- Time of past OR future Camino
- Sept 2024
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Regrettably you’ll find mixed information on here also. This summary written by one of the moderators is excellent:Can anyone offer advice on trek poles at the airport? I'll be traveling from Miami to Madrid and have no need to check any luggage....only carry on backpack and my poles compact to 20" which can be inside my pack or hooked on outside of pack. I have checked with TSA and American and find mixed information.
Whoa. That sounds like a trick! I seriously have my main bag packed like 5 feet away from me right now. Poles and knife in separate bag I check... Just buy your knife in Spain?I fly with them attached to my back but under my pack rain cover (which I keep on while traveling) and have never had a problem leaving the US or Spain. I always make sure I have rubber feet on them, not bare metal tips.
That said, I’ve never flown out of Miami with poles so they may see it differently.
Yeah, I would never try the knife.Whoa. That sounds like a trick! I seriously have my main bag packed like 5 feet away from me right now. Poles and knife in separate bag I check... Just buy your knife in Spain?
Thank you, Henrythedog. I've viewed the Moderators Post as well. Seems the uncertainty is Real. I was hoping to take my new poles that my sons purchased specifically for my First Camino....and that's why the poles are special! Debating whether I risk it or not!Regrettably you’ll find mixed information on here also. This summary written by one of the moderators is excellent:
The rules are clear but not enforced predictably or consistently, even at the same airport.
General advice on here tends to be buy your poles when you get to Spain or check in a cheap bag or tube containing your poles - and anything else you might want to take which cannot go in the cabin.
Someone will be along shortly to tell you that they have successfully flown US to Spain every year for decades with their poles in hand luggage.
Toss a coin?
Nice idea, ShoshTrvls. Since mine collapse to 4 pieces all under 20" and with rubber tips, I may plastic wrap them together and attach them under the Rain Cover.I fly with them attached to my back but under my pack rain cover (which I keep on while traveling) and have never had a problem leaving the US or Spain. I always make sure I have rubber feet on them, not bare metal tips.
That said, I’ve never flown out of Miami with poles so they may see it differently.
If they are THAT special take s risk in checking them in.Thank you, Henrythedog. I've viewed the Moderators Post as well. Seems the uncertainty is Real. I was hoping to take my new poles that my sons purchased specifically for my First Camino....and that's why the poles are special! Debating whether I risk it or not!
I’m not trying to “hide” them; of course they are seen in the x-ray. Keeping them under the cover (a) leaves more room in my pack (someone above had said put them in your pack) and (b) keeps them contained, less likely to knock into the back of a seat as you are walking down the plane aisle, etc.I really don't think that hiding the poles under a rain cover (or anything else) will make any difference at all. They will be seen in the x-ray machine!
We just flew Portland -Dulles - Madrid with our zpoles in our backpacks carry on no problems. Waiting on our SanSebastian flight now!Can anyone offer advice on trek poles at the airport? I'll be traveling from Miami to Madrid and have no need to check any luggage....only carry on backpack and my poles compact to 20" which can be inside my pack or hooked on outside of pack. I have checked with TSA and American and find mixed information.
If they are THAT special take s risk in checking them in.
I fir one always check my backpack with poles knife and other forbidden stuff in a nylon duffel bag that converts into a little square thingy going into its own pouch and to the bottom of the backpack when traveling is done.
Never had any problems and didn't have to try any tricks to sneak them poles in.
The only rule of the thumb I adhere to is to fly TO my hiking destination on a N/S flight (I'm a little more laxed coming back home).
Good luck and Buen Camino
Check them or be prepared to lose them at security. You might get lucky - or not. The tungsten steel tips make hiking poles a stabbing weapon.Can anyone offer advice on trek poles at the airport? I'll be traveling from Miami to Madrid and have no need to check any luggage....only carry on backpack and my poles compact to 20" which can be inside my pack or hooked on outside of pack. I have checked with TSA and American and find mixed information.
When is No, not No? So many anecdotal reports of carrying on collapsible poles as long as they have rubber tips. It seems to be at the discretion of the TSA agent du jour.
I live in Miami, there is nothing certain at MIA. The answer is, who knows? An ever present source of angst. Perhaps, try to get them through and if unsuccessful, leave plenty of time and be prepared to go back and check them. I wrap mine up and check them with loads of fragile stickers and keepCan anyone offer advice on trek poles at the airport? I'll be traveling from Miami to Madrid and have no need to check any luggage....only carry on backpack and my poles compact to 20" which can be inside my pack or hooked on outside of pack. I have checked with TSA and American and find mixed information.
I flew St. Louis to Boston to Madrid to Marrakesh, then from Lisbon to Madrid to Boston in my carey-on without any difficulty at all. Then again, I'm 66 with very grey hair, so it's possible it was assumed that I required them to walk...?I've never taken a chance on carrying poles on the flight. For my first Camino I was traveling alone and checked my poles and Swiss Army knife inside an Ikea duffel along with my backpack. For my second Camino, my wife accompanied me and we checked a small roller bag with non-Camino clothes for use after the Camino (forwarded from Porto to SdC). The poles and knife went in there for the flight, while we carried our backpacks onboard. For my third Camino (Chemin LePuy to Conques) I left my poles and knife at home and carried my backpack onboard the flight. I bought new poles in LePuy and an Opinal knife in Nasbinals. I left them with my daughter when I flew home to the US.
Every airport and every TSA agent in the US is different. You may be lucky or you may not.I fly with them attached to my back but under my pack rain cover (which I keep on while traveling) and have never had a problem leaving the US or Spain. I always make sure I have rubber feet on them, not bare metal tips.
That said, I’ve never flown out of Miami with poles so they may see it differently.
17,235 then . . .I think that this pole question was ask 17,234 times before you and that you deserve a special price from the forum.
Congratulations!
YesN/S == Non-stop or Direct flight????
I hear that in Europe is not an isue bringing retractable poles with acrry-on.
They have never caught my poles. Or knife, eitherYeah, I would never try the knife.
TSA allows "mobility assistance devices" but not "walking poles." My experience at 66 is that if you limp amd it looks like a cane you're likely good, but otherwise you may be out of luck. A similarly aged friend with two bad knees and a limp used what would be called a (carved) walking stick and batted about .750Can anyone offer advice on trek poles at the airport? I'll be traveling from Miami to Madrid and have no need to check any luggage....only carry on backpack and my poles compact to 20" which can be inside my pack or hooked on outside of pack. I have checked with TSA and American and find mixed information.
In fact, your research must have missed Canada. The security agency for Canadian airports (CATSA) says on its website that poles ARE allowed. I have carried my folding poles into the cabin in my back pack a number of times over the past 12 years.I researched USA, Australia, Canada, UK and Europe... And apart from Delta Airlines, every one we checked said hiking poles are not allowed in carry-on.
And your research must also have missed one of the major airports in Europe, namely Zurich in Switzerland. Their airport website states explicitly that hiking poles and trekking poles ARE allowed. They are aware that this is not the case everywhere so they recommend transport in checked baggage but this is irrelevant if you don't change planes at a subsequent airport with different rules.I researched USA, Australia, Canada, UK and Europe ... We checked a lot. And apart from Delta Airlines, every one we checked said hiking poles are not allowed in carry-on.
How could I forget thiswhen coming home, the poles were allowed to fly on board from Santiago to Barcelona.
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