International Air Travel With A Cane

[steven58]

Hi All,
Just wanted to post the following anecdotal information.

I recently traveled via British Airways to Budapest Hungary from Philadelphia with a change of planes in London Heathrow where a complete security check is required even though you are just changing planes.

Both I and my 15 year old son carried hickory crook top octagonal stockman's canes with us (his is 1" medium weight, mine is the 1 1/4" "Elephant" version). Neither one of us has (or faked) a limp or any other outward indicator of a "need" for a cane.

We were not questioned or given a second look at any TSA checkpoint or at their equivalent in Heathrow or Budapest Airport regarding the canes.

They go in the baskets with the rest of your carry on stuff, through the X-ray machine and out the other end. No questions regarding my Surefire flashlight either.

I did see one poor gentleman geting a verbal reaming out by Heathrow security because he forgot he had a nail clipper in his pocket!

Only issue was while using public transportation in Budapest we constantly had to refuse the seats that were instantly offered to us as soon as we got on the various trolleys or buses.

 

[hso]

I've never had any trouble flying with a cane, other than the solicitous questions about whether I needed it to get through the arch. "Thanks, but I don't need it to hold me up all the time, just to keep me from falling down occasionally.", said with a wink and a smile is more than sufficient.

 

[007BondJamesBond007]

I am a friend of the TSA. Meaning I have a total knee replacement and will set off the scanner. I never had a problem with a cane on the plane. If you look at the list of banned items nail clipper are the list. I have a card in my wallet from my doctor about my medical equipment cannot go in the baggage.

 

[glistam]

Out of curiosity, anyone taken a cane to Italy? I may go there in the next year or two, and I heard a rumor that the police give you the stink-eye if you don't have a limp.

 

[steven58]

I wouldn't expect that there should be any problem getting on a plane with a cane. That's why I carry one.

In previous threads there have been some comments on this forum about faking a limp or some other subterfuge and or the need for some form of proof of need for a cane.

My post is simply my experience traveling with a cane where I have no outwardly visible need for one nor have I had any spare metal parts added (yet!) that would confirm said need. As well as a healthy 15 year old with a cane as well. If the 2 of us walking through security with canes one after the other gets no questions no one else should.

I know nail clippers are on the list. That they are is silly, that some poor guy is getting the riot act read to him over it while I walk past him with what is essentially a sledge hammer handle in my hand is just incredulous.

Here are non airport pictures of my son and I from this trip. We don't overtly need canes.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

That is good to know. I have been lots of place and here in TX if your not careful people hold open the doors for ya. I had a young lady ask if I wanted her to carry my buffett tray to the table for me.

 

[Carl Levitian]

I've made seveal flights since 9-11, one of them oversees to France. I carry by prefferace a knobby blackthorn walking stick. I have good days, and bad days, and on a good day I have hardly any limp at all. I've had no problem at all either landing in Paris or returning to the U.S.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

A real Blackthorn is next on my to buy list.

 

[conw]

Just a tip, get one of the $80 ones rather than the $40 Lollysmith ones like I got...the $40 have black epoxy coat that is just kind of cheap. OTOH, if you can find an authentic cured one for less than $80, let me know.

 

[dev_null]

Any probs with TSA and the all-metal canes?

 

[CathyGo]

They may check the end caps to ensure that it is not concealing anything. Cane swords are still commonly available online.

 

[hso]

It will get x-rayed and any oddities will be investigated. Any blades in the cane will put probably put you in jail.

 

[Dnaltrop]

I have such a situation with both of my Canes. I've destroyed 2 aluminum ones so far, and now have much "sturdier" 3rd legs.

Outwardly they have a tropical hardwood head attached with a steel dowel to the shaft, the shaft is Steel Pipe, reinforced with an internal dowel, coated with epoxy and textured.

I've not yet put the TSA through their paces, but I've had to take one into the local courthouse twice now.

I tell them it's heavy, and steel ( 7 lbs) The first time the Cane went through security I was offered access to the larger elevator for my comfort.

The second time The Sheriff running the Magnetometer started to get angry, and told me I couldn't have the cane inside the courthouse.

My response " Oh, thats ok... Do you have a wheelchair and someone to push me around then? "

"Go on through"

"Are you sure? I don't want to break the rules..."

"go."

At least I'm visibly slow enough if you see me moving that I don't appear threatening, except perhaps in the "don't fall on me please Mister" vein.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

The LEO violated Federal Law and you could get his job for that comment.

 

[Dnaltrop]

Agreed, I'm just used to getting flak from being Big, AND Gimpy, it confuses people.

It's better in the long run to educate instead of punish, Besides... I could have been King of the Courthouse with my own Escort, maybe next time.

 

[springmom]

Rich and I went to the recent Tea Party at the Sam Houston raceway. I carried my metal cane because I had Levitra-caused tendonitis in my left knee. Visibly limping and not faking it. The idjit LEO doing security (search my purse, blah blah) wanted to know if it was actually a cane sword, because "you know, those are illegal." I gave him the Springmom Stare. Honestly...

What he didn't ask about was the pocket knife in my pocket (yes, HSO, that same little folder I had at your house, lol) and that I didn't realize (until I'd walked the quarter-mile to the security checkpoint ) I wasn't supposed to have in my pocket. Yeah. Ask me about a sword cane but not about a pocketknife.

:banghead:

Jan

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Agreed, I'm just used to getting flak from being Big, AND Gimpy, it confuses people.

It's better in the long run to educate instead of punish, Besides... I could have been King of the Courthouse with my own Escort, maybe next time.

I am too the point that the Government must pay for it's FAILURE to educate the LEO on the street. Just because someone went to an academy is given a badge and a gun is not enough excuse for me to grant them a pass when they violate Fed Medical Privacy laws and the AWDA. This I know from observation when the Government pays they get off their 6's and get the boys in Blue properly trained.