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-   -   can you take a walking stick on carry on? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/can-you-take-a-walking-stick-on-carry-on-624167/)

onourway Jun 16th, 2006 04:12 PM

can you take a walking stick on carry on?
 
we will be hiking in tuscany. we plan to bring a collapsable walking stick ( looks a bit like a ski pole) does anyone know if these are permitted in carry on?

clevelandbrown Jun 16th, 2006 04:20 PM

Assuming that you are flying from the US, you can check the TSA listing of banned items at:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=177

You should also check with your airlines, as some of them also have their own restrictions.

GreenDragon Jun 16th, 2006 04:45 PM

My DH bought one (non collapsable) in England and had no problem bringing it on our flight back last summer from the UK.

onourway Jun 16th, 2006 04:46 PM

very helpful, thanks

jsmith Jun 16th, 2006 04:46 PM

My wife of necessity has carried a folding cane for years. Be prepared to have it xrayed.

viaggio_sempre Jun 16th, 2006 05:03 PM

If the rubber tip is removable to expose a metal tip, you may have difficulty.

VS

kenderina Jun 16th, 2006 05:08 PM

I need a cane to walk, I have it x-rayed at the airport.

enzian Jun 16th, 2006 05:17 PM

It depends on whether the person doing the inspecting considers it a "walking cane" (which is allowed, after inspection), or a "ski pole", which is not allowed as a carry-on. Because of the sharp tip, I think the "ski pole" interpretation is more likely, and I always put ours in the checked baggage.

constant Jun 17th, 2006 01:47 AM

No metal tips. It's all very inconsistent. I carried a metal tipped umbrella onto a flight Switzerland-UK, and had it confiscated coming back on the same carrier.

Marianna Jun 17th, 2006 01:55 AM

You never know. I was on a flight two or so years ago and someone had spear as a carry-on. It was well over 6 feet in length with a huge blade at the top. I thought that was very interesting since my fingernail file was taken away from me.

WillTravel Jun 17th, 2006 02:09 AM

Marianna, I know people always write "LOL", but I really did laugh out loud when I read your post.

GreenDragon Jun 17th, 2006 06:12 AM

I know folks who have taken spears on -- they are re-enactors, like Vikings :)

bob_brown Jun 17th, 2006 06:32 AM

When I was recovering from hip surgery, I had a metal walking stick and my wife had hiking poles. We put the poles in the checked luggage because of of the metal tip issue.

I used the cane to assist me for general walking. I was allowed to take it on the airplane and stow it in the overhead bin. Collapsed, it would fit in length-wise.

There was no real question about taking the walking stick on board.


Underhill Jun 17th, 2006 08:19 AM

Be sure to duck someone else opens the overhead bin where your walking stick is stored. Last December a man in a hurry opened the bin above me, and out fell my cane right onto my head. Ouch! I had a major bump for a few days.

TexasAggie Jun 17th, 2006 09:50 AM

Oh Underhill,
OUCH! I bet you got quite the headache in addition to the bump :-(
Very good tip about stowing these. DH and I are bring our parents to Germany for a 10 day trip next summer and I will be sure to watch this when they stow their walking sticks!


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