I'm going to Meitheal Summer School on Monday!! Is anyone else going? I can't wait, I know it's going to be fantastic.
So, to the main issue: I'm flying there on Monday morning with the above airline. Now, I have a dilemma. I'm not allowed more than one piece of hand luggage, for some reason, so I could either check in my fiddle in the luggage, and take my bodhrán (with whistles) as hand luggage, or take the fiddle as hand luggage, and leave the bodhrán at home. My fiddle case is pretty sturdy, and I'd wrap the fiddle in a towel or something, but is it still safe? There's no way the bodhrán will be safe, so that can't go in the luggage for sure. I want to take the bodhrán, but I'm not going to risk my fiddle's safety for it(!)
Does anyone have experience of Aerlingus baggage handlers? I hope they're nice...
Anyway, see you in Meitheal if you're going!
Joe, the interpretation I have found being applied since last August is that you are allowed one small (i.e fiddles etc, not double basses) musical instrument *in addition* to your hand luggage allowance.
These are the rules applied by security at UK airports, not by the airlines. After the explosive liquids scare of August 2006, at first security banned all hand luggage, then one piece was allowed, then after representations by professional musicians, the "musical instrument" carry-on allowance was introduced.
I've travelled several times since then with laptop backpack and mandolin carried on as hand luggage. Many items the security have started to take the mandolin case off me , until the see it is an instrument, then they wave it on. Unfortunately I haven't tried it with Aer lingus but there hasn't been any problem with BA, BMI, KLM or easyjet
As far as I know, all airlines except Ryanair go along with this. In Ryanair's case, an instrument counts as your one allowed piece of hand luggage
so what I'm suggesting is that they will either let both instruments on under the *musical instrument* allowance, or if they only allow one instrument, treat one as your allowed carry on and the other as the *musical instrument*.
I will not assume any prejudice by the check-in and security as to which one would be designated "musical", nor will I exhort you to leave your bodhran at home and save everyone the worry. That would just be insensitive.
Unfortunately recent experiences posted on here suggest that phoning ahead will get you the most pessimistic answer and leave you more confused than ever.
In addition, since Aer Lingus have adopted "budget airline" booking methods being able to get through to anyone genuinely helpful in this lifetime is extremely unlikely
Would one of the instruments fit in a case no bigger than 56 x 45 x 25 cm? If so, use this case (containing instrument #1) as your carry-on, check-in another case with your other luggage for the hold, and take instrument #2 as your permitted musical instrument.
Aer Lingus staff are generally friendly and helpful (once you get on the plane), but the people checking you in at LHR are sub-contractors, and no better or worse than other check-in staff. Make sure that your main carry-on case is no heavier than 6kg - put everything except instruments #1 & 2 in your checked luggage. Don't explain or ask permission for your carry-on arrangements before travelling or at check-in.
Security staff at LHR are hit and miss. Some are friendly and polite; others seem to be police force rejects.
so - does this mean I should not even try to carry on a small harp? (triangular, but widest point is 55cm, longest 88cm, very narrow soundbox and weighs only 7lbs. Bigger than a fiddle but much smaller than a guitar. Do guitarists have to check their instruments as baggage? I would really appreciate advice from the more experienced on this.
If I do need to check it, anybody know if it's possible to store a flight case in a locker at Shannon til our return trip?
The MU blurb describe them as "requirements set down by the Department Of Transport".
That doesn't sound like airlines can please themselves, if you are a bona-fide musician, in fact it says "Each passenger is allowed to carry through .........ONE musical instrument in its case", so if you have 2 instruments, you can talk someone else into assisting through the security search, they don't HAVE to be a musician.
Geoff, it depends whether they allow one normal carry-on PLUS a musical instrument (as most airlines now do) or EITHER a normal carry-on OR a musical instrument (as Ryanair does).
i.e. Ryanair comply with DoT requirements, but go one step further for their own reasons.
I'm pretty sure Aer Lingus will be the former and Joe will be allowed to take , say, his bodhran as a normal carry-on, and the fiddle as an allowed instrument. The security people, operating under the DoT guidelines, will see it that way,
Unfortunately, judging by previous posts on here, calling ahead is unlikely to find someone who even understands the question let alone how the regs will be applied in practice.
In my experiences this last year as a frequent business traveller, it goes like this:
At check-in: "do you have any hand luggage? " (although they don't always ask) "Yes, my laptop (in backpack) and this (show mandolin case)" "oh, a musical instrument, that's OK"
At security: "Sorry sir, you're only allowed one hand luggage. Oh, it's an instrument, OK"
Obviously Joe would not want to take any OTHER pieces of hand luggage apart from his bodhran case and fiddle case.
its really does look like ita goin south for d musos, as far back as last yr i ws asked in nantes did i have a seat booked for my guitar, even though the overhead bins are more like skips!think im flying (unfortunately) with ryanair a total of 8 times in the next month or so, with a bouzouki and a guitar, dont expect it to be pretty, if anyone out there is travelling for a gig/festival then try saying it to whoever booked you that they're paying for your instruments, ake sure you have a good flight case AND!! INSURANCE!!! after that our instruments are in the hands of the poorly informed baggage handlers and if you're travelling on your own and paying for luggage, then start o get used to it, looks like its becoming the norm for the money-grabbin-h**rs!!! peace out!
Well, I hope musicians are realistic rather than overly pessimistic about this.
It would be a real shame if fiddlers and box players and the like, people carrying instruments whose very popularity is because of their portability, stopped travelling with instruments out of fear of what airlines (or more to the point, baggage handlers) will do to them. We would all be deprived as a result.
As for "extra" baggage charges - this is a result of fare-cutting by budget airlines , which the travelling public has not been slow to take advantage of. Airlines can keep everyone's fares the same and include baggage handling and weight costs, no matter how little baggage they have, or cut fares and charge those with bags a bit extra.
Look at a Ryanair fare Aberdeen - Dublin, add in the baggage charges, and even so - how you would have done it cheaper fifteen years ago? We either had to drive/train to the ferry then drive /train down to Dublin, taking best part of two days, or spend around £500 each flying via Heathrow
Instruments and Aerlingus
Instruments and Aerlingus
I'm going to Meitheal Summer School on Monday!! Is anyone else going? I can't wait, I know it's going to be fantastic.
So, to the main issue: I'm flying there on Monday morning with the above airline. Now, I have a dilemma. I'm not allowed more than one piece of hand luggage, for some reason, so I could either check in my fiddle in the luggage, and take my bodhrán (with whistles) as hand luggage, or take the fiddle as hand luggage, and leave the bodhrán at home. My fiddle case is pretty sturdy, and I'd wrap the fiddle in a towel or something, but is it still safe? There's no way the bodhrán will be safe, so that can't go in the luggage for sure. I want to take the bodhrán, but I'm not going to risk my fiddle's safety for it(!)
Does anyone have experience of Aerlingus baggage handlers? I hope they're nice...
Anyway, see you in Meitheal if you're going!
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Joe CSS
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
Joe, the interpretation I have found being applied since last August is that you are allowed one small (i.e fiddles etc, not double basses) musical instrument *in addition* to your hand luggage allowance.
These are the rules applied by security at UK airports, not by the airlines. After the explosive liquids scare of August 2006, at first security banned all hand luggage, then one piece was allowed, then after representations by professional musicians, the "musical instrument" carry-on allowance was introduced.
I've travelled several times since then with laptop backpack and mandolin carried on as hand luggage. Many items the security have started to take the mandolin case off me , until the see it is an instrument, then they wave it on. Unfortunately I haven't tried it with Aer lingus but there hasn't been any problem with BA, BMI, KLM or easyjet
As far as I know, all airlines except Ryanair go along with this. In Ryanair's case, an instrument counts as your one allowed piece of hand luggage
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Bren
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
"many times" I meant, not "many items"
my fast typing hand is righter than my left
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Bren
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
so what I'm suggesting is that they will either let both instruments on under the *musical instrument* allowance, or if they only allow one instrument, treat one as your allowed carry on and the other as the *musical instrument*.
I will not assume any prejudice by the check-in and security as to which one would be designated "musical", nor will I exhort you to leave your bodhran at home and save everyone the worry. That would just be insensitive.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Bren
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
Can you contact the airline and ask?
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by sbhikes
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
Unfortunately recent experiences posted on here suggest that phoning ahead will get you the most pessimistic answer and leave you more confused than ever.
In addition, since Aer Lingus have adopted "budget airline" booking methods being able to get through to anyone genuinely helpful in this lifetime is extremely unlikely
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Bren
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
Joe
Would one of the instruments fit in a case no bigger than 56 x 45 x 25 cm? If so, use this case (containing instrument #1) as your carry-on, check-in another case with your other luggage for the hold, and take instrument #2 as your permitted musical instrument.
Aer Lingus staff are generally friendly and helpful (once you get on the plane), but the people checking you in at LHR are sub-contractors, and no better or worse than other check-in staff. Make sure that your main carry-on case is no heavier than 6kg - put everything except instruments #1 & 2 in your checked luggage. Don't explain or ask permission for your carry-on arrangements before travelling or at check-in.
Security staff at LHR are hit and miss. Some are friendly and polite; others seem to be police force rejects.
Good luck with your trip.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by niallt
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
so - does this mean I should not even try to carry on a small harp? (triangular, but widest point is 55cm, longest 88cm, very narrow soundbox and weighs only 7lbs. Bigger than a fiddle but much smaller than a guitar. Do guitarists have to check their instruments as baggage? I would really appreciate advice from the more experienced on this.
If I do need to check it, anybody know if it's possible to store a flight case in a locker at Shannon til our return trip?
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by jessie
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
The MU blurb describe them as "requirements set down by the Department Of Transport".
That doesn't sound like airlines can please themselves, if you are a bona-fide musician, in fact it says "Each passenger is allowed to carry through .........ONE musical instrument in its case", so if you have 2 instruments, you can talk someone else into assisting through the security search, they don't HAVE to be a musician.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
Geoff, it depends whether they allow one normal carry-on PLUS a musical instrument (as most airlines now do) or EITHER a normal carry-on OR a musical instrument (as Ryanair does).
i.e. Ryanair comply with DoT requirements, but go one step further for their own reasons.
I'm pretty sure Aer Lingus will be the former and Joe will be allowed to take , say, his bodhran as a normal carry-on, and the fiddle as an allowed instrument. The security people, operating under the DoT guidelines, will see it that way,
Unfortunately, judging by previous posts on here, calling ahead is unlikely to find someone who even understands the question let alone how the regs will be applied in practice.
In my experiences this last year as a frequent business traveller, it goes like this:
At check-in: "do you have any hand luggage? " (although they don't always ask) "Yes, my laptop (in backpack) and this (show mandolin case)" "oh, a musical instrument, that's OK"
At security: "Sorry sir, you're only allowed one hand luggage. Oh, it's an instrument, OK"
Obviously Joe would not want to take any OTHER pieces of hand luggage apart from his bodhran case and fiddle case.
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by Bren
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
Well Joe's had his flight by now surely.
Just in case he decided to take the bus instead:
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=86333
Getsworse as they say
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by Bren
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
its really does look like ita goin south for d musos, as far back as last yr i ws asked in nantes did i have a seat booked for my guitar, even though the overhead bins are more like skips!think im flying (unfortunately) with ryanair a total of 8 times in the next month or so, with a bouzouki and a guitar, dont expect it to be pretty, if anyone out there is travelling for a gig/festival then try saying it to whoever booked you that they're paying for your instruments, ake sure you have a good flight case AND!! INSURANCE!!! after that our instruments are in the hands of the poorly informed baggage handlers and if you're travelling on your own and paying for luggage, then start o get used to it, looks like its becoming the norm for the money-grabbin-h**rs!!! peace out!
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by fishtyfiddle
Re: Instruments and Aerlingus
Well, I hope musicians are realistic rather than overly pessimistic about this.
It would be a real shame if fiddlers and box players and the like, people carrying instruments whose very popularity is because of their portability, stopped travelling with instruments out of fear of what airlines (or more to the point, baggage handlers) will do to them. We would all be deprived as a result.
As for "extra" baggage charges - this is a result of fare-cutting by budget airlines , which the travelling public has not been slow to take advantage of. Airlines can keep everyone's fares the same and include baggage handling and weight costs, no matter how little baggage they have, or cut fares and charge those with bags a bit extra.
Look at a Ryanair fare Aberdeen - Dublin, add in the baggage charges, and even so - how you would have done it cheaper fifteen years ago? We either had to drive/train to the ferry then drive /train down to Dublin, taking best part of two days, or spend around £500 each flying via Heathrow
# Posted on July 17th 2007 by Bren