Walking poles and Qatar Airlines

[Aysen Mustafa]

I am flying with Qatar Airlines and I don't think I can carry my walking poles in the plane. I just checked their rules and walking sticks are ok, but walking poles were excluded. Does anybody have recent experience. I can't fold and place mine in my luggage.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Check in your backpack incl. your poles .
Problem solved .

 

[Scott...O]

Although I’m not one of them, some people are reticent to check in their backpack on the off-chance that it may go astray in transit. While it’s a very low probability of happening, baggage does go astray every day....
So another way (assuming that the backpack meets the size requirements for carry-on), would be to carry on the backpack, and just check the poles (in a sturdy postal tube or similar).

 

[Bala]

I would agree with checking your poles and trying to carry your backpack. Are you going through Doha? They take security seriously. Even after you go through security you often have to go through a 2nd screening, xrays, bag check, questions, etc., to get into your boarding gate.

 

[Tony Murray]

You need to balance the cost of buying new poles in France with that of putting them through as luggage on the flight. For example I am going to buy new ones at St Jean Pied de Port. You can get a good set of poles for about €20, however, a checked-in bag on Ryanair (and most low-cost airlines) is €25.

Buen Camino

Tony

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

A good set of poles for 20 euros is very cheap. I might just buy a new pair in France. Checking in luggage means I will have to leave my pocket knife at home but I suppose I could pick one up cheaply in France as well.

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

I would agree with checking your poles and trying to carry your backpack. Are you going through Doha? They take security seriously. Even after you go through security you often have to go through a 2nd screening, xrays, bag check, questions, etc., to get into your boarding gate.

Yes flying through Doha.

 

[BoH]

A good set of poles for 20 euros is very cheap. I might just buy a new pair in France. Checking in luggage means I will have to leave my pocket knife at home but I suppose I could pick one up cheaply in France as well.

Folded knives are not peremitted, whatever. But others with a blade up to 60 mm are ok. Enough for cheese, tomatoes and als

 

[BoH]

.... and also bread!

 

[Julie Benyo]

I am flying with Qatar Airlines and I don't think I can carry my walking poles in the plane. I just checked their rules and walking sticks are ok, but walking poles were excluded. Does anybody have recent experience. I can't fold and place mine in my luggage.

I flew home to the US two years ago, and the airlines (can’t remember which one) wouldn’t let me check my poles, even though they were securely strapped to my backpack. Then security wouldn’t let me carry them on because they have metal tips under the rubber covers. Baggage check wanted me to pay to ship the poles as if I were checking 2 bags. I fought long and hard to get that charge dismissed, but it was eventually. Just know before you go if your poles have. Teal tips that may not be allowed on board as a carry on.

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

Mine have metal tips and I was planning on buying rubber covers to deaden the clacking noise. Last year I flew to NZ on Jetstar and was able to check them in on the way over but not on the way back.

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

A good set of poles for 20 euros is very cheap. I might just buy a new pair in France. Checking in luggage means I will have to leave my pocket knife at home but I suppose I could pick one up cheaply in France as well.

Are these hiking poles for 20 euros, the lightweight ones and foldable?

A good set of poles for 20 euros is very cheap. I might just buy a new pair in France. Checking in luggage means I will have to leave my pocket knife at home but I suppose I could pick one up cheaply in France as well.

 

[DebR]

Although I’m not one of them, some people are reticent to check in their backpack on the off-chance that it may go astray in transit. While it’s a very low probability of happening, baggage does go astray every day....
So another way (assuming that the backpack meets the size requirements for carry-on), would be to carry on the backpack, and just check the poles (in a sturdy postal tube or similar).

I did exactly this last year. Checked my poles (and some toiletries) in a yoga mat bag wrapped in plastic - it looked like I was checking in withFred Flintstone’s dinner! Qatar marked it “fragile” so it came offthe plane in Paris before I did, and waiting for me when I arrived in baggage claim. No muss, no fuss.

 

[Bala]

Are these hiking poles for 20 euros, the lightweight ones and foldable?

I bought poles in Pamplona, I think they were about 40€ for the pair. They are the telescoping kind, not foldable, and while fairly lightweight, definitely heavier than the high quality Black Diamond and/or Pacer poles others used. The salesman told me these were by no means the least expensive, but certainly not top of the line, either. I think foldable, very lightweight poles would cost quite a bit more. In the U.S. they are over $100 USD.

If you haven't yet been through Doha, the airport is great and Qatar Airways has an excellent reputation. But the airport security is interesting, with that extra screening at the boarding gate. I had a bottle of water that I'd filled from a fountain -- after I went through the first round of security. They wouldn't let it into the gate area. But I wasn't allowed to throw it out, either. I had to drink it in front of the security officer. Make of that what you will.

With that in mind, I'm thinking that even if poles made it through the first round, they might not make it through the 2nd. Best to check them, or buy them in Spain. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

Thank you Bala, I think it best I leave my hiking poles home and buy a pair in Europe. I wonder whether the Doha security were wondering whether by drinking all that water you would die from some sort of poisoning, or that they suspected alcohol.

 

[Bala]

Haha! If I'd chugged 16 ounces of vodka like that I might have exploded right at the boarding gate. If I didn't drop over dead drunk first.

Smart move with the poles. Shouldn't be a problem finding just what you want in Spain.

Buen Camino!

 

[verose]

I am flying with Qatar Airlines and I don't think I can carry my walking poles in the plane. I just checked their rules and walking sticks are ok, but walking poles were excluded. Does anybody have recent experience. I can't fold and place mine in my luggage.

Qatar allowed my walking poles on board - no problem. Sydney to Madrid. May 2019.

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

Qatar allowed my walking poles on board - no problem. Sydney to Madrid. May 2019.

good to know but if you are planning on any cheap flights within Europe it could become expensive if they don't allow them onboard.

 

[Anamya]

Qatar allowed my walking poles on board - no problem. Sydney to Madrid. May 2019.

There is not much consistancy then, because we flew Sydney to Madrid just one month ago (April 2019) and they said poles had to be dispatched!
Ours were travelling inside the suitcase anyway, but it was the first time we flew Qatar, so we were curious about many things. Btw, on the way back, we had to dispatch alcohol we bought on the duty free - no alcohol on board at all, they told us.

 

[Aysen Mustafa]

Oh well, good to know.