Carry cane on airlines

I have a friend who also has OSA and is familiar with carrying his CPAC bag on the airlines. But recently he has developed a problem requiring he use a cane while walking.

What are the rules/regulations about having a cane on the airlines?

wardmiller wrote:I have a friend who also has OSA and is familiar with carrying his CPAC bag on the airlines. But recently he has developed a problem requiring he use a cane while walking.

What are the rules/regulations about having a cane on the airlines?

What would be the problem with checking with the airlines, each may be different! Jim

I would not be surprised if there is an issue at the check in point regardless of the Airline's policy. I would talk to the AirPort's TSA chief as to required documentation and allowances long before the flight. Those guys can be the most anally retentive non-common-sense humans on earth today.

Individual airlines do not make the rules about medical equipment (canes, walkers). The TSA does, in the USA, and airlines have to follow the TSA rules. http://www.tsa.gov

It says the device will be screened at security. That's it. When boarding, the airlines usually announce if there are passengers who need help boarding, and are let on first, regardless of boarding pass seating info. Canes are stored in the overhead bin, (no flying projectiles)

I'd personally stay home, but with the way airlines treat their cattle, I'd want a Nerf Cane so it wouldn't hurt me as much when they beat me with it. Jim

I carried a cane on the airlines several times without any problem. However, it has been several years since I have flown. If I were to start flying again, I would need to carry a cane with me.

I have traveled with a cane; they put it in the overhead. I prefer to travel with a collapsible or folding cane, available at many pharmacies or online. As soon as I take my seat on the plane, I fold it up and stuff it into my carryon, or clip the bag that the cane folds into onto the handles of my carryon. No chance of forgetting it in the overhead (I'm short, and can't reach very well) in the hurry of leaving the plane.

TASmart wrote:I would not be surprised if there is an issue at the check in point regardless of the Airline's policy. I would talk to the AirPort's TSA chief as to required documentation and allowances long before the flight. Those guys can be the most anally retentive non-common-sense humans on earth today.

Considering how poorly they are trained (and paid), we can expect little else.

I had occasion to fly with a cane a couple years ago, with no issues. Policies may have changed since then.

One bit of advice, when retrieving your cane from overhead bin, be REAL careful, as the stupid thing may have shifted position, waiting to clunk you, or innocent parties on the noggin, when bin is opened.

wardmiller wrote:I have a friend who also has OSA and is familiar with carrying his CPAC bag on the airlines. But recently he has developed a problem requiring he use a cane while walking.

What are the rules/regulations about having a cane on the airlines?

the only issue with a cane is when it's got a sword inside... and they check for that.

apparently sword canes are more common than one would think.

https://www.google.com/search?client=ub ... 8&oe=utf-8

Might need to be a sky marshall to carry one.
---"Walker, sky marshall", new episode Tuesday at nine . . .

Thanks for all those replies. I'll pass them along.

He did call the airline, but ended up with a recorded message that was not useful.

Because he knew I must use a cane to walk even a few steps, he asked me. Although I have flown my own plane, I have not ridden on an airliner in many years, so did know the answer. I'm looking forward to his story when he returns.

I would think it would be less of an issue than CPAP machines, as almost everybody knows what one is and understands what it's for!

D.H. wrote:I would think it would be less of an issue than CPAP machines, as almost everybody knows what one is and understands what it's for!

Not necessarily. Several times, I was asked if I could walk without the cane, and I would fold it up and place it in my briefcase, then get it out after I deplaned.

D.H. wrote:I would think it would be less of an issue than CPAP machines, as almost everybody knows what one is and understands what it's for!

You couldn't afford to watch a James Bond film, canes can shoot bullets and darts! Get out of Mom's Basement on the weekends. Jim