If you’re thinking of taking a Ryanair flight anywhere, and you want to carry your fiddle - hand luggage, take an extra £20 to give them at the airport, or they won’t let you on the plane with your fiddle!!! I flew into Cork from the UK last week and having checked in, I found myself being recalled after Ms Notice Everything at the desk had spotted me carrying a grubby looking canvas fiddle case. I was told that if I didn’t pay the extra, I’d have to leave my fiddle behind. Still smarting from that, your man calls me over as I go through security, instructs me to open up my fiddle case and pulls out my spare strings… “Could be used as a form of restraint madam.” So I had to buy a £3 envelope and post my strings to myself. As this happened last time I flew back from the UK, and I didn’t see those strings again for another 2 months, I’d stuffed my good spare ones into my carrier bag, which happily they missed. I did offer to surrender the 2 clothes pegs I was using as a make-shift mute just in case anyone wanted to suffocate the pilot by placing them across his nostrils, but they weren’t very amused. Unlikely you’ll fall over the small print informing you of this new surcharge, so take a wad with you if you’re going on one of those cheapo flights or say bye to your fiddle.
Did you give them your shoe laces in case you felt the urge to strangle somebody on the flight?! Or your plastic cutlery lest you take somebodys eye out?? Oh, thats right, you can't eat or wear shoes on Ryanair flights anymore, it weighs too much and is considered as extras. Grrrrrrrrr. I've never actually flown with Ryanair, i'm just in the humour to rant!
Five, This is absolutely appalling behaviour on the part of an airline which presumably is in the business of attracting customers. Thoughtless paranoia at its worse.
A few points as they come to mind ...
1. Take this up at the highest level with Ryan Air's management, with copies of correspondence to the media. See next point...
2. Get the media involved - campaigning newspapers like the Bristol Evening Post (owned by the Daily Mail Group) are a good bet, and there must be similar in Ireland.
3. Take it up with your parliamentary representative - both in Ireland and the EU (unreasonable restraint of trade and travel within the EU may be possible arguments, bearing in mind that professional musicians frequently travel by air between the UK and Ireland).
4. The Musicians Union (and its Irish equivalent) may be able to carry a bit of clout.
I've recently travelled a couple of times by air between Bristol and Brussels, taking my fiddle as hand luggage in the cabin with no problem whatsoever at either end (leaving a fiddle to the tender mercies of the luggage hold and the baggage handlers is of course an absolute no-no). I just took the elementary precaution of first removing a couple of implements such as small scissors and a pair of tweezers from the case. The fiddle in its case went through X-rays in the Bristol and Brussels terminals with no problems, and no-one asked for the case to be opened.
I don't know how relevant this may be, but the only available flights between Bristol and Brussels are not cheap and are obviously intended for business passengers.
I suppose the only consolation is that Mr Jobsworth didn't take it into his head to confiscate the strings actually on the fiddle, and as for that long stick with the pointy end inside the fiddlecase lid, well, you were dead lucky that Mr J didn't spot that either!
What I've just said would also apply to other stringed instruments like mandolins and the smaller guitars which could be taken on board as hand luggage. They have spare strings as well.
I've never had trouble with airlines in the USA. My tuner, chin rest wrench, spare strings, tape recorder et cetera always travel in my checked luggage and my fiddle & bow travel in its case as one of my 2 "carry ons".
I'm prepared to put my fiddle in a plastic bag to carry it on if the case is deemed too big. In a plastic bag it will fit under the seat.
The only time they decided to inspect the contents of my fiddle case deeper than the xray machine the clerk doing apologized several times during the process.
Maybe she was afraid if I got angry I'd start playing it.
Lufthansa and BritishAir gave me no trouble at all about my fiddle in 2002. All that happened was that I was politely asked to open the case a few times.
I would definitely encourage you to contact management at RyanAir. This is unacceptable.
The fiddle in a plastic bag under the seat is a great idea! I never thought of it myself.
I just flew from Ft. Lauderdale Florida to Philadelphia and the flight attendants were asking everyone (the last 10 or so people) to check their carry on luggage because there was no more room in the overhead bins due to a totally full airplane. I almost panicked, I didn't think the fiddle would fit under the seat, and it didn't, but then a very helpful person somehow made room for me in an overhead. If this ever happens again, I'm doing the plastic bag thing.
Just hope I don't forget it's there and step on it!
thread called 'Ryanair instrument policy' . I didn' t have any problems on Brussels - Shannon last october, not even the guitar player who was part of our bunch.
I've Emailed Iberian as I need to take my fiddle to Galicia in June - but had no response at all.
I'll send another and then if I still get no response , I'll take copies with me to prove that I did ask!!
I've had no problem taking my fiddle to Spain before but have always gone Airtours.
I also need to book flights to Prague for August and will ask questions about my fiddle before booking!!
I flew with Ryanair many times and never had the slightest problem. What is more, I never had to open my fiddle case. However, once they asked me to put my spare strings into my suitcase at the check-in.
There seems to be no logic towards RyanAir, or indeed any airline's policy towards what can be taken into aircraft cabins. As long as you can buy a bottle of scotch in the duty-free you have a potentially vicious weapon. I'd much rather face down a man waving some fiddle strings around than a man waving a broken bottle.
And what about tin whistles? Stamp on the end of a Clarke's whistle and you have a very sharp-pointed metal object.
It's all just about them showing you how they are the ones in charge, under the spurious guise of anti-terrorist security.
I flew Ryan Air to Paris and I brought my fiddle, it wasn't a problem at all. I don't really like Ryan Air though, sure it's cheap, but everyone is cramped so closely together and you have babies everywhere. sigh. It's handy though for short flights.
I believe it really depends on the airport policy. I flew Ryanair many times with my fiddle case and a (very) small bag as hand luggage and never had the slightest problem. On the othar hand, a couple of friends of mine once were told their fiddle and uillean pipe could not be brought in the cabin. It goes without saying that they brought the stuff to the cabin anyway ...
We just booked flights to Paris on SwissAir from the US,
and discovered that neither my fiddle nor my friend's mando cases fit their limit of one carryon at 22"x16"x8" (50cmx40cmx20cm) and even without a case, the fiddle is 23" . I called a few times trying to find loopholes, and the answer was, the gate checker could *possibly* be nice that day, but if they say no (and if the flight was really full, it was less luck), it would have to be checked. Not having someone to hand it off to either here or on the other end, just in case we got refused carry-on privileges, we decided not to bring them this time. A few years ago, we used El Al to Israel with no problems, and Continental to Ireland also no problems at all, both full flights. The instruments were tucked nicely overhead and nobody said anything to us, other than confiscating my pliers (for changing strings) as a possible problem. I thought the garotte-like spare strings were more of a threat, but guess not. You have to read the fine print for each airline and weigh your chances. I'm looking into the expensive flight cases now, just to avoid the whole issue.
Five - I flew Ryanair from Porto to London Stansted a few days ago and I was allowed to take my fiddle on board, no questions asked. In fact, when I was booking my flight online, I read in the airline regulations that every passenger was entitled to 10 kilos of hand baggage - apparently regardless of size or number of items (although I suspect they might object to 10 kilos of popcorn). Assuming the same regulations apply to all Ryanair flights, unless you exceeded the weight limit, I can't see how they could charge you. As for your man and the spare strings... You weren't travelling on April 1st, by any chance, were you? Or perhaps there's somebody in the management of Ryanair who's decided that there are too many fiddlers in Ireland, and is just trying to discourage them from entering the Republic.
I think the plight of those wishing to take instruments on board planes is subject to the whims of whomever happens to be on duty, or their supervisor. But just in case anyone is ever thinking of it, NEVER let your instrument go into the hold - there's no telling what might happen to it in there. If the airline staff are being difficult, just use all the persuasive power you have - torture them, if necessary. If that doesn't work, just give them the £20 - perhaps they have a sick auntie who needs her 100 Marlborough a day.
Sounds a little overboard by RyanAir. I travelled from Philadelphia to Belfast via Heathrow just weeks after 9/11/2001. These were the days of total paranoia and 4 hour security lines just to get to the plane. Anything sharp, elongated or even slightly pointy was banned. I decided to phone ahead and hash this out with British Air, since a fiddle bow meets that desciption. After talking to a rep on the phone who also asked her manager, I just wanted to know, "yes or no, can a violin bow be considered a weapon?" There was a slight pause, and then the response, "well, how badly do you play?"
I flew to the Isle of Man a couple of years ago on British Midland, carrying my faithful button box (7kg and a bit bigger than the 'allowed' dimensions) without any problem.
Until I came to fly back again. Apparently the maximum allowance for carry on was 4kg.
I managed to get away with it by
1) looking panic stricken and apologetic
2) asking if there was any other way I could get the box back to the UK (a courier, a couple of hundred quid and little protection)
3) very politely and nicely pointing out that they let me over there with it, so I would very much appreciate it if they'd bend the rules this one time
It worked, but I was sweating there for a few minutes.
Eno
P.S. Fly Virgin if you can - never had better, more understanding service when it comes to musical instruments, even when they need to go in the protective cage in the hold.
I have no problems taking my fiddle with me flying in the US of A. My son is a pilot for Continental. He told me that if the flight attendants say there is no room in the overhead, ask them nicely if there is any room in "their closet". It has worked for me! Remember it's all about smiling....you get more with sugar than vinegar!
fiddlers beware
fiddlers beware
If you’re thinking of taking a Ryanair flight anywhere, and you want to carry your fiddle - hand luggage, take an extra £20 to give them at the airport, or they won’t let you on the plane with your fiddle!!! I flew into Cork from the UK last week and having checked in, I found myself being recalled after Ms Notice Everything at the desk had spotted me carrying a grubby looking canvas fiddle case. I was told that if I didn’t pay the extra, I’d have to leave my fiddle behind. Still smarting from that, your man calls me over as I go through security, instructs me to open up my fiddle case and pulls out my spare strings… “Could be used as a form of restraint madam.” So I had to buy a £3 envelope and post my strings to myself. As this happened last time I flew back from the UK, and I didn’t see those strings again for another 2 months, I’d stuffed my good spare ones into my carrier bag, which happily they missed. I did offer to surrender the 2 clothes pegs I was using as a make-shift mute just in case anyone wanted to suffocate the pilot by placing them across his nostrils, but they weren’t very amused. Unlikely you’ll fall over the small print informing you of this new surcharge, so take a wad with you if you’re going on one of those cheapo flights or say bye to your fiddle.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by five
Re: fiddlers beware
Did you give them your shoe laces in case you felt the urge to strangle somebody on the flight?! Or your plastic cutlery lest you take somebodys eye out?? Oh, thats right, you can't eat or wear shoes on Ryanair flights anymore, it weighs too much and is considered as extras. Grrrrrrrrr. I've never actually flown with Ryanair, i'm just in the humour to rant!
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by JM
Re: fiddlers beware
Five, This is absolutely appalling behaviour on the part of an airline which presumably is in the business of attracting customers. Thoughtless paranoia at its worse.
A few points as they come to mind ...
1. Take this up at the highest level with Ryan Air's management, with copies of correspondence to the media. See next point...
2. Get the media involved - campaigning newspapers like the Bristol Evening Post (owned by the Daily Mail Group) are a good bet, and there must be similar in Ireland.
3. Take it up with your parliamentary representative - both in Ireland and the EU (unreasonable restraint of trade and travel within the EU may be possible arguments, bearing in mind that professional musicians frequently travel by air between the UK and Ireland).
4. The Musicians Union (and its Irish equivalent) may be able to carry a bit of clout.
I've recently travelled a couple of times by air between Bristol and Brussels, taking my fiddle as hand luggage in the cabin with no problem whatsoever at either end (leaving a fiddle to the tender mercies of the luggage hold and the baggage handlers is of course an absolute no-no). I just took the elementary precaution of first removing a couple of implements such as small scissors and a pair of tweezers from the case. The fiddle in its case went through X-rays in the Bristol and Brussels terminals with no problems, and no-one asked for the case to be opened.
I don't know how relevant this may be, but the only available flights between Bristol and Brussels are not cheap and are obviously intended for business passengers.
I suppose the only consolation is that Mr Jobsworth didn't take it into his head to confiscate the strings actually on the fiddle, and as for that long stick with the pointy end inside the fiddlecase lid, well, you were dead lucky that Mr J didn't spot that either!
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by Trevor Jennings
Re: fiddlers beware
What I've just said would also apply to other stringed instruments like mandolins and the smaller guitars which could be taken on board as hand luggage. They have spare strings as well.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by Trevor Jennings
Re: fiddlers beware
Thank you for the warning.
I've never had trouble with airlines in the USA. My tuner, chin rest wrench, spare strings, tape recorder et cetera always travel in my checked luggage and my fiddle & bow travel in its case as one of my 2 "carry ons".
I'm prepared to put my fiddle in a plastic bag to carry it on if the case is deemed too big. In a plastic bag it will fit under the seat.
The only time they decided to inspect the contents of my fiddle case deeper than the xray machine the clerk doing apologized several times during the process.
Maybe she was afraid if I got angry I'd start playing it.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by hyldemoer
Re: fiddlers beware
Greetings:
Lufthansa and BritishAir gave me no trouble at all about my fiddle in 2002. All that happened was that I was politely asked to open the case a few times.
I would definitely encourage you to contact management at RyanAir. This is unacceptable.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by cathrynb
Re: fiddlers beware
The fiddle in a plastic bag under the seat is a great idea! I never thought of it myself.
I just flew from Ft. Lauderdale Florida to Philadelphia and the flight attendants were asking everyone (the last 10 or so people) to check their carry on luggage because there was no more room in the overhead bins due to a totally full airplane. I almost panicked, I didn't think the fiddle would fit under the seat, and it didn't, but then a very helpful person somehow made room for me in an overhead. If this ever happens again, I'm doing the plastic bag thing.
Just hope I don't forget it's there and step on it!
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by Andee
Re: fiddlers beware
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/7810/
thread called 'Ryanair instrument policy' . I didn' t have any problems on Brussels - Shannon last october, not even the guitar player who was part of our bunch.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by Henk Bos
Re: fiddlers beware
I've Emailed Iberian as I need to take my fiddle to Galicia in June - but had no response at all.
I'll send another and then if I still get no response , I'll take copies with me to prove that I did ask!!
I've had no problem taking my fiddle to Spain before but have always gone Airtours.
I also need to book flights to Prague for August and will ask questions about my fiddle before booking!!
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by Tarrantella
Re: fiddlers beware
I flew with Ryanair many times and never had the slightest problem. What is more, I never had to open my fiddle case. However, once they asked me to put my spare strings into my suitcase at the check-in.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by fiddlinsue
Re: fiddlers beware
There seems to be no logic towards RyanAir, or indeed any airline's policy towards what can be taken into aircraft cabins. As long as you can buy a bottle of scotch in the duty-free you have a potentially vicious weapon. I'd much rather face down a man waving some fiddle strings around than a man waving a broken bottle.
And what about tin whistles? Stamp on the end of a Clarke's whistle and you have a very sharp-pointed metal object.
It's all just about them showing you how they are the ones in charge, under the spurious guise of anti-terrorist security.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by Ottery
Re: fiddlers beware
I flew Ryan Air to Paris and I brought my fiddle, it wasn't a problem at all. I don't really like Ryan Air though, sure it's cheap, but everyone is cramped so closely together and you have babies everywhere. sigh. It's handy though for short flights.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by errik
Re: fiddlers beware
I believe it really depends on the airport policy. I flew Ryanair many times with my fiddle case and a (very) small bag as hand luggage and never had the slightest problem. On the othar hand, a couple of friends of mine once were told their fiddle and uillean pipe could not be brought in the cabin. It goes without saying that they brought the stuff to the cabin anyway ...
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by nutsmuggler
Re: fiddlers beware
We just booked flights to Paris on SwissAir from the US,
and discovered that neither my fiddle nor my friend's mando cases fit their limit of one carryon at 22"x16"x8" (50cmx40cmx20cm) and even without a case, the fiddle is 23" . I called a few times trying to find loopholes, and the answer was, the gate checker could *possibly* be nice that day, but if they say no (and if the flight was really full, it was less luck), it would have to be checked. Not having someone to hand it off to either here or on the other end, just in case we got refused carry-on privileges, we decided not to bring them this time. A few years ago, we used El Al to Israel with no problems, and Continental to Ireland also no problems at all, both full flights. The instruments were tucked nicely overhead and nobody said anything to us, other than confiscating my pliers (for changing strings) as a possible problem. I thought the garotte-like spare strings were more of a threat, but guess not. You have to read the fine print for each airline and weigh your chances. I'm looking into the expensive flight cases now, just to avoid the whole issue.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by dragonfiddle
Re: fiddlers beware
Five - I flew Ryanair from Porto to London Stansted a few days ago and I was allowed to take my fiddle on board, no questions asked. In fact, when I was booking my flight online, I read in the airline regulations that every passenger was entitled to 10 kilos of hand baggage - apparently regardless of size or number of items (although I suspect they might object to 10 kilos of popcorn). Assuming the same regulations apply to all Ryanair flights, unless you exceeded the weight limit, I can't see how they could charge you. As for your man and the spare strings... You weren't travelling on April 1st, by any chance, were you? Or perhaps there's somebody in the management of Ryanair who's decided that there are too many fiddlers in Ireland, and is just trying to discourage them from entering the Republic.
I think the plight of those wishing to take instruments on board planes is subject to the whims of whomever happens to be on duty, or their supervisor. But just in case anyone is ever thinking of it, NEVER let your instrument go into the hold - there's no telling what might happen to it in there. If the airline staff are being difficult, just use all the persuasive power you have - torture them, if necessary. If that doesn't work, just give them the £20 - perhaps they have a sick auntie who needs her 100 Marlborough a day.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: fiddlers beware
Sounds a little overboard by RyanAir. I travelled from Philadelphia to Belfast via Heathrow just weeks after 9/11/2001. These were the days of total paranoia and 4 hour security lines just to get to the plane. Anything sharp, elongated or even slightly pointy was banned. I decided to phone ahead and hash this out with British Air, since a fiddle bow meets that desciption. After talking to a rep on the phone who also asked her manager, I just wanted to know, "yes or no, can a violin bow be considered a weapon?" There was a slight pause, and then the response, "well, how badly do you play?"
# Posted on April 8th 2006 by Tmack
Re: fiddlers beware
I flew to the Isle of Man a couple of years ago on British Midland, carrying my faithful button box (7kg and a bit bigger than the 'allowed' dimensions) without any problem.
Until I came to fly back again. Apparently the maximum allowance for carry on was 4kg.
I managed to get away with it by
1) looking panic stricken and apologetic
2) asking if there was any other way I could get the box back to the UK (a courier, a couple of hundred quid and little protection)
3) very politely and nicely pointing out that they let me over there with it, so I would very much appreciate it if they'd bend the rules this one time
It worked, but I was sweating there for a few minutes.
Eno
P.S. Fly Virgin if you can - never had better, more understanding service when it comes to musical instruments, even when they need to go in the protective cage in the hold.
# Posted on April 8th 2006 by bc_box_player
Re: fiddlers beware
That happened to my friend on AerArran, and he wasn't even offered the opportunity to pay extra, he had to give his fiddle up to them.
# Posted on April 10th 2006 by m
Re: fiddlers beware
I have no problems taking my fiddle with me flying in the US of A. My son is a pilot for Continental. He told me that if the flight attendants say there is no room in the overhead, ask them nicely if there is any room in "their closet". It has worked for me! Remember it's all about smiling....you get more with sugar than vinegar!
Thanks for reading.
# Posted on April 11th 2006 by dfbird