I am considering purchasing a tin whistle so I can take it when I travel, being easier than taking my fiddle and worrying about lugage, etc. Are there any things I should take into account with fkying by plane with it. Thanks
I just flew from the U.S. to Mexico, as a matter of fact, im still here, and I brought 2 whistles with me in my carry on. Nobody said a thing, so I'm sure you'll be fine! Btw- I flew Continental.
We flew from Bristol to Cork last week on Aer Arann. No, I didn't take my fiddle with me (although I think I would have been allowed to take it in the cabin as the sole item) because I came to the considered conclusion that playing in St Patricks's Day sessions in strange pubs in a foreign country wasn't necessarily a good idea - it's better to play in sessions at home with the devils you know. That's by the way. We primarily went over to visit relatives and see the St Patrick's Day Parade in Cork, although we did get to look in on a couple of sessions.
Anyway, to get back to the slightly off topic. Returning on Sunday we were unexpectedly delayed at Cork Airport for about 6 hours, the reason being the Aer Arann twin turboprop from Scotland that was supposed to pick us up was unavailable because of a technical problem. The 18th March being not surprisingly a very busy day for air travel, Aer Arann couldn't lay their hands on a replacement aircraft until early evening, when they were able to cancel a flight from Cork to Galway for "operational reasons", those reasons being to use that aircraft to take us 50 stranded passengers from Cork to Bristol, which is about an hour's flight. The Cork-Galway passengers were presumably bussed from Cork to Galway.
So we returned to Bristol with no further problems, although about 6 hours late.
A couple of days ago we each received a letter from Aer Arann apologizing for the delay at Cork Airport and enclosing for each of us a voucher for €75 to be used as part payment for any Aer Arann flight during the next twelve months.
Greg, I have to say I'd exactly take the opposite view. Never ever ever ever put anything irreplaceable in the hold. Never ever put anything of value in the hold unless it's insured to the hilt!
And also, I've put much weirder stuff than whistles in my hand baggage (don't ask), stuff that shows on x-ray, including flutes and whistles, and although it has led to some fun discussions it's never been a problem. And I've flown with Ryanair as well as with up-market airlines.
DON'T RISK ANYTHING OF VALUE IN THE HOLD
There are too many sh*tty petty crooks about.
I remember being on a flight from Houston, Tx. to Hartford, Ct. once, and one of my fellow passenger thought that that would be a good time to start learning concertina. Talk about hell. The best part was, after about 3 hours one of the flight attendants basically told her to stop or die.
Take my whistles from Denver to Dulles in a carry-on bag several times a year (United). Never even a comment from the security people at the x-ray machines.
I've flown United across the US, Lufthansa between the US and Germany, and South African Airways between both the US and Germany, and always have a couple of whistles in my carry-on bag with no problems ever. The "travel" guitar hasn't been a problem either, but a few months ago the 3.5 ounce roll-on deodorant got tossed out by a security guy with great flourish for being a dangerous .5 ounces too much for airline safety!!! I'm sure you sessioneers see the irony in that.
I'm on a plane 4+ times a month, and always carry on whistles. I've learned, though, that an occasional over-zealous security person sometimes thinks my whistle (especially one of the "larger" ones - like my "A") might be a part of some horrible weapon. So rather than risk an inquisition, I just pull my whistles out of carry on and put them through the screeners with my computer. I get comments, but don't get slowed down.
So what did happen about that idea that musicians could still carry one instrument into the cabin ?
Anyway, there I am on the Eve of St Pat's, queueing to get into the American Embassy, London, for a staff party. Security guy quite new to the job, wanted me to leave my electronic tuner behind at Reception till the military in the glass office overhead ok'd it, then nearly flipped when Dom's irish pipes went through the x-ray machine. They do look funny on the screen....
I went to Perth, Australia and back via Kuala Lumpur with seven harmonicas in their carry-case in my hand-baggage. Three times out of four there was no comment at the screening. The fourth time the lady asked me what was in the case but she didn't look. It must have looked like an ammo pack to the X-ray machine.
Way back in 1980 I was flying out of Germany with some recorders and a krumhorn in my carry-on. It was 6 am, and I'm sure the security guys were just bored, but they asked if I had a dudelsack (bagpipe) in there. A good guess, but no, it was recorders and a krumhorn. They asked me to demonstrate the krumhorn -- they'd heard recorders in school but the krumhorn was quite a novelty, especially that early in the morning.
Coming back from the fleadh in '85, there was a whole airport lobby full of musicians (again at 6 am), and having nothing better to do, we had a great session.
Have had no trouble with whistles. In fact came back to the US with three of four new ones in carry on. Not a word.
Have had trouble doing my box carry on at NY LaGuardia. TSA person had no clue what it was and wiped it for explosives. He did not believe me that it was a musical instrument.
No snide remarks on that please. ( Might as well get it over with...I made a comment to a guitar player friendfreind that I played a new box in public over St. Pats. He said, 'Well you are here so that means you weren't arrested.....Or our you bonded out?)
Tin Whistles and Flying
Tin Whistles and Flying
I am considering purchasing a tin whistle so I can take it when I travel, being easier than taking my fiddle and worrying about lugage, etc. Are there any things I should take into account with fkying by plane with it. Thanks
# Posted on March 24th 2007 by enirehtac
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
put it in the hold you will have no problems but trying to play at 30,000 ft may get you i to trouble
# Posted on March 24th 2007 by bazouki dave
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
in to trouble
# Posted on March 24th 2007 by bazouki dave
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
Hey Dave, I wonder if we should start an ITM-MHC - i.e. *Mile High Club*? ..... anyone who manages to play a tune in the loo at 30,000 ft qualifies!
# Posted on March 24th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
I did it! When I was traveling to Spain, 6 months ago, I played a set with some friends
# Posted on March 24th 2007 by Matt_Celta
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
I wonder what the view of Ryan air would be ?
# Posted on March 24th 2007 by bazouki dave
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
They would probably be fine with it, for a small extra charge of course...
# Posted on March 24th 2007 by Björn
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
Obviously you have flown with Ryan Air before
# Posted on March 24th 2007 by bazouki dave
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
I just flew from the U.S. to Mexico, as a matter of fact, im still here, and I brought 2 whistles with me in my carry on. Nobody said a thing, so I'm sure you'll be fine! Btw- I flew Continental.
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by rob_handel
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
Slightly off topic ... not all airlines are bad.
We flew from Bristol to Cork last week on Aer Arann. No, I didn't take my fiddle with me (although I think I would have been allowed to take it in the cabin as the sole item) because I came to the considered conclusion that playing in St Patricks's Day sessions in strange pubs in a foreign country wasn't necessarily a good idea - it's better to play in sessions at home with the devils you know. That's by the way. We primarily went over to visit relatives and see the St Patrick's Day Parade in Cork, although we did get to look in on a couple of sessions.
Anyway, to get back to the slightly off topic. Returning on Sunday we were unexpectedly delayed at Cork Airport for about 6 hours, the reason being the Aer Arann twin turboprop from Scotland that was supposed to pick us up was unavailable because of a technical problem. The 18th March being not surprisingly a very busy day for air travel, Aer Arann couldn't lay their hands on a replacement aircraft until early evening, when they were able to cancel a flight from Cork to Galway for "operational reasons", those reasons being to use that aircraft to take us 50 stranded passengers from Cork to Bristol, which is about an hour's flight. The Cork-Galway passengers were presumably bussed from Cork to Galway.
So we returned to Bristol with no further problems, although about 6 hours late.
A couple of days ago we each received a letter from Aer Arann apologizing for the delay at Cork Airport and enclosing for each of us a voucher for €75 to be used as part payment for any Aer Arann flight during the next twelve months.
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
I'd surely put the whistles in the checked baggage, and not try to carry them on. Best not to kick a sleeping dog...
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
Greg, I have to say I'd exactly take the opposite view. Never ever ever ever put anything irreplaceable in the hold. Never ever put anything of value in the hold unless it's insured to the hilt!
And also, I've put much weirder stuff than whistles in my hand baggage (don't ask), stuff that shows on x-ray, including flutes and whistles, and although it has led to some fun discussions it's never been a problem. And I've flown with Ryanair as well as with up-market airlines.
DON'T RISK ANYTHING OF VALUE IN THE HOLD
There are too many sh*tty petty crooks about.
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by Alex Wilding
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
I remember being on a flight from Houston, Tx. to Hartford, Ct. once, and one of my fellow passenger thought that that would be a good time to start learning concertina. Talk about hell. The best part was, after about 3 hours one of the flight attendants basically told her to stop or die.
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by fife
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
Take my whistles from Denver to Dulles in a carry-on bag several times a year (United). Never even a comment from the security people at the x-ray machines.
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by lindag
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
I've flown United across the US, Lufthansa between the US and Germany, and South African Airways between both the US and Germany, and always have a couple of whistles in my carry-on bag with no problems ever. The "travel" guitar hasn't been a problem either, but a few months ago the 3.5 ounce roll-on deodorant got tossed out by a security guy with great flourish for being a dangerous .5 ounces too much for airline safety!!! I'm sure you sessioneers see the irony in that.
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by mjct
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
I'm on a plane 4+ times a month, and always carry on whistles. I've learned, though, that an occasional over-zealous security person sometimes thinks my whistle (especially one of the "larger" ones - like my "A") might be a part of some horrible weapon. So rather than risk an inquisition, I just pull my whistles out of carry on and put them through the screeners with my computer. I get comments, but don't get slowed down.
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by Dianeg
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
So what did happen about that idea that musicians could still carry one instrument into the cabin ?
Anyway, there I am on the Eve of St Pat's, queueing to get into the American Embassy, London, for a staff party. Security guy quite new to the job, wanted me to leave my electronic tuner behind at Reception till the military in the glass office overhead ok'd it, then nearly flipped when Dom's irish pipes went through the x-ray machine. They do look funny on the screen....
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
I went to Perth, Australia and back via Kuala Lumpur with seven harmonicas in their carry-case in my hand-baggage. Three times out of four there was no comment at the screening. The fourth time the lady asked me what was in the case but she didn't look. It must have looked like an ammo pack to the X-ray machine.
# Posted on March 26th 2007 by Steve Shaw
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
Way back in 1980 I was flying out of Germany with some recorders and a krumhorn in my carry-on. It was 6 am, and I'm sure the security guys were just bored, but they asked if I had a dudelsack (bagpipe) in there. A good guess, but no, it was recorders and a krumhorn. They asked me to demonstrate the krumhorn -- they'd heard recorders in school but the krumhorn was quite a novelty, especially that early in the morning.
Coming back from the fleadh in '85, there was a whole airport lobby full of musicians (again at 6 am), and having nothing better to do, we had a great session.
# Posted on March 26th 2007 by Tracie
Re: Tin Whistles and Flying
Have had no trouble with whistles. In fact came back to the US with three of four new ones in carry on. Not a word.
Have had trouble doing my box carry on at NY LaGuardia. TSA person had no clue what it was and wiped it for explosives. He did not believe me that it was a musical instrument.
No snide remarks on that please. ( Might as well get it over with...I made a comment to a guitar player friendfreind that I played a new box in public over St. Pats. He said, 'Well you are here so that means you weren't arrested.....Or our you bonded out?)
# Posted on March 26th 2007 by zippydw