Hi everyone. A couple weeks back there was a discussion on whether Ryanair would allow fiddles onboard. I promised I would post my first-hand experience here since I would soon be flying Ryanair from Liverpool to Shannon and back again.
We (my boyfriend and I) just got back. from Ireland. We packed one bag between us, so of course had to pay the 5 euro or whatever for that. We did not check off that we had any instruments when we booked our flight. My boyfriend had a mandolin and I had a fiddle and we simply held onto the intruments normally but discreetly when at the check-in counter. Nobody commented on them. When going through security no one blinked an eye and we got onboard and got overhead bin space easily.
So good luck everyone who plans on flying Ryanair in the future--I hope you have it as easy as we did!
I went over in mid-Feb, flying Ryanair. I told them at the check-in desk that I was going to take my fiddle on board and they said "Sure, no problem" and smiled welcomingly. Can't see the issue myself ...
Mandolin, no problem. But with the fiddle, I always find that the passenger to my right gets elbowed in the side, whilst the passenger to my left gets poked in the eye. On BA and Aer Lingus, you can overcome this problem, to some degree, at least, by flying 1st class.
We flew Ryanair from Liverpool to Nimes on 16 March. I asked someone on the Ryanair ticket desk about taking a fiddle on the plane next time we travelled and they said that it would have to go in the hold! They said the case was too big to go in the cabin.
I took my mandolin from Liverpool to Geneva 2 x weeks ago with Easyjet and was told "no if's or buts it has to go in the hold because it was in a hard case". If it was a soft case I could have taken it as hand luggage...! On my return flight they said no probs take it on board...!!! I guess It must depend on what side of bed the check in staff fall out of in the morning.
Bad instrument damage can happen when it's not on a flight or anywhere near an airport. Have a look at this link, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6541457.stm It made me go cold to read it.
The instrument was being transported by a specialist removal company, so someone's head is sure to roll!
fiddle and mandolin not a problem on Ryanair
fiddle and mandolin not a problem on Ryanair
Hi everyone. A couple weeks back there was a discussion on whether Ryanair would allow fiddles onboard. I promised I would post my first-hand experience here since I would soon be flying Ryanair from Liverpool to Shannon and back again.
We (my boyfriend and I) just got back. from Ireland. We packed one bag between us, so of course had to pay the 5 euro or whatever for that. We did not check off that we had any instruments when we booked our flight. My boyfriend had a mandolin and I had a fiddle and we simply held onto the intruments normally but discreetly when at the check-in counter. Nobody commented on them. When going through security no one blinked an eye and we got onboard and got overhead bin space easily.
So good luck everyone who plans on flying Ryanair in the future--I hope you have it as easy as we did!
# Posted on April 8th 2007 by Andee
Re: fiddle and mandolin not a problem on Ryanair
I went over in mid-Feb, flying Ryanair. I told them at the check-in desk that I was going to take my fiddle on board and they said "Sure, no problem" and smiled welcomingly. Can't see the issue myself ...
# Posted on April 8th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: fiddle and mandolin not a problem on Ryanair
Mandolin, no problem. But with the fiddle, I always find that the passenger to my right gets elbowed in the side, whilst the passenger to my left gets poked in the eye. On BA and Aer Lingus, you can overcome this problem, to some degree, at least, by flying 1st class.
# Posted on April 8th 2007 by ragaman
Re: fiddle and mandolin not a problem on Ryanair
"I told them at the check-in desk that I was going to take my fiddle on board and they said "Sure, no problem" and smiled welcomingly."
They've probably come to realise that Irate musicians are by far the biggest threat they are likely to encounter on their flights.
# Posted on April 8th 2007 by ragaman
Re: fiddle and mandolin not a problem on Ryanair
Hi, Andee...haven't seen you on the board in awhile!
Colleen
# Posted on April 8th 2007 by irishfiddler32
Re: fiddle and mandolin not a problem on Ryanair
We flew Ryanair from Liverpool to Nimes on 16 March. I asked someone on the Ryanair ticket desk about taking a fiddle on the plane next time we travelled and they said that it would have to go in the hold! They said the case was too big to go in the cabin.
Maybe the checkout people are more realistic.
# Posted on April 8th 2007 by daveball
Re: fiddle and mandolin is a problem on Easyjet
I took my mandolin from Liverpool to Geneva 2 x weeks ago with Easyjet and was told "no if's or buts it has to go in the hold because it was in a hard case". If it was a soft case I could have taken it as hand luggage...! On my return flight they said no probs take it on board...!!! I guess It must depend on what side of bed the check in staff fall out of in the morning.
# Posted on April 8th 2007 by weebag
Re: fiddle and mandolin not a problem on Ryanair
Thanks for the update Andee. I've booked my flights for the summer!
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by Rob Millner
Re: fiddle and mandolin not a problem on Ryanair
Bad instrument damage can happen when it's not on a flight or anywhere near an airport. Have a look at this link, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6541457.stm It made me go cold to read it.
The instrument was being transported by a specialist removal company, so someone's head is sure to roll!
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by lazyhound