Hiking poles in cabin baggage Dublin

[Tommy Barr]

Hi does anyone have up to date info on carrying your walking poles as part of cabin baggage with Aer Lingus Santiago to Dublin. Thank You.

 

[Tincatinker]

Airport security at Santiago will confiscate your poles unless you check them. They are renowned for it.

 

[whariwharangi]

Hi does anyone have up to date info on carrying your walking poles as part of cabin baggage with Aer Lingus Santiago to Dublin. Thank You.

Aer Lingus perhaps?

I would not put trust in any statement made on this forum regarding airline and airline security as it pertains to baggage.

Aena manages Spain's airports. Here is Aena website regarding hand baggage: http://www.aena.es/en/passengers/hand-luggage.html

 

[Al the optimist]

Tinca is right. The security at Santiago just love confiscating them. This is before you get anywhere near the gate for boarding where the airline might come into play.

 

[AML]

Tommy,
Aer lingus is not the issue here, its santiago airport security regulations.
you definately will not be able to carry poles as hand luggage through security at Santiago. I have heard but cannot confirm the truth, that aer lingus will let you check in poles for free.

 

[rector]

We have taken two sets folded and put in one checked rucksack and used the other rucksack as cabin baggage, when we have flown both Ryanair to St Jean and to and from Santiago/Dublin with Are Lingus, but I would never risk taking them on board with us, its not worth it.

 

[Tommy Barr]

Thanks folks for the info. Aidan will email you good to hear from you

 

[clearskiescamino]

Hi Tommy
There is always the option of posting your poles a number of days before you leave to your starting point. It's just a matter of contacting your first accommodation. I hope to do that at the end of Leon. It saves you a few euro checking in.

 

[C clearly]

Most of these answers are talking about the fact that on the return flight from Santiago, the poles will not be permitted through security at Santiago airport, no matter what airline you are taking. The question of carrying the poles onto the plane from Dublin to fly to Santiago will depend on the security policy/practice at Dublin airport. So you would have to ask the Dublin airport security people.

It is possible that you will be able to carry your poles with cabin baggage on the way from Dublin to Santiago, but not on the return flight.

 

[dougfitz]

Most of these answers are talking about the fact that on the return flight from Santiago, the poles will not be permitted through security at Santiago airport, no matter what airline you are taking. The question of carrying the poles onto the plane from Dublin to fly to Santiago will depend on the security policy/practice at Dublin airport. So you would have to ask the Dublin airport security people.

It is possible that you will be able to carry your poles with cabin baggage on the way from Dublin to Santiago, but not on the return flight.

The OP's question was specifically about the return flight, not about travelling from Dublin.

One thing the conversations on this topic do is highlight that there are consistent rules, based on the technical guides from the ICAO and made into regulations by national aviation safety agencies such as the TSA and EASA, and inconsistent application of these rules by humans working on the security checkpoints in airports.

Relying on the human factor has its risks, but certainly the security staff at Santiago have gained a reputation on this forum for being diligent in their application of the rules regarding trekking poles.

 

[C clearly]

The OP's question was specifically about the return flight, not about travelling from Dublin.

Yes, you are right! I'm the one who missed the point!

 

[jsalt]

You can never tell what airport security will do. I knew I wasn’t allowed hiking poles in the cabin from Santiago, but what about a long big umbrella with all its metal spikes? Santiago security let me take it onboard. Madrid security let me take it onboard. But in Johannesburg, for the little 20 seater plane back to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, I had to check it in. Convinced I would never see it again, although now almost home, I was pleasantly surprised when an airport employee handed it over to me at the other end. Jill

 

[timr]

I didn't do it myself but Aer Lingus certainly had free check-in for poles last year at Santiago.

 

[murraydv]

Hi does anyone have up to date info on carrying your walking poles as part of cabin baggage with Aer Lingus Santiago to Dublin. Thank You.

You probably have the answer already. By the way, it is not the airline (Aer Lingus) that is the problem, but airport security. I had the same question myself and asked security at Dublin airport one time when I was passing through. The risk is the sharp pole ends when you remove the rubbers. And, the advice from airport security was that there is every chance that they will not be allowed through and, therefore, it is not worth taking the risk of carrying them hand luggage. For me, the risk of checking in the luggage is - that the bag might not turn up. On the way home, that would be fine because it will eventually turn up, but on the way out, your Camino is in tatters without your bag. I am going back in May this year, (Dublin Madrid - Via de la Plata) and I am thinking of checking the four poles (two of us travelling) and carrying the bags hand luggage. Then, if the poles don't turn up, it is not the end of the world. They can always be replaced in Madrid. But the bag is critical.
Dave

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Airport security at Santiago will confiscate your poles unless you check them. They are renowned for it.

Not always true. Last September I left my pole in Santiago (cue for a song) because I've been caught before only to watch a lady board our Ryanair flight not only with her hiking pole in hand but with it fully extended!
Still wouldn't take the chance though.

 

[Deleted member 56069]

I must be missing something about the number of people who wish to treat their back pack and poles as carry on luggage.
We have checked our back packs each year along with our poles. We have a light weight over bag we zip our back packs into.
I carry a small folding utility knife as well as a multi tool that includes a cork screw, so none of this would be allowed in with carry on luggage.
Have had absolutely no luggage issues in three years.
No needless worry on a given day will they or won't they let me board with my back pack and poles. I have expensive carbon fibre poles and be unhappy to get them confiscated.
I am sure it comes down to in some cases who is on staff in security on a given day, so it is rolling the dice if you can board with your poles or not on a given day.

 

[Sheena]

Last year we were allowed to check in my husband's walking poles for free. He had been injured and unable to walk without them, but gave them up when a wheelchair was provided. I don't know if our unusual circumstances were the reason or not. Realistically though, I don't want people to be able to carry anything onboard the cabin which could be used as a weapon.

 

[rector]

I must be missing something about the number of people who wish to treat their back pack and poles as carry on luggage.
We have checked our back packs each year along with our poles. We have a light weight over bag we zip our back packs into.

Hi ZREXTER The bit that you may be missing is that the return fare from Dublin this year for us is 49Euros + Taxes return and therefore it can cost more to check in the poles than to fly return.

 

[Kathie Morton]

I'd like to take my poles, (PLAN A) Hoping to take all my camino items in backpack as carry-on...I have purchased a clear shipping tube that I plan to check with my poles, metal spork and a swiss army knife. Has anyone done this before and did the tube arrive on the same flight/time as you?
(PLAN B) Flying into and out of Barcelona, so thinking any luggage, shipping tube, etc., I may check to carry camino items, I could possibly leave at hotel that I stay at in Barcelona. Has anyone done this before and results?
Thank you,
Kathie

 

[jsalt]

I have purchased a clear shipping tube that I plan to check with my poles, metal spork and a swiss army knife. Has anyone done this before and did the tube arrive on the same flight/time as you?

Hi Kathie, yes, I did this last year. I put my poles, knife and liquids (shampoo, etc) into a separate bag, checked that into the hold, and took my pack as carry-on. I was flying from South Africa to Bordeaux via a change in Madrid. The separate bag arrived on the same plane in Bordeaux. I did have Plan B: I knew where the Decathlon store was in Bordeaux, so that if my bag didn’t arrive I could replace the items that had gone missing.

Flying into and out of Barcelona, so thinking any luggage, shipping tube, etc., I may check to carry camino items, I could possibly leave at hotel that I stay at in Barcelona. Has anyone done this before and results?

Yes, done this before too. Booked a hotel at the start and end of a trip, and had it confirmed in writing (email) when booking that I would be able to leave a small bag with them for about 3 weeks.

Jill

 

[Kathie Morton]

Thank y'all do much!
Kathie

 

[C clearly]

unhappy to get them confiscated.

They don't confiscate unless the item is illegal! They just don't let certain items through. So you either give them up, or you take them back. You can take the items back and check them through. You just need to allow the time to do so.

Has anyone done this before and did the tube arrive on the same flight/time as you?

Whether you use a tube, suitcase, or cardboard box, if you check the item as your luggage it almost always travels on the same plane with you. If it misses a connection it should be on the next fight!

 

[Mor]

I ve brought poles from Dublin to Santiago and it wasn't a problem in hand luggage . However on the way home I was told by Santiago security they would have to be checked in . We bought lidl ones which were great and not expensive if you're worried they may be discarded .
Returning with poles from Madrid with aer lingus was not a problem either .