Treking poles Santiago airport.

[MickMac]

Are treking poles still banned at Santiago airport in hand luggage ? and if so do you have to check in at desk if your only carrying rucksack ?.

 

[trecile]

As far as I know you can't carry your poles on at the Santiago airport, but all of the airlines there will check them in for free.
I assume that you can't take them through security and must check them in at the desk.

 

[grayland]

The ban on poles at the Santiago airport has been complete and solid for many years. It is rare to hear that someone has managed to slip through.
The normal plan by most is to 1. Leave them behind in Santiago; 2. Check them; 3. Post them home
Not great choices....but there you are.

If you have a boarding pass you should be able to proceed direct to security and out to the gates.

 

[Annette london]

As far as I know you can't carry your poles on at the Santiago airport, but all of the airlines there will check them in for free.
I assume that you can't take them through security and must check them in at the desk.

Yes Trecile is right
All airlines at Santiago airport check them into the hold for free…’A special offer” only at Santiago airport

 

[trecile]

Yes Trecile is right
All airlines at Santiago airport check them into the hold for free…’A special offer” only at Santiago airport

And I believe that you need to have them wrapped, or in a box or something.

 

[Annette london]

And I believe that you need to have them wrapped, or in a box or something.

Yes, we have a long cloth type bag to pack them, bought from Millet/ Blacks UK stores or they are available on Amazon, Cost less than a fiver and made specifically for walking poles

 

[Anthony Rocco]

And I believe that you need to have them wrapped, or in a box or something.

Mine were rejected at security. When I went back to check in, the attendant not only wrapped them for me, but accompanied me to the conveyor belt at the end of the airport where items go in a straight line downstairs luggage area. She commented that others who check in poles often don't receive them at the other end because they get stuck in the belts that turn corners.

Bottom line: If you are packing your poles, pack them well.

 

[hikentravel1234]

Just like some have noted above, once I was able to pack my poles inside of my checked bag (in the US). Another time they required it be put in a special sized box—which they didn’t have but luckily we were able to tape together 2 smaller boxes. I was so close to not being able to get them on the plane that with my next hike I will make sure to have my own shipping box with me.
I suspect it varies with different airlines and cities.

 

[dougfitz]

Might I suggest that this thread: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...sticks-into-the-airplane-cabin-with-me.73727/ has the best explanation about why there is such different treatment of poles in various places. At its heart is a difference between the statement of the TSA rule and the equivalent rules from other civil aviation safety authorities. The TSA offers security staff some flexibility to allow poles in carry-on luggage; others don't.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

The problem for me has been this...it is great that Santiago ships poles for free, but then in Madrid mine have been confiscated at security anyway. For Caminos I choose to never check my back pack(for convenience, fear of loss, and now additional cost) because checking baggage is no longer free on international flights and I have no interest in upgrading my ticket. So for me, bringing my poles home is not an option anyway. After losing two pairs of poles at security in Madrid, I now purchase them after arrival and donate them in Santiago.
On my recent Via Francigena I found an awesome stick that served me well; I was sad to leave it behind as I'd grown quite attached to it.

 

[henrythedog]

Might I suggest that this thread: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...sticks-into-the-airplane-cabin-with-me.73727/ has the best explanation about why there is such different treatment of poles in various places. At its heart is a difference between the statement of the TSA rule and the equivalent rules from other civil aviation safety authorities. The TSA offers security staff some flexibility to allow poles in carry-on luggage; others don't.

Probably the greatest time-saving post ever to feature on here. It must, in itself, have allowed Ivar to power-down one of the servers.

 

[C clearly]

Probably the greatest time-saving post ever to feature on here. It must, in itself, have allowed Ivar to power-down one of the servers.

Of course you realize that that clear answer is not exactly the answer that people want, so they keep asking in hopes that it will change. Besides, answering a question in the first response and then closing the thread is not much fun. This is "small talk" on the forum.

 

[Tincatinker]

Of course you realize that that clear answer is not exactly the answer that people want, so they keep asking in hopes that it will change. Besides, answering a question in the first response and then closing the thread is not much fun. This is "small talk" on the forum.

I was always intrigued by Einstein’s definition of idiocy as “repeating the same experiment anticipating a different outcome”. Intrigued because, as he frequently did, he’d disregarded context. Anyone can split the atom. It’s why they’d want to that is the really important bit

 

[Tincatinker]

I have often read on the forum that those who own Black Diamond Z-poles seem to always be allowed to bring them in the cabin in luggage. My friend always brings hers on board for caminos and other international travels with no problem .

That’s because of the $50 bung that Black Diamond send to all airport security staff every Christmas

 

[Camino Chrissy]

That’s because of the $50 bung that Black Diamond send to all airport security staff every Christmas

Well that explains why those Z-poles are so expensive.

 

[henrythedog]

Of course you realize that that clear answer is not exactly the answer that people want, so they keep asking in hopes that it will change. Besides, answering a question in the first response and then closing the thread is not much fun. This is "small talk" on the forum.

Of course, you’re right - but the temptation to reply to a ‘I want to use currency x in a country where currency y is used’ post in very short sentences is only resisted because it might be considered rude.

I think ‘we’ have settled into an unusually tolerant style, but ten posts down the thread, finally, the gloves start to come off.

Most other forums would maintain that level of tolerance to … well, nowhere really. The obviously correct answer would be delivered, together with the odd expletive, and a suggestion that the OP shouldn’t slam the door on their way out.

I’m comfortable with the generally tolerant behaviour on here; but once in a while someone really does need telling where to get off the bus.

 

[dougfitz]

Of course, you’re right - but the temptation to reply to a ‘I want to use currency x in a country where currency y is used’ post in very short sentences is only resisted because it might be considered rude.

I think ‘we’ have settled into an unusually tolerant style, but ten posts down the thread, finally, the gloves start to come off.

Most other forums would maintain that level of tolerance to … well, nowhere really. The obviously correct answer would be delivered, together with the odd expletive, and a suggestion that the OP shouldn’t slam the door on their way out.

I’m comfortable with the generally tolerant behaviour on here; but once in a while someone really does need telling where to get off the bus.

Are you sure you're not thinking of this thread? I've posted it there anyway, without attributing it other than to indicate that it isn't my work.

 

[henrythedog]

Are you sure you're not thinking of this thread? I've posted it there anyway, without attributing it other than to indicate that it isn't my work.

Doug, you are quite right - I am conflating two threads; but the principle is equally applicable to both as you also suggest. Thankyou.





‘Conflating’ who would have thought I could come up with that?

 

[peregrina2000]

but once in a while someone really does need telling where to get off the bus.

Now you’re conflating this discussion with the many travel questions that require us to provide precisely that answer.

My reaction is less annoyed than some others. The search function tells me I have more than 150 posts with the words “poles” and “carry”. So in defense of idiocy, I will say that the forum is an ever changing amalgam of people with questions. And since many forum members prefer to get up to date info, and many others either don’t know how to search or can’t be bothered, it’s up to the rest of us to decide whether to answer the same old questions, just plain ignore them, tell the member to do a search, or say something that shows that we know more than they do about the information stored on this forum. For the life of me I can’t understand why some forum members get all bent out of shape when a question gets asked repeatedly — the title is very clear so you know what you’re going to read when you open the thread. Why read it if it makes your blood pressure rise?

I don’t like the feeling that there is a select group who gets to decide which questions are worthy of discussion.

And for those who haven’t read my 150 posts on poles, I’ll just add that this year I once again carried my folded up poles through TSA without question or comment. That probably brings my total up over 60 or 70 if I count hiking trips in the US as well as my caminos.

 

[Peregrina2021]

The ban on poles at the Santiago airport has been complete and solid for many years. It is rare to hear that someone has managed to slip through.
The normal plan by most is to 1. Leave them behind in Santiago; 2. Check them; 3. Post them home
Not great choices....but there you are.

If you have a boarding pass you should be able to proceed direct to security and out to the gates.

You can pass if you have a medical prescription you need the sticks for walking. My mother always takes them on the plane, also in Santiago.

 

[Kathor1]

You can pass if you have a medical prescription you need the sticks for walking. My mother always takes them on the plane, also in Santiago.

Your mother and at least one other forum member .

But you wrote "also in Santiago" airport while the original question is only about Santiago airport.

What is special about Santiago airport - I know of no other airport where this is done - is an offer and an option that several people already mentioned: There is an agreement between the airport and all the airlines that they will check walking poles for free, and that includes budget airlines like easyJet and Ryanair and passengers who have a no frills cheap ticket.

This is not as widely known as it could be so I think it merits repeating. Also, you can buy wrapping material at the airport (or at least you could when I was there the last time - perhaps a more recent traveller who paid attention to this can confirm) and that would also be useful to know.

 

[henrythedog]

Now you’re conflating this discussion with the many travel questions that require us to provide precisely that answer.

My reaction is less annoyed than some others. The search function tells me I have more than 150 posts with the words “poles” and “carry”. So in defense of idiocy, I will say that the forum is an ever changing amalgam of people with questions. And since many forum members prefer to get up to date info, and many others either don’t know how to search or can’t be bothered, it’s up to the rest of us to decide whether to answer the same old questions, just plain ignore them, tell the member to do a search, or say something that shows that we know more than they do about the information stored on this forum. For the life of me I can’t understand why some forum members get all bent out of shape when a question gets asked repeatedly — the title is very clear so you know what you’re going to read when you open the thread. Why read it if it makes your blood pressure rise?

I don’t like the feeling that there is a select group who gets to decide which questions are worthy of discussion.

And for those who haven’t read my 150 posts on poles, I’ll just add that this year I once again carried my folded up poles through TSA without question or comment. That probably brings my total up over 60 or 70 if I count hiking trips in the US as well as my caminos.

Yes; you are right - and I certainly don’t wish to imply that any poster has not a perfect right to ask any question. Often opening questions are precisely the ones which we all would have asked - that’s why they come up so often.

 

[trecile]

Santiago airport are not going to change their policy for the simple reason that there will be too many passengers boarding, pushing each other, turning around with their backpacks, trying to fit them into the overhead locker, to allow walking poles in the cabin.

I hadn't even thought about the large number of passengers potentially carrying poles on a flight from Santiago being a factor, but that makes a lot of sense.

 

[Walkalong]

The problem for me has been this...it is great that Santiago ships poles for free, but then in Madrid mine have been confiscated at security anyway. For Caminos I choose to never check my back pack(for convenience, fear of loss, and now additional cost) because checking baggage is no longer free on international flights and I have no interest in upgrading my ticket. So for me, bringing my poles home is not an option anyway. After losing two pairs of poles at security in Madrid, I now purchase them after arrival and donate them in Santiago.
On my recent Via Francigena I found an awesome stick that served me well; I was sad to leave it behind as I'd grown quite attached to it.

How and where does one donate trekking poles in Santiago? How are donated trekking poles used or recycled in Santiago?

 

[Walkalong]

Might be helpful to ask if there are any ‘donated’ poles if starting out from, or staying at, a hotel near a departure point.

We turned down a set in Porto, but managed to recycle 2 sets of trekking poles to needy walkers on our autumn Caminos Portuguese and Frances. Once by constructing a new set from discarded parts from an Albergue recycle bin, and the second time by regifting a set given to us by a lady who did not want to risk airport security.

The appreciative recipients were nursing injuries, and have since passed them on to at least four grateful users, so far.

Since March 2020 has been no issue with poles attached to the outside of my pack, at least 8 times, including; Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Porto, Gatwick, and Toronto. Only once, with a new employee did I have to explain that they were needed for mobility. Why would a person with a <24L pack carry anything that was not required?

To be fair, I consider my poles disposable, just in case I run into that over zealous .....

 

[Kathor1]

you can buy wrapping material at the airport (or at least you could when I was there the last time - perhaps a more recent traveller who paid attention to this can confirm) and that would also be useful to know.

I am fairly sure that the shop shown in the photo below is the shop that I remember and where you can buy wrapping material including long tubes that one could use to protect poles before checking them for free at the airline's desk. I looked only at their display from the outside and did not go inside. Is it still there?

 

[Kathor1]

Here's a better photo. You can't miss the shop. It is right next to the entrance to security.

 

[grayland]

The OP's original question was answered..why not just stop the nonsense and close the thread?

 

[trecile]

The OP's original question was answered..why not just stop the nonsense and close the thread?

Some off topic posts have been removed.
This thread is about poles at the Santiago airport only. A more complete thread about poles on planes is located here:

Am I allowed to carry hiking poles / walking sticks into the airplane cabin with me?​