I'll need a walking stick at Santiago airport.

[Stephen]

My hope for a warm Camino from Sevilla was dashed when I slipped on the stairs in the place where I was staying in Santiago.
I hurt my back quite badly so I've decided to go back home to recuperate. I'm going to need my walking stick to get through the airport. Will security, who seem very strict about walking sticks, make an exception for me?
There's also the question of my pack. I'm not sure if I can carry it through four airports and two train stations. Any suggestions?

 

[RJM]

My father uses a single aluminium, telescoping trekking pole all the time in lieu of a cane. He just doesn't care for traditional canes. He's boarded flights with it extended and utilized in that manner. They always let him do it with no hassle. Mind you, he is in his 80's.
Maybe you can mail the pack home after removing all disposable or expendable things in it?

 

[Stephen]

I'm 70 now so he's not that much older than me.
I've seen people in wheelchairs at airports. How is that arranged?

 

[GettingThere]

My hope for a warm Camino from Sevilla was dashed when I slipped on the stairs in the place where I was staying in Santiago.
I hurt my back quite badly so I've decided to go back home to recuperate. I'm going to need my walking stick to get through the airport. Will security, who seem very strict about walking sticks, make an exception for me?
There's also the question of my pack. I'm not sure if I can carry it through four airports and two train stations. Any suggestions?

Stephen, so sorry to hear about your injury. I really enjoyed following your reports from your winter Camino!

I can't answer the walking stick question but just picking up on your concern about getting through the train stations: if you're not already aware of it, Renfe have a wonderful help service called Atendo for anyone with reduced mobility, including temporary injury-related states like yours. It's totally free and available at most Renfe stations. My mother had mobility issues due to a complication of a bout of food poisoning on our Camino which affected her joints. She needed help getting on and off the trains and more than I could manage as I was dealing with our bags etc. I called into the station at Santiago a couple of days before we were due to head off on further travels and they took her details, then were waiting for us on the day. We had a helper who walked with her to the train and helped her aboard, then were met at Ourense where we had to change trains, and again at our final stop. They would have provided a wheelchair if she had needed it and help with her bags, but as it happened she just needed help on and off the trains and platforms. I really can't speak highly enough of this service or the staff (who are easily visible in their orange livery!). There is information about the service here: http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/atendo/index.html

Good luck and all the best for a speedy recovery!!

Edit: Just realised your train stations might be back home not in Spain, in which case none of this will help! Oh well, maybe someone else will find it useful!

 

[VNwalking]

I can't answer your question from experience in Santiago, but just want to commiserate.
I am so sorry to read your news, Stephen! This is definitely not the camino you had planned...
When you check in you may be able to ask the agent to arrange for assistance to get you to the gate and at boarding. And you'll be met at the other end too (I have done this in Ireland when traveling with a friend with mobility challenges).

 

[Bala]

Stephen, you ought to be able to arrange the airport assist in advance through your airline. Definitely worth a call. If not, then at the airport, as VNwalking says. So sorry to hear of your injury. Hope you heal quickly.

 

[GettingThere]

Just checked the Aena website (they operate the airports in Spain) - here is the page with info on services at Santiago airport for people with reduced mobility (it mentions requesting assistance at least 48 hours in advance, but if you have less time than that it would be worth contacting them anyway): http://aena.mobi/m/es/aeropuerto-santiago/personas-movilidad-reducida.html

 

[Jill81]

So sorry to hear about your fall and I hope you recover soon! Although airport assistance such as electric cart or wheelchair transfer in the terminal are provided by the airport services you need to request your requirements from your airline at least 48 hours in advance. However, if you are flying in less than 48 hours contact them as soon as possible.

Are you flying EasyJet? If you have already bought your ticket add your requirements to your booking in the “manage booking” section, or by calling their dedicated assistance call line.

Spain:
Call: 900 809 746
Opening Hours: Daily 0900 - 1730 Local Time

http://www.easyjet.com/en/help/boarding-and-flying/special-assistance

All airlines will have similar mobility assistance request sections of their websites.

You have a complicated journey ahead of you — don’t be afraid to ask for help!

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

If you can, get a note from a Spanish doctor saying you NEED the walking stick for mobility. I speak from experience of an identical problem - especially with Ryanair.

 

[t2andreo]

There is a fundamental difference between a hiking pole or walking stick having a tungsten steel pointy tip, and a walking assistive device (aka a cane).

The latter typically have a rubber "crutch" tip and do not have the pointy tip. It is the pointy tip that makes this a stabbing weapon and is the reason for it being banned from most all aircraft.

The security folks at Santiago, by practice, take a dim view of these sticks. They certainly see a lot of the each day.

So, my first advice is to ditch or check the metal tipped stick or at least remove the pointy tip and stash it somewhere where it will not be recognized for what it is. Obtain a rubber tip in any ferreteria or farmacia to affix in place of the metal tip. You can reattach the metal tip when you get home.

Alternatively, and if the need for assistive walking device is legitimate, obtain a collapsible travel cane in a farmacia. I have one that I use as my knees can be temperamental. There is no problem at all traveling with this sort of device.

Several times each year, I travel to Spain using my travel cane as necessary enroute. Once in Spain, I collapse it and mail it ahead with other things to be at Santiago when I get there. From that point, I rely on my hiking sticks. They have rubber tips covering the tungsten pointy tips.

FYI, I ALWAYS check my walking / hiking sticks.

 

[erith long]

I can tell you for sure, that you can go with your walking stick, they just put it through the scanner along with your hand luggage, tell the security people that you need it,
My husband doest it all the time,
Get better soon live long and prosper!!

 

[C clearly]

My husband doest it all the time,

Departing from Santiago airport? That airport has a much stricter policy than most airports.

 

[Stephen]

They did let me through security with my walking pole.
Santiago must have been looking out for me.

 

[Tom Smith]

My hope for a warm Camino from Sevilla was dashed when I slipped on the stairs in the place where I was staying in Santiago.
I hurt my back quite badly so I've decided to go back home to recuperate. I'm going to need my walking stick to get through the airport. Will security, who seem very strict about walking sticks, make an exception for me?
There's also the question of my pack. I'm not sure if I can carry it through four airports and two train stations. Any suggestions?

I recently flew from the Santiago airport to Madrid and took a full size golf umbrella on board.....no problem so I do not see why a walking stick would be a problem. Check with your other airlines and flights to see if it is allowed as carry on, otherwise get a collapseable stick. As for your backpack you will probably have to check it, measure it and see if it fits with the dimensions that airlines allow for carry on.

 

[GettingThere]

They did let me through security with my walking pole.
Santiago must have been looking out for me.

That's great news, Stephen. I hope you managed ok with the other stages of your journey home.

 

[Kathy Jaudegis]

I'm glad you made it through the Santiago airport Stephen. I also hope you have a speedy recovery. Buen Camino!

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Stephen,

I am very glad to hear that you did not have any issues. When people are hurting, it is not hard to see. And TSA are there to protect us all. I have been there, went throgh what happened to you, similar anyway. I received very good, compassionate treatment and will always remember that.

Get better soon.

 

[NualaOC]

Hi Stephen, so sorry to hear about your injury and the difficulties that it caused you. I hope you got home safely and that you make a fully recovery. The Via de la Plata will still be there when you're ready to go back, but I'm sure that isn't much consolation right now.