Just interested if anybody here travels regularly with an instrument (lol) and if so what? Also do you have any survival techniques for airplane holds, tricks for getting you treasure in the cabin? Or do you take a No: 2 instrument or are you just well insured? Tips please.......
I take a mandolin in a padded gig bag and no special tricks are necessary. A hardshell flight case will often be judged too big for the cabin.
I've flown to/from and around UK, Ireland, Europe, Russia, CIS, India, Australia and NZ on pleasure and business in the last year and with the notable exception of easyJet* , airlines accepted the mandolin as an extra carry-on even when I was also carrying a laptop case and "one piece of cabin baggage" was being enforced.
*easyJet at Edinburgh made a big hoo-haa about it, even though there were women with bigger handbags in addition to their "cabin bag" going through, as well as people carrying large bags of duty-free.
So to be absolutely safe, put other cabin stuff in the pockets of your gig-bag so you only have one carry-on
I've also travelled with a mandolin, and agree with everything Bren said. I'd add that the check-in desk is the point at which you face potential problems. Once you've made it past check-in the cabin crew always seem happy to accommodate your instrument.
Yes I met Ralph Fiennes in the airport once and we got chatting when he saw my mandolin.
He told me the cabin crew bent over backwards to accommodate his instrument, or perhaps it was forwards, I can't remember
Anyway, I've not had any problem taking it as an extra piece, except on easyJet, who flat out refused.
Even Ryanair allowed it in addition to a laptop bag, but after easyJet, I'd be wary of having two pieces
I take my fiddle as hand luggage and not had a problem - but as most people seem to take suitcases on as hand luggage, my fiddle has been smaller than most other peoples hand luggage!
Well I have also had problems with easy jet. I take my mandolin when I travel but have resisted the gig bag option in case I get a prefect on the checkin desk and they insist on the hold. I actually bought a suitcase after 11/9 that my mandolin, in it's hard shell case, fits inside surrounded by clothes. But your idea Bren Re the other stuff along with the gig bag sounds like it could strengthen your hand if things got sticky at that stage.
I've done a lot of travel by air over the past few years and now that the two item rule has been back with us for a while I'm hopping to dump the case, so thanks for the heads up.
Actually recently I bought a banjo in Ireland and flew airlingus because they seemed the better option via edinburgh. Sure enough at the dublin end, on the return leg, they allowed me to carry the banjo to the gate and the guy who took it from me gave assurance that it would go in a separate area of the hold.
In Edinburgh waiting by the hatch for the banjo I heard this bang and I jokingly said to the guy next to me "I hope thats not my banjo", the law of the sods but fortunately only the case was damaged. Apart from Paris (where they'd cut out you pace maker to put it in a separate tray for x ray, although in fairness they were never that stropy on bag size) It's only the UK airports that I've had trouble with.
I'm taking a banjo to Crete as a gift for a friend. It is a plectrum banjo and the neck is l-o-ng. My intention is to dismantle it and put it in my suitcase to be rebuilt on arrival. Extreme but apart from buying it a seat or a flight case what can you do. (I'm taking a baglamas as carry on luggage.
You don't have to fly, you know.
You could save a lot of CO2 emissions by prior researching and using alternate forms of transport. I've never heard of anyone being refused admission to a train, coach, or ship because they were carrying a musical instrument.
Tom Paley, who spends time in London UK, and also works in the US of A, keeps a set of instruments in the US so he doesn't have to fly them across the Atlantic.
They'd never let me take my guitar on board. I have a hard case which the guitar snugly fits into so I'm not really worried about it going in the hold.
I've never had much problem taking the fiddle on board. But i'd probably have something to say if they said I had to put it in the hold.
I have a friend who plays the double bass... When she travels by air... she needs to purchase an extra seat for the bass.
I picked up a new bouzouki from Joe Foley in February and flew back from Dublin to Manchester on RyanAir. I booked an extra seat for me and Mrs. Sugarfoot Jack on the way back and despite the odd funny look from the stewardess no problem at all; my new instrument even got the window seat.
Incidentally, the extra seat cost £5, as opposed to the special handling costs RyanAir ask for if you want to put your instrument/golf clubs in the hold, which was around £30 last time I looked.
I had a friend that travelled to Japan alot. She mentioned, if the fiddle is in the hold, to make sure to unwind all the strings so that if the pressure changes, your strings don't break or snap the sound post. She did recommend taking it on the plane as the carry-on, though.
I think a fiddle in the hold is at far, far, more risk from baggage handlers if it is put in the hold than it is from pressure changes. The f-holes will equalise the pressure very fast.
Re Easy Jet, I've never had any problems, BUT I've always carried my fiddle on as my one and only item. (Not even a belt bag.)
At the desk,
"Any hand luggage?"
"Musical instrument"
No probs
Were those who have had problems carrying two things on, or just the instrument?
Concertinas always seem to get checked at security!!!
Last time we went to the States I took my second-best guitar in it's "built like a fortress" old case. Came through OK
This year, 7 years hence, we shall be over again hopefully. Haven't got a hard case for the 'zouk.
Don't know what we're doing.
Have previosly travelled Ryanair - handbaggage: Fiddle - in hard case twice and mandolin in gig bag twice, octave mando -once -All no problem,
However . last week, Ryanair flight out of Bristol : no instrument bags , but a carefully chosen rucsac, within their dimensions, and the only piece of baggage.For first time, it was carefully checked for all dimensions - at the departure GATE !, - as we were about to board.
It was OK - I already knew it was within size - but what if it had been my fiddle.(too long) I have previously had a cheap £5 whistle, and the very small. light poles of a tiny (but expensive) 'bivy tent' confiscated at the security scan - and thrown in a 'scrap bin'. (At Shannon Airport)
Could the same happen to a Fiddle ! You are not allowed to return ,or return anything , once through to departure - so how would they cope with an oversized item - if discovered at 'the gate' - just before departure?
I no longer dare risk travelling with a valuable instrument.. On last weeks trip -I did risk another £5 whistle in my rucsac - and it wasn't considered a dangerous weapon this time - but in light of experience - I wouldn't even risk an expensive whistle.
Unfortunately - given so much hassle for so many people - in some ways , the terrorists seem to have won.
If the airlines had to refund your ticket ( PLUS compensation ) if they refused you permission to board they might think again about how they treat their passengers.
Wouldn't that be nice ?
Will it happen ?
No chance.
Two years ago, I travelled with Ryanair from Spain to Shannon carrying my banjo as hand luggage. No problem at all. But things seem to have changed lately. Past January, domestic Ryanair flight. As Col Arco says, baggage was carefully checked for all dimensions at the departure gate. A woman was not allowed to board because her hand luggage was too big. Strictly only one piece of baggage was allowed. Women carrying a handbag were told to put it into the baggage (not easy for some of them!).
You might deafen the pilot by overblowing with all the holes open ?
I knew someone with a musical saw who had it taken away from her and put in the baggage - did they think she would threaten to cut off the pilot's head ?
Take the train . Eurostar is as cheap as flying and better for the planet
Cost from Newcastle, England to Angers ,France can be as low as £60 each way and no worries about weight or the Gorrillas damaging your beloved toy.
I've traveled with a single fiddle case, a double case and a gig bag w/pedal board as my carry-on items. I got some funny looks going through security (they opened my case and gig bag just to check: the electric fiddle doesn't look "normal" and I suppose that a bunch of effects pedals all wired together does kind of look like a bomb), but the flight crew was very accommodating about storing my monstrous double case. I just try to be as pleasant as possible, and that helps. Nobody likes a prima-donna.
I travel with fiddle and concertina as carry-ons, my Rick Steve's airline acceptable carry-on bag, and one personal bag with books, iPods, etc. But I wouldn't do this with Ryanair.
You should copy this document and carry it with you. Also, if you get Travel Insurance, carry that document as well. Travel insurance is cheap enough. Then if you are refused boarding or if they give you a hard time, they'll know that you can get your money back. The airline would not want that hassle. But don't expect any courtesy from the check-in attendant.
-----------
From Travel Security Administration:
Transporting Musical Instruments
You may bring musical instruments as carry-on or as checked baggage. To help passengers who are traveling with instruments, we partnered with musical organizations around the country to understand the challenges of transporting musical instruments, and we recommend the following.
Pack brass instruments in your checked baggage.
Bring your stringed instruments, within carrier size limitations, as carry-on items.
If you have an instrument in your checked baggage, include short written instructions, where a security officer will notice them, for handling and repacking your instrument. Make sure these instructions are very clear and understandable to someone with no musical background.
You may carry one (1) musical instrument in addition to 1 carry-on and 1 personal item through the screening checkpoint. This is a TSA Screening Policy.
Security officers must x-ray or physically screen your instrument before it can be transported on an aircraft.
Security officers will handle musical instruments very carefully and will allow you to be as involved as possible in any physical screening.
If security officers cannot clear the instrument through the security checkpoint as a carry-on item, you should transport the instrument and checked baggage instead.
Instruments as Checked Baggage
You may bring musical instruments as checked baggage as long as they fit within the size and weight limitations of the airline you are taking.
We encourage you to stay with your instrument while security officers screen it to make sure it is repacked properly.
Owners should be present when an instrument is removed from its case for screening. For this reason, musicians are advised to add at least 30 minutes to the airline's recommended arrival window when checking their instrument.
---------
From American Federation of Musicians:
An overwhelming majority of the complaints we receive continue to be about Delta Airlines. The American Federation of Musicians has attempted to bring our concerns to the attention of Delta representatives. However, their assurances of addressing these issues have produced no improvements. Given these facts, I strongly suggest choosing an airline other than Delta.
Further note: The boycott against Delta was lifted in 2006 and they would not want to initiate further sustained action in these troubled time.
That's TSA policy cocus, and easyJet won't disagree.
They'll just say "But it's not easyJet policy"
Add to that officious or demoralised employees who simply don't want the hassle of any "interpretation" of the rules, so they just apply them in the strictest sense.
The bitter irony at easyJet Edinburgh was that (after checking my laptop in, rather than my mando, and paying extra) I saw loads of people whose combined carry-on of the maximum allowable cabin bag stuffed to the gunwales + unfeasibly large woman's handbag and/or big plastic bag of tax-free stuff was about twice the bulk and weight of my proposed combined carry-on.
I'm surprised no security checker has ever considered the likelihood of me garrotting the flight crew with my spare strings or dunting them on the head with my metal reso mando, or poking their eyes out with the strings sticking out from the tuning heads.
Anyone who thinks getting the train is an alternative to international flights doesn't live in NE Scotland
I travel all over the US with banjo, flutes, whistles, guitar, electronics.
I always check my electronics - pedal boards, di's, effects, mics, etc.
I NEVER check my instruments but carry them on. I just act like a dumb sh*t and nobody seems to bother me. I do carry my guitars in soft cases as I can more easily stuff them into overheads. The only time I was ever held up by TSA was because they couldn't identify a Shubb capo - perhaps they thought it was some sort of torture device - which I suppose it could be used for.
(I also leave my priceless guitars at home and travel with a Yamaha since it sounds great and I can replace it easily if damaged, lost or stolen).
I regularly travel with a mandolin in hard case. As a recent trip to NFF in Australia taught me, the trick is to NEVER EVER EVER ask "is this ok to take on" at check in. Always just sit your instrument on the ground where they can't see it. Once you're at the gate, as far as my experience tells me, you're sweet as.
I second Andrews advice. I travel at least 6 times a year internationally . I have never had to check a guitar. I use a soft light black case so it is smaller and inconspicuous , and will fit over one shoulder (on the other side to the check in agent,) . Fiddle the same
Ryan Air are now pretty sharp on more than one baggage so I try to just have instrument and laptop in one package.
I just had an attack of paranoia when booking flights to Dublin later this month. I'm going for the NPU Tionol and a conference on the same weekend, meaning I'm taking pipes and laptop. I had a choice between Ryanair and Aer Lingus, with a difference of about £80. Last time I flew to Dub I also brought pipes and laptop and luckily had morons checking me in at the Ryanair counter who didn't notice the pipes I was holding below the check in counter as I gave them my passport and checked in a backpack. All they saw was the laptop.
I decided that I might not be so lucky a second time and that I wouldn't chance it. What if I got a more observant check-in person who noticed the extra "bag" I was trying to carry? The pipes and laptop are both worth way more than £80 so I went with Aer Lingus.
Just an update to let you know that both Ryanair and easyjet are now *very strict* on the one-bag only rule and twice recently I've spotted them insisting that women place their handbags inside their carry-on cabin baggage - when they were in the boarding queue, well after check-in and security.
Unfortunately this means no more "instrument as an extra carry-on", so I'd suggest a big instrument bag that can also hold all your other carry-on stuff when dealing with these two budget airlines.
And a big coat with big pockets, no matter how warm the weather!
Travel with an instrument anyone?
Travel with an instrument anyone?
Just interested if anybody here travels regularly with an instrument (lol) and if so what? Also do you have any survival techniques for airplane holds, tricks for getting you treasure in the cabin? Or do you take a No: 2 instrument or are you just well insured? Tips please.......
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Solidmahog
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I take a mandolin in a padded gig bag and no special tricks are necessary. A hardshell flight case will often be judged too big for the cabin.
I've flown to/from and around UK, Ireland, Europe, Russia, CIS, India, Australia and NZ on pleasure and business in the last year and with the notable exception of easyJet* , airlines accepted the mandolin as an extra carry-on even when I was also carrying a laptop case and "one piece of cabin baggage" was being enforced.
*easyJet at Edinburgh made a big hoo-haa about it, even though there were women with bigger handbags in addition to their "cabin bag" going through, as well as people carrying large bags of duty-free.
So to be absolutely safe, put other cabin stuff in the pockets of your gig-bag so you only have one carry-on
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Bren
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I've also travelled with a mandolin, and agree with everything Bren said. I'd add that the check-in desk is the point at which you face potential problems. Once you've made it past check-in the cabin crew always seem happy to accommodate your instrument.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Robert Jones
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Yes I met Ralph Fiennes in the airport once and we got chatting when he saw my mandolin.
He told me the cabin crew bent over backwards to accommodate his instrument, or perhaps it was forwards, I can't remember
Anyway, I've not had any problem taking it as an extra piece, except on easyJet, who flat out refused.
Even Ryanair allowed it in addition to a laptop bag, but after easyJet, I'd be wary of having two pieces
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Bren
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I take my fiddle as hand luggage and not had a problem - but as most people seem to take suitcases on as hand luggage, my fiddle has been smaller than most other peoples hand luggage!
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Tarrantella
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Well I have also had problems with easy jet. I take my mandolin when I travel but have resisted the gig bag option in case I get a prefect on the checkin desk and they insist on the hold. I actually bought a suitcase after 11/9 that my mandolin, in it's hard shell case, fits inside surrounded by clothes. But your idea Bren Re the other stuff along with the gig bag sounds like it could strengthen your hand if things got sticky at that stage.
I've done a lot of travel by air over the past few years and now that the two item rule has been back with us for a while I'm hopping to dump the case, so thanks for the heads up.
Actually recently I bought a banjo in Ireland and flew airlingus because they seemed the better option via edinburgh. Sure enough at the dublin end, on the return leg, they allowed me to carry the banjo to the gate and the guy who took it from me gave assurance that it would go in a separate area of the hold.
In Edinburgh waiting by the hatch for the banjo I heard this bang and I jokingly said to the guy next to me "I hope thats not my banjo", the law of the sods but fortunately only the case was damaged. Apart from Paris (where they'd cut out you pace maker to put it in a separate tray for x ray, although in fairness they were never that stropy on bag size) It's only the UK airports that I've had trouble with.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Solidmahog
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Here's a thread from just under a year ago which may still be of use...
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/17954
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by biggus dave
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Thanks for the link biggus dave
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Solidmahog
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I'm taking a banjo to Crete as a gift for a friend. It is a plectrum banjo and the neck is l-o-ng. My intention is to dismantle it and put it in my suitcase to be rebuilt on arrival. Extreme but apart from buying it a seat or a flight case what can you do. (I'm taking a baglamas as carry on luggage.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by wodeninjun
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I have traveled with several whistles and flutes. Some people checked my bag because they couldn't id them. It has never been a problem though.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by pipersgrip
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
JUst dont do it!!!
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by jlocky
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
You don't have to fly, you know.
You could save a lot of CO2 emissions by prior researching and using alternate forms of transport. I've never heard of anyone being refused admission to a train, coach, or ship because they were carrying a musical instrument.
Tom Paley, who spends time in London UK, and also works in the US of A, keeps a set of instruments in the US so he doesn't have to fly them across the Atlantic.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I regularly fly with my fiddle and guitar.
They'd never let me take my guitar on board. I have a hard case which the guitar snugly fits into so I'm not really worried about it going in the hold.
I've never had much problem taking the fiddle on board. But i'd probably have something to say if they said I had to put it in the hold.
I have a friend who plays the double bass... When she travels by air... she needs to purchase an extra seat for the bass.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by davydd
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I picked up a new bouzouki from Joe Foley in February and flew back from Dublin to Manchester on RyanAir. I booked an extra seat for me and Mrs. Sugarfoot Jack on the way back and despite the odd funny look from the stewardess no problem at all; my new instrument even got the window seat.
Incidentally, the extra seat cost £5, as opposed to the special handling costs RyanAir ask for if you want to put your instrument/golf clubs in the hold, which was around £30 last time I looked.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I had a friend that travelled to Japan alot. She mentioned, if the fiddle is in the hold, to make sure to unwind all the strings so that if the pressure changes, your strings don't break or snap the sound post. She did recommend taking it on the plane as the carry-on, though.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Fiddlechick7
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I think a fiddle in the hold is at far, far, more risk from baggage handlers if it is put in the hold than it is from pressure changes. The f-holes will equalise the pressure very fast.
Re Easy Jet, I've never had any problems, BUT I've always carried my fiddle on as my one and only item. (Not even a belt bag.)
At the desk,
"Any hand luggage?"
"Musical instrument"
No probs
Were those who have had problems carrying two things on, or just the instrument?
Concertinas always seem to get checked at security!!!
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by TomB-R
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
How could pressure changes break the strings or snap the sound post?
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Ramiro
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Ramiro. When the baggage handlers jump on things after they pitch them, things break!
There was a great American Tourister luggage advert about this years ago
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Last time we went to the States I took my second-best guitar in it's "built like a fortress" old case. Came through OK
This year, 7 years hence, we shall be over again hopefully. Haven't got a hard case for the 'zouk.
Don't know what we're doing.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Have previosly travelled Ryanair - handbaggage: Fiddle - in hard case twice and mandolin in gig bag twice, octave mando -once -All no problem,
However . last week, Ryanair flight out of Bristol : no instrument bags , but a carefully chosen rucsac, within their dimensions, and the only piece of baggage.For first time, it was carefully checked for all dimensions - at the departure GATE !, - as we were about to board.
It was OK - I already knew it was within size - but what if it had been my fiddle.(too long) I have previously had a cheap £5 whistle, and the very small. light poles of a tiny (but expensive) 'bivy tent' confiscated at the security scan - and thrown in a 'scrap bin'. (At Shannon Airport)
Could the same happen to a Fiddle ! You are not allowed to return ,or return anything , once through to departure - so how would they cope with an oversized item - if discovered at 'the gate' - just before departure?
I no longer dare risk travelling with a valuable instrument.. On last weeks trip -I did risk another £5 whistle in my rucsac - and it wasn't considered a dangerous weapon this time - but in light of experience - I wouldn't even risk an expensive whistle.
Unfortunately - given so much hassle for so many people - in some ways , the terrorists seem to have won.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Col Arco
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
If the airlines had to refund your ticket ( PLUS compensation ) if they refused you permission to board they might think again about how they treat their passengers.
Wouldn't that be nice ?
Will it happen ?
No chance.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Two years ago, I travelled with Ryanair from Spain to Shannon carrying my banjo as hand luggage. No problem at all. But things seem to have changed lately. Past January, domestic Ryanair flight. As Col Arco says, baggage was carefully checked for all dimensions at the departure gate. A woman was not allowed to board because her hand luggage was too big. Strictly only one piece of baggage was allowed. Women carrying a handbag were told to put it into the baggage (not easy for some of them!).
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Ramiro
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
The airline thought a whistle was dangerous weapon? For f*ck's sake, what is the world coming to?
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
You might deafen the pilot by overblowing with all the holes open ?
I knew someone with a musical saw who had it taken away from her and put in the baggage - did they think she would threaten to cut off the pilot's head ?
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Take the train . Eurostar is as cheap as flying and better for the planet
Cost from Newcastle, England to Angers ,France can be as low as £60 each way and no worries about weight or the Gorrillas damaging your beloved toy.
# Posted on April 29th 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I've traveled with a single fiddle case, a double case and a gig bag w/pedal board as my carry-on items. I got some funny looks going through security (they opened my case and gig bag just to check: the electric fiddle doesn't look "normal" and I suppose that a bunch of effects pedals all wired together does kind of look like a bomb), but the flight crew was very accommodating about storing my monstrous double case. I just try to be as pleasant as possible, and that helps. Nobody likes a prima-donna.
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by meredithrachael
From Transportation Security Administration
I travel with fiddle and concertina as carry-ons, my Rick Steve's airline acceptable carry-on bag, and one personal bag with books, iPods, etc. But I wouldn't do this with Ryanair.
You should copy this document and carry it with you. Also, if you get Travel Insurance, carry that document as well. Travel insurance is cheap enough. Then if you are refused boarding or if they give you a hard time, they'll know that you can get your money back. The airline would not want that hassle. But don't expect any courtesy from the check-in attendant.
-----------
From Travel Security Administration:
Transporting Musical Instruments
You may bring musical instruments as carry-on or as checked baggage. To help passengers who are traveling with instruments, we partnered with musical organizations around the country to understand the challenges of transporting musical instruments, and we recommend the following.
Pack brass instruments in your checked baggage.
Bring your stringed instruments, within carrier size limitations, as carry-on items.
If you have an instrument in your checked baggage, include short written instructions, where a security officer will notice them, for handling and repacking your instrument. Make sure these instructions are very clear and understandable to someone with no musical background.
You may carry one (1) musical instrument in addition to 1 carry-on and 1 personal item through the screening checkpoint. This is a TSA Screening Policy.
Security officers must x-ray or physically screen your instrument before it can be transported on an aircraft.
Security officers will handle musical instruments very carefully and will allow you to be as involved as possible in any physical screening.
If security officers cannot clear the instrument through the security checkpoint as a carry-on item, you should transport the instrument and checked baggage instead.
Instruments as Checked Baggage
You may bring musical instruments as checked baggage as long as they fit within the size and weight limitations of the airline you are taking.
We encourage you to stay with your instrument while security officers screen it to make sure it is repacked properly.
Owners should be present when an instrument is removed from its case for screening. For this reason, musicians are advised to add at least 30 minutes to the airline's recommended arrival window when checking their instrument.
---------
From American Federation of Musicians:
An overwhelming majority of the complaints we receive continue to be about Delta Airlines. The American Federation of Musicians has attempted to bring our concerns to the attention of Delta representatives. However, their assurances of addressing these issues have produced no improvements. Given these facts, I strongly suggest choosing an airline other than Delta.
Further note: The boycott against Delta was lifted in 2006 and they would not want to initiate further sustained action in these troubled time.
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by David Levine
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
That's TSA policy cocus, and easyJet won't disagree.
They'll just say "But it's not easyJet policy"
Add to that officious or demoralised employees who simply don't want the hassle of any "interpretation" of the rules, so they just apply them in the strictest sense.
The bitter irony at easyJet Edinburgh was that (after checking my laptop in, rather than my mando, and paying extra) I saw loads of people whose combined carry-on of the maximum allowable cabin bag stuffed to the gunwales + unfeasibly large woman's handbag and/or big plastic bag of tax-free stuff was about twice the bulk and weight of my proposed combined carry-on.
I'm surprised no security checker has ever considered the likelihood of me garrotting the flight crew with my spare strings or dunting them on the head with my metal reso mando, or poking their eyes out with the strings sticking out from the tuning heads.
Anyone who thinks getting the train is an alternative to international flights doesn't live in NE Scotland
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by Bren
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
The TSA thing that Cocus quotes is presumably only applicable in the US...
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I travel all over the US with banjo, flutes, whistles, guitar, electronics.
I always check my electronics - pedal boards, di's, effects, mics, etc.
I NEVER check my instruments but carry them on. I just act like a dumb sh*t and nobody seems to bother me. I do carry my guitars in soft cases as I can more easily stuff them into overheads. The only time I was ever held up by TSA was because they couldn't identify a Shubb capo - perhaps they thought it was some sort of torture device - which I suppose it could be used for.
(I also leave my priceless guitars at home and travel with a Yamaha since it sounds great and I can replace it easily if damaged, lost or stolen).
# Posted on May 1st 2009 by Toppish
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I regularly travel with a mandolin in hard case. As a recent trip to NFF in Australia taught me, the trick is to NEVER EVER EVER ask "is this ok to take on" at check in. Always just sit your instrument on the ground where they can't see it. Once you're at the gate, as far as my experience tells me, you're sweet as.
# Posted on May 2nd 2009 by Andrew James
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Me wonders how a bodhran might be treated
(can open - worms everywhere )
Tangy
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by TangyFM
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I second Andrews advice. I travel at least 6 times a year internationally . I have never had to check a guitar. I use a soft light black case so it is smaller and inconspicuous , and will fit over one shoulder (on the other side to the check in agent,) . Fiddle the same
Ryan Air are now pretty sharp on more than one baggage so I try to just have instrument and laptop in one package.
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
I just had an attack of paranoia when booking flights to Dublin later this month. I'm going for the NPU Tionol and a conference on the same weekend, meaning I'm taking pipes and laptop. I had a choice between Ryanair and Aer Lingus, with a difference of about £80. Last time I flew to Dub I also brought pipes and laptop and luckily had morons checking me in at the Ryanair counter who didn't notice the pipes I was holding below the check in counter as I gave them my passport and checked in a backpack. All they saw was the laptop.
I decided that I might not be so lucky a second time and that I wouldn't chance it. What if I got a more observant check-in person who noticed the extra "bag" I was trying to carry? The pipes and laptop are both worth way more than £80 so I went with Aer Lingus.
# Posted on May 4th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Travel with an instrument anyone?
Just an update to let you know that both Ryanair and easyjet are now *very strict* on the one-bag only rule and twice recently I've spotted them insisting that women place their handbags inside their carry-on cabin baggage - when they were in the boarding queue, well after check-in and security.
Unfortunately this means no more "instrument as an extra carry-on", so I'd suggest a big instrument bag that can also hold all your other carry-on stuff when dealing with these two budget airlines.
And a big coat with big pockets, no matter how warm the weather!
# Posted on August 13th 2009 by Bren