TSA equivalent for EU countries?

No. Each country runs it own security. However, from our experiences all of the regulations are very similar if not nearly identical. Our experience with folding poles is that they must be checked so plan on that. Always follow the most restrictive.

The EU member nations do operate off a common set of rules, but I am afraid that will not help much, since the guidance given is "Any sharp objects that might be used as weapons are not allowed in the aircraft cabin." and they provide few other examples. I would assume Trekking Poles could fit that description, but reality is that it is completely up to Security, if they view them as a threat, they don't fly. If anything, in the EU they are more strict, for example in the US, Corkscrews, Knitting Needles, and some scissors are allowed, not so on EU flights

Fortunately there is no European equivalent of the TSA. The rude, lazy, unhelpful and exasperating bunch of jobsworths that is the TSA appears oddy confined to the US. I don't understand why this is. Sure there are rude and unhelpful jobsworths in any airport security service but for some reason it is widespread amongst TSA officials in the US.

Whilst you'll find European officials to be more friendly and helpful I'd be inclined to base your assumptions on the worst case scenario and check them, I doubt there is anyone who has experience of all the different rules set out by each individual European country to be able to give you a definitive answer.

No disagreement about the quality of staffing at the US TSA. What I will give them is that they do at least have an online presence that's fairly easy to find, and that spells out in at least some detail what is verboten and what's okiedokie when it comes to bringing things along. So it's not hard to find what the rules are. Of course, they apply those rules inconsistently, so there's that.

Is there anyplace for similar EU guidelines posted online as to what's allowed and what's not?

Differing countries' different security policies have created a whole range of experiences for us - sometimes all shoes off, sometimes shoes OK but not boots, sometimes footwear isn't a problem. Same with small scissors, belts, etc.

Years ago, 3 months before 9/11, I was allowed past security with my poles (needed them for stability getting thru the airport after knee surgery), but had to hand them over to a flight attendant for storage during the flight, then was given them back when deplaning. Now, trips with poles have always involved packing them in a long-enough, checked duffel bag. I haven't even bothered to try to carry them on. With rubber tips and a doctor's note that you need poles, kind of like the people who use crutches, maybe that would work, but that may not be truthful or workable. Maybe individual airports' Websites have a "what's allowed" section . . . Hope you get a solution & enjoy your trip!

I’ve looked at this site which has some general info.

https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/security/info_travellers_en

It has links to specific country sites (sometimes in local language rather than English)

By the way, I always check trekking poles. I got stopped be security at CDG once and had to check my poles. Since then, I have not even tried to carry them on.

"Fortunately there is no European equivalent of the TSA. The rude, lazy, unhelpful and exasperating bunch of jobsworths that is the TSA appears oddy confined to the US. I don't understand why this is. Sure there are rude and unhelpful jobsworths in any airport security service but for some reason it is widespread amongst TSA officials in the US."

I disagree. Everywhere I have flown the TSA employees have been courteous.

The airline provides the information you need. For example if you're flying with Ryanair their rules are here

For hiking poles see 8.4.9

https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/terms-and-conditions/termsandconditionsar_696869348

The rude, lazy, unhelpful and exasperating bunch of jobsworths that is the TSA appears oddy confined to the US.

I whole-heartedly disagree. This is a terrible thing to say, and to generalize this type of attitude to all TSA people is rude to say the least. They are hard working people who are looked down upon by the flying population. TSA has always been pleasant and helpful to me, and sometimes overly nice in my fairly extensive experience. It's not an easy job dealing with self righteous people all day long, and I commend them with their composure. What goes around come around. If you're nice, you'll get nice back.

I agree with Bob and Wray. TSA has a boring and unpleasant job. Of course, US immigration lack the sense of humor and geniality I have enjoyed at Heathrow. Sometimes US immigration forgets to say "Welcome home".

I would say pretty much the same as Bob in that the TSA types I've had to deal with are 97% professional, courteous, helpful, even a couple of humourous ones. This also applies to opting for the pat-down as I tell them that instead of the peek-a-boo machine experience.

On the other hand, there have been in SFO a few young women TSA who totally turned me off,..unhelpful, indifferent, discourteous, ..luckily they are so few numbers, Obviously, you can't let them know that.

I just look at it as a perfunctory experience, whether you breeze through it or spend 15-20 mins in line before gathering your things and reorienting yourself.

I have had rude security people everywhere. Transferring at Heathrow to the continental flights I took out my plastic bag filled with liquid products and roll-on that deemed acceptable by TSA. Young rude Heathrow security dude proceed to yell at me that I didn't read the signs and I had to take out the articles in the bag that were needed. When I proceeded to explain that I went through TSA fine, he sneered and said that there were different rules. I think he was just an idiot as he yelled at some Dutch women about the same thing.

I've found most TSA-even when no being paid, have been decent. Working a whole month w/o pay and dealing with passengers would drive me batty.

Keep in mind that the fine print says, "The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint," and any TSA person or EU equivalent can make a different decision.

I talked to a supervisor at the Tucson airport about this. She said that the poles will be allowed in a carry-on bag so long as they are folded up and secured inside it. I asked if I needed a doctor's letter and was told it wasn't necessary, but it wouldn't hurt.

Last summer I took one pole in my carry-on for the Best of Scandinavia tour. I could've used 2. I also took a letter from my orthopedist.

No one paid any attention in Seattle. The folks at Schiphol looked closely at the x- ray image, but passed me on for my flight to Stockholm. No one cared in Bergen. No one cared at Schiphol when I flew back to Seattle.

I can't remember if it was going or coming, but I saw a very short older man with a folding walking pole on the airside in Seattle. Perhaps the agents are starting to get it that for many people those poles are much better for balance than a cane, and that 2 canes are impossible to manage.

I don't need any poles in the airport because the handle and my roller bag itself help with balance. But based on last year's trip, I do need them for rough terrain and slopes or stairs that lack a handrail, especially when going down. In my case they are a medical device, not sports equipment.

From the medical section of the TSA rules:

Aids: Walkers, crutches, canes or other mobility aids and devices must undergo X-ray screening. A TSA officer will inspect the item if it cannot fit through the X-ray. Notify the TSA officer if you need to be immediately reunited with the device after it is screened by X-ray.

From the sporting & camping section of the TSA rules:

Walking Sticks
Carry On Bags: No
Checked Bags: Yes

The mobility aids I plan to take this year are Cascade Mountain ones. They have rubber tips and I'm taking an extra set of those. They fit in my Eagle Creek international bag and they are cheap, but it would be a hassle to have them confiscated and have to replace them in Europe.

Emma, Are you confusing the CBP (Border control) with TSA? When you enter the country, you deal with CBP, not TSA. TSA is security leaving a location and more concerned with your 'stuff'.

Admittedly, I'll say the worst moments having to put up with TSA were at SFO, pertaining to those few individuals. but since I fly out of SFO most often, domestic and international, the odds are greater encountering those types relative to elsewhere. Still, luckily, it doesn't always happen or even frequently.

When you happen to go through TSA at SFO when it's packed, it can get pretty tedious with increased odds of being unpleasant and taxing. A lot less of a chance that OAK will be as packed as often as SFO is.

Bottom line, I much rather fly out of OAK than SFO. Is SFO different from the others...yes, compared to where I've been in Calif and the US going through the same TSA procedure...LAX, New Orleans, Sea-Tac, OAK, San Diego, Dulles, Memphis,

Our experience with TSA is pretty mixed but borders just on the negative side. And I have seen some really bad behavior directed at other passengers. Don't know what triggered it but TSA needs to learn how to dial it down some ever if the passenger caused it.

As stated there is no EU security agency. It is probably best to check with each airline as they would know the rules. In most cases, it's on their website.

When I was in the Faroe's three years ago, security was like anywhere else just smaller. I'll be back in a few weeks and will let you now. I won't, however, be taking any trekking poles.

I also think the Faroes will get toughter as Atlantic Airways, their national airline, has applied to fly nonstop to NYC. If that happens they will have to beef up their security to conform to TSA's requests. But that won't happen until later this year or next.

I have traveled several times to Europe (as recently as February) and domestically with my collapsible, rubber tipped (not sharp-pointed) walking stick in my carryon. I always ask the first TSA screener I see if it is OK, and they've always said yes. I put it on the outside of my carryon through the x-ray process so it is totally visible, and have never been questioned about it. It can't be my honest face.