 times in past 2 years. Most of those times I’ve carried two, small, single cell lights, both with 18650 cells inside, in a pouch in my carry on, plus a single AAA or AA light in a pocket, and, thus far, not had a problem. Airports include London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Dublin, Oslo, Amsterdam Schiphol, Charles de Gaulle (Paris).
Do be aware that airport rules vary between airports, some places want power cables separate from hand luggage, some want shoes off, some make me take my plastic buckle belt off…
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Depends where you are, of course, but from what I’ve heard from more knowledgeable people (include <disclaimer.h>, IANAL, etc.), TSA can’t arbitrarily deprive you of your property if it’s legal to have, they can just refuse to admit you to the sterile area with it, you always have the option to leave and come back without it. I wouldn’t trust that in some countries though, of course.
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Guys what about a pocket knife?? I know that bringing a knife in my carry on or on me will probably get me arrested and/or cavity searched lol. But in the checked luggage is okay right??? I would like to bring a small folding knife. 3” blade nothing insane.
I usually travel with a pocketknife in my checked luggage (SAK most of the time), never had an issue.
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Yes That’s what I thought. Thank you!
I’ve flown with large knives in checked baggage. Any blade is fine in checked as long as it’s legal in the source and destination countries and is properly wrapped/protected, including so it won’t injure someone searching the bag.
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Don’t think a knife would so dramatic to require police being called, they’ll just take it and put it in the bin. I lost a Leatherman squirt to the security in Bogota in c.2016, I’m still annoyed 1) I forgot to take it off my keys and 2) the stupid rules didn’t allow a tiny multi tool.
As before, never pack anything you can’t afford to replace.
As a regular traveller, I’ve had my checked bag lost 3-4 times now in the last 5 years, thankfully it’s turned up (longest wait was 4 weeks) but if it disappeared forever, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
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Good news, flew to UK to west Africa last week and didn’t lose anything to security or the baggage orcs.
I forgot to mention, if I have a charger, I usually put it (and associated cables) into my checked bag to minimise the amount of electronics I’m carrying, else they sometimes want to see what the jumble of cables is.
I did forget to put an 18650 cell in one of my flashlights this trip though… Oops!
Let us know how your trip goes and if you have any good flashlight stories.
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Good news everybody! Today I’ve returned from my trip and it was awesome. My light and multi tool made it through safely!
I wanted to thank each and everyone of you for your help e shared stories.
Even took a picture of my trusted FC12 with a Caribbean background. Cheers.
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Looks like you had a wonderful vacation!
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Recently took another trip with my SC31P. No problems.
It didn’t need to be pressed into action, but I’m glad I had it, because while the hotel room was equipped with a flashlight, this is what was provided – a AA powered LED light that had no switch, and relied on breaking the connection between the two cells when it was snapped into its wall bracket.
And yes, the tint was really as horrible as pictured.
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My grandma had something similar! But it was a incandescent bulb back then. Same thing. Two plastic prongs would break contact and secure the light on the wall mount. Kinda cool actually.
Yeah, with shelf-stable batteries (eneloops or lithium primary), definitely better than constantly float charging some tiny NiCd/NiMH/whatever and easy to quickly check and swap them out when they get used/degraded.
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I do not think you need to worry about faa rules, faa is a usa organization, they have no control over Brazil Dominican republic, or Colombia flights, faa rules do not apply there, if you had a transfer in usa then maybe, but since you do not, faa tsa are irrelevant to you. not to say that those countries do not have rules, but they are probably less restrictive, and less pointless than faa/tsa rules.