Flying with a cane?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: CO Platinum HHonors Diamond Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,312
Flying with a cane?
I busted my ankle bad at soccer last night and need to use a cane/crutch when I get on my flight tomorrow. Are there rules about canes like no metal tip or something that I need to know about? For crutches?
Thanks!
peace,
~Ben~
Thanks!
peace,
~Ben~
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 138
Originally Posted by seoulmanjr
I busted my ankle bad at soccer last night and need to use a cane/crutch when I get on my flight tomorrow. Are there rules about canes like no metal tip or something that I need to know about? For crutches?
Thanks!
peace,
~Ben~
Thanks!
peace,
~Ben~
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: CO Platinum HHonors Diamond Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,312
Originally Posted by kenpo777
canes are legal weapons to bring on the plane. I'm a canemaster instructor and tell my students that you can carry it on the plane
peace,
~Ben~
#5
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Current Micronesian, Ex Buckeye....
Programs: All My $$$ Went to CO (Plat) with a Lifetime PClub membership that got degraded to United crap...
Posts: 2,089
I've busted up my legs many a times and use a cane. I've had wooden and metal canes, wooden and metal crutches. Never once have I had a problem flying international and domestic. The worse thing with braces on is that they do the extra screening on you, take my braces off and put it through the scanner, put the cane through the scanner, etc... One leg / knee brace is a warm weather brace that has all exposed metal posts and slats on it which are sharp and could easily be used as a weapon as it can be broken apart easily, but never have I had a problem with it. Last time used was two months ago international and domestic. If you can hobble through the scanner and don't have a metal brace on, then put the cane on the scanner and hobble through if you want to try to avoid the extra services TSA offers.
Any cane or crutch you get from a hospital or medical store will be fine. Unless you get the joke ones with a sword inside or flask inside you'll be fine. They've only ever questioned me on the medication I had on me, which I had a copy of medical note on me as I use a pill carrier not a prescription bottle. Something about a handfull of pills makes them more worried then a cane or metal brace
One thing you can do... call the airline ahead of time, after surgeries or such when I really can't move much the airlines wheeled me to the security, got me right through it easily (or easier I guess then doing it myself) and to the gate. It's best not to make the situation (injury) worse and use the services they have available. Plus if they know you have a leg injury, if I wasn't already upgraded, I got upgraded or bumped up the stand by list for upgrade or put in a better seat to keep the leg safe.
Any cane or crutch you get from a hospital or medical store will be fine. Unless you get the joke ones with a sword inside or flask inside you'll be fine. They've only ever questioned me on the medication I had on me, which I had a copy of medical note on me as I use a pill carrier not a prescription bottle. Something about a handfull of pills makes them more worried then a cane or metal brace
One thing you can do... call the airline ahead of time, after surgeries or such when I really can't move much the airlines wheeled me to the security, got me right through it easily (or easier I guess then doing it myself) and to the gate. It's best not to make the situation (injury) worse and use the services they have available. Plus if they know you have a leg injury, if I wasn't already upgraded, I got upgraded or bumped up the stand by list for upgrade or put in a better seat to keep the leg safe.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,238
When I hurt my back last year, I flew with a collapsible metal cane. It fits in the overhead compartment easily. I was disappointed that I wasn't offered any additional assistance at the airport or on the aircraft despite my shuffling gait and pained expression.
Earlier this year, I spotted Dr John the Night Tripper in a mens room in ATL. He had a carved wooden cane with beads and feathers (and possibly bird skulls) attached to the handle with leather thongs. Of course, a solid voodoo curse would allow him to travel anywhere he wanted with any weapon whatsoever.
Earlier this year, I spotted Dr John the Night Tripper in a mens room in ATL. He had a carved wooden cane with beads and feathers (and possibly bird skulls) attached to the handle with leather thongs. Of course, a solid voodoo curse would allow him to travel anywhere he wanted with any weapon whatsoever.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: LHR
Programs: UA P, BA S, A3 *G, IHG Plat, Marriott Lt P, Hilton Gld, etc.
Posts: 1,078
Originally Posted by seoulmanjr
I know people *can* bring cane on the plane, but my question was as to what type / limitations on design. I don't want my "pre-boarding" weapon confiscated as I'll actually need it to walk.
peace,
~Ben~
peace,
~Ben~
#8
Originally Posted by BamaVol
When I hurt my back last year, I flew with a collapsible metal cane. It fits in the overhead compartment easily. I was disappointed that I wasn't offered any additional assistance at the airport or on the aircraft despite my shuffling gait and pained expression.
My father walks with a metal cane and has never been questioned about it. He puts it through the metal detector and walks through without it. He has travelled throughout Europe and US with it. If it is a regional jet the FA will just place the cane in the pilot's closet.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Current Micronesian, Ex Buckeye....
Programs: All My $$$ Went to CO (Plat) with a Lifetime PClub membership that got degraded to United crap...
Posts: 2,089
Originally Posted by prncess674
I typically put him on Continental
#10
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,178
Walking canes are specifically ALLOWED by the TSA. See http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlib...16_2005_v3.pdf They are listed on the first page of the table under personal items.
#11
Suspended
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Seattle
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Posts: 10,690
About six years ago, on the 4th of July, I tore a ligament in my right knee trying to do a spin, while swing dancing on concrete, wearing tennis shoes. Not smart. I had to use a cane for about six months and had no problems while flying.
It is pretty much healed now, but it still can give me grief on a bad day. Now I am having problems with my right knee. I can still do lunges and squats but sometimes have trouble with stairs. Go figure.
It is pretty much healed now, but it still can give me grief on a bad day. Now I am having problems with my right knee. I can still do lunges and squats but sometimes have trouble with stairs. Go figure.