So after much debate on my future flight to Ireland, what I have decided to do is buy a new violin case and get my violin professionally padded and packed in said case, but try to get both box and fiddle on board as a carry-on. I will be flying from O'Hare to Dublin and need both fiddle and box. This brings me to my question. If I bring both fiddle and box with me and act like it's my carry on, and act like i do it all the time, they might let it fly (no pun intended). Let's just say they don't. How hard is it to check the fiddle at the last minute before my flight? What are the odds they will just let me take both on board? How risky is it to check the fiddle? Both instruments are insured but I will be in Ireland for 7 months and the trip is centered around both being there...
THanks!!!
I flew through O Hare to Ireland last week and had no problem bring my box on the plane with me as hand luggage. I just stored it in the overhead for the flight. My friends were able to bring their fiddle and guitar on board with them as well. So dont worry there is no problem with bringing instruments on board. Just explain to the security guard if they ask what it is as some of them are kind of ignorant to musical instruments
My nickname is Chi-Town Hustler. 55 years in this beloved City. O'hare is a challenge even for seasoned travelors. I travel for a living and avoid O'Hare if possible.
Be Verrrrrrrrrry careful with O'Hare. With all due respect, they move a huge number of people through there. So don't expect gentle handling of anything you check. The place is huge and the baggage conveyors are miles long.
When I have travel with my box, it was carry on. I have one of those smaller 'Billy McComiskey' hard shell cases. It fits in most overheads, and fits under the seat of the 737's. If you are doing Dublin/O'Hare though you will be on an Airbus 230 (Aer Lingus) or a 757 (US Air, United, American-don't know which one has the non-Aer Lingus routes to Ireland). On the Aerbus, at least you have the center overheads which are a bit larger.
Never had problems with Aer Lingus to/from Ireland. Flown US Air and American on that route. The Flights from Hell!
In any case, you are allowed two carry ons- Sounds like your fiddle and box. I would suggest being verrrrrrry nice to your traveling partner/significant other/ whatever to do the non-instrument carry ons. That means he/she will only haveone of his/hers and one of yours if you need it (if you have any meds you will need it. NEVER check you meds if you are going through a place like O'Hare. You may never see them again.
There is an old Samsonite luggage commercial on television that shows gorrillas dressed as baggage handlers throwing luggage about. That is O'HAre, LaGuardia, Kennedy, Philly, LA.
God forbid you are flying to Denver. It's initials are DOA and us regular guys call it 'Dead on Arrival'.
I wouldn't recommend either be checked. The temps in the holds get very low. Baggage handlers in general are really brutal.
I might suggest you economize your personal carry on. Put important personal things in plastic and put them into your box case?
Another idea would be to put the fiddle in a roll on that will be your second carry on, but can also carry your important personal things. Check clothes and non-critical items. I have not have lots of things lost. The bigger issue usually us misrouting of baggage and the airlines not getting it to you at your destination until a couple of days later.
What I would recommend is to check your airlines website about the maximum dimensions of carry ons. (if they are soft sided like a large back pack or one of those combination large back pack roller bags, you may be able to creatively combine one of the instruments so it goes with you in an overhead.
One of the nice things about trans atlantic is that most folks check their bags and their carry on is minimal so you have a bit more overhead room that on US domestic flights. It's just that the security folks tend to be very suspicious about unusual objects and you will probably get searched.
I brought my box through LaGuardia in New York. The TSA (the US airport security people) guy was Eastern European, didn't speak English well, and didn't know what a button box was. They tested it for bomb making materials.
I have been accused of being dangerous on accordion, but that took the cake!
I recently flew O'Hare to Dublin (on American), and carried on my banjo in a hard case without any issues.
As I boarded the plane, they even offered to let me put it in the coat closet, but I told them it fit overhead just fine. If you have the ability to choose seating, choose an outside seat, because the outside overhead bins are generally larger than the ones for the middle rows.
The person I was traveling with had a bouzouki and a mandolin with him, and was able to carry both on as well. He had the bouzouki in a soft case, and says that he never gets hassled because that case offers relatively little protection (whereas my hard case might have prompted them to make me check it).
If you are traveling Aer Lingus, there should be no problem. If your ticket says American on it, you may still be on the Aer Lingus flight as they have some kind of arrangement.
I usually carry my mandolin case in a triple tennis bag. No one ever messes with tennis racquets.
Things must have changed since last year. We were on US Air, who tried to put us on American (an AA flagged plane) that had no seats available, then did a two step and hustled us to the other side of Dublin airport back on a US Air flight . The daughters almost missed the flight.
Needless to say, the girls' baggage arrived in Chicago 4 days later.
O'Hare, Chicago
O'Hare, Chicago
So after much debate on my future flight to Ireland, what I have decided to do is buy a new violin case and get my violin professionally padded and packed in said case, but try to get both box and fiddle on board as a carry-on. I will be flying from O'Hare to Dublin and need both fiddle and box. This brings me to my question. If I bring both fiddle and box with me and act like it's my carry on, and act like i do it all the time, they might let it fly (no pun intended). Let's just say they don't. How hard is it to check the fiddle at the last minute before my flight? What are the odds they will just let me take both on board? How risky is it to check the fiddle? Both instruments are insured but I will be in Ireland for 7 months and the trip is centered around both being there...
THanks!!!
AJ
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by berserker
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
Don't ever check your fiddle.
ever.
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by morning star
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
I flew through O Hare to Ireland last week and had no problem bring my box on the plane with me as hand luggage. I just stored it in the overhead for the flight. My friends were able to bring their fiddle and guitar on board with them as well. So dont worry there is no problem with bringing instruments on board. Just explain to the security guard if they ask what it is as some of them are kind of ignorant to musical instruments
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by ceolistic
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
My nickname is Chi-Town Hustler. 55 years in this beloved City. O'hare is a challenge even for seasoned travelors. I travel for a living and avoid O'Hare if possible.
Be Verrrrrrrrrry careful with O'Hare. With all due respect, they move a huge number of people through there. So don't expect gentle handling of anything you check. The place is huge and the baggage conveyors are miles long.
When I have travel with my box, it was carry on. I have one of those smaller 'Billy McComiskey' hard shell cases. It fits in most overheads, and fits under the seat of the 737's. If you are doing Dublin/O'Hare though you will be on an Airbus 230 (Aer Lingus) or a 757 (US Air, United, American-don't know which one has the non-Aer Lingus routes to Ireland). On the Aerbus, at least you have the center overheads which are a bit larger.
Never had problems with Aer Lingus to/from Ireland. Flown US Air and American on that route. The Flights from Hell!
In any case, you are allowed two carry ons- Sounds like your fiddle and box. I would suggest being verrrrrrry nice to your traveling partner/significant other/ whatever to do the non-instrument carry ons. That means he/she will only haveone of his/hers and one of yours if you need it (if you have any meds you will need it. NEVER check you meds if you are going through a place like O'Hare. You may never see them again.
There is an old Samsonite luggage commercial on television that shows gorrillas dressed as baggage handlers throwing luggage about. That is O'HAre, LaGuardia, Kennedy, Philly, LA.
God forbid you are flying to Denver. It's initials are DOA and us regular guys call it 'Dead on Arrival'.
Regards and Best of Luck!
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by zippydw
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
Your accordion vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HKCntBQM8Co
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by mcdevincabe
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
We have the Monsters of the Midway......But actually, Midway International Airport on the South Side of Chicago is much easier than O'HAre.
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by zippydw
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
well, if both have to come, which should i check, box or fiddle? It is not an option for only one to come and i am traveling alone...
aj
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by berserker
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
I wouldn't recommend either be checked. The temps in the holds get very low. Baggage handlers in general are really brutal.
I might suggest you economize your personal carry on. Put important personal things in plastic and put them into your box case?
Another idea would be to put the fiddle in a roll on that will be your second carry on, but can also carry your important personal things. Check clothes and non-critical items. I have not have lots of things lost. The bigger issue usually us misrouting of baggage and the airlines not getting it to you at your destination until a couple of days later.
What I would recommend is to check your airlines website about the maximum dimensions of carry ons. (if they are soft sided like a large back pack or one of those combination large back pack roller bags, you may be able to creatively combine one of the instruments so it goes with you in an overhead.
One of the nice things about trans atlantic is that most folks check their bags and their carry on is minimal so you have a bit more overhead room that on US domestic flights. It's just that the security folks tend to be very suspicious about unusual objects and you will probably get searched.
I brought my box through LaGuardia in New York. The TSA (the US airport security people) guy was Eastern European, didn't speak English well, and didn't know what a button box was. They tested it for bomb making materials.
I have been accused of being dangerous on accordion, but that took the cake!
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by zippydw
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
I recently flew O'Hare to Dublin (on American), and carried on my banjo in a hard case without any issues.
As I boarded the plane, they even offered to let me put it in the coat closet, but I told them it fit overhead just fine. If you have the ability to choose seating, choose an outside seat, because the outside overhead bins are generally larger than the ones for the middle rows.
The person I was traveling with had a bouzouki and a mandolin with him, and was able to carry both on as well. He had the bouzouki in a soft case, and says that he never gets hassled because that case offers relatively little protection (whereas my hard case might have prompted them to make me check it).
Pete
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by Reverend
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
If you are traveling Aer Lingus, there should be no problem. If your ticket says American on it, you may still be on the Aer Lingus flight as they have some kind of arrangement.
I usually carry my mandolin case in a triple tennis bag. No one ever messes with tennis racquets.
Mike Keyes
Http://www.mikekeyes.com
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by mikeyes
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
Things must have changed since last year. We were on US Air, who tried to put us on American (an AA flagged plane) that had no seats available, then did a two step and hustled us to the other side of Dublin airport back on a US Air flight . The daughters almost missed the flight.
Needless to say, the girls' baggage arrived in Chicago 4 days later.
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by zippydw
Re: O'Hare, Chicago
This is why I play the harmonica.........
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by AlBrown