Thread: Info needed quick: Camping Stoves/Commercial Air Travel?

I leave tommorow at 11am and need some info quick: What are the regulations on carrying back packing stoves on commercial airplanes? I know you can not take fuel cannisters - I will buy those when I get to my destination. But it would be helpful if I could take my Jetboil with me. However I heard that that is prohibited too. Is that correct? Does anyone have any suggestions?

my stoves have gone with me on planes in the past (post-9/11).. but as you know the fuel cannot be carried or checked in.

if you're traveling in the US, it's easy to get the fuel you need. if traveling overseas, it's sometimes easier to use a "less-convenient" stove that runs on a wider variety of fuels.

there *is* a caveat that wasn't an issue with my stoves but could be an issue with a jetboil (see below) -- i haven't used one and perhaps it traps vapors longer.

i was curious if my experiences were an anomaly, but it looks like it's confirmed here by JetBoil.

Can I carry my Jetboil on a commercial airplane?

Yes, although you’ll have to leave your fuel at home. While the FAA allows you to travel with your camping stove (“Camp stoves can travel as carry-on or checked luggage only if empty of all fuel and cleaned such that vapors and residue are absent. Simply emptying the fuel container is insufficient as flammable vapors remain. TSA recommends you ship these ahead of time as they are frequently confiscated due to fuel vapors”), Federal law prohibits airlines from taking compressed gas cylinders on board (more info).

I have traveled with stoves of various designs several times over the past few years with out a problem. Just no fuel!!! I have always checked the stoves in my luggage, and never tried to pack it in my carry-on.

Your stove/fuel bottles can not smell like fuel at all. When I flew to Mexico to climb Orizaba the check in people opened our fuel bottles and smelled them and said they couldn't go. I had let them air out thinking that would evaporate all the fuel, but they still smelled a little like gas. Fortunately, the woman at the desk let me run to the bathroom and rinse out the bottle which got rid of the smell.

I think they smelled our stoves as well, so as long as you can get rid of the smell of fuel, they'll let it fly.

I accidentally left a fuel canister in my carry-on backpack about a year ago, full. I went through security. I flew with it. I got to my destination and discovered it after the fact. Sweet! Actually kind scary.

I forgot 2 canisters that ended going on 2 flights, one of them from NY to Geneva.

The kicker was, when I opened my bag in CH, not only were both bright red MSR canisters there, but also a notice from the TSA saying that my bag had been hand searched.

Now that's scary.

Originally Posted by Particle

I accidentally left a fuel canister in my carry-on backpack about a year ago, full. I went through security. I flew with it. I got to my destination and discovered it after the fact. Sweet! Actually kind scary.

I've had no problems carrying stoves to pretty much anywhere, and I've found the threaded canisters (like that used on the Jetboil) the easiest stove fuel to find - available pretty much anywhere you've heard of (Peru, Argentina, Chile, Europe, Australia, NZ), and alot easier to find than White Gas.

When I was in Mexico, we got white gas from a shop in Tlachichuca. When I asked for "gasolinera blanca" the guy disappeared for a little bit then showed up with two 20 oz. mountain dew bottles he had just filled up with white gas from somewhere in the back of his shop.