Does anyone have recent experience of carrying musical instruments on planes. Specifically from Ireland. I have heard that Ryanair have specific requirements re dimensions etc. I have always in the past carried my instrument as hand luggage and used overhead bin. I would rather avoid having an instrument in with general luggage.
Ryanair will not allow you to take a musical instrument if it bigger than the hand luggage dimensions, so it depends on your instrument and its size. If it's bigger, you either pay extra to have it in the hold, or you can book an extra seat for it. When taking my guitar, I've found that because the seat prices are pretty cheap, it's often cheaper to book the extra seat, plus I prefer the security of having it with me at all times. If your instrument case is slightly over the hand luggage dimensions, you may get away with it, as I've never seen anyone have their hand luggage size checked, and I've seen a few people with obviously over-sized cases! It's up to you if you want to take the chance.
I've had to check in the banjo into the hold when flying from Manchester to Shannon, they allowed me to bring it back as hand luggage! Easy Jet flight from Liverpool to Belfast was no problem. I think it's a bit of a lottery but as mentioned if you want to be sure book an extra seat for your beloved Paragon!
I travel. all the time . Only once have i had to check my instrument in. just place it down out of view, when you checkin, and carry on shoulder furthest from the steward. Thats done me well for many years.
Last week I flew from Manchester to Galway with Aer Arann. No problem with taking the fiddle on as hand luggage. I asked the steward if they ever stop instruments from being carried on as hand luggage and he said only if the plane is full and the instrument is big. There was no charge for baggage at all and the overall experience was much more relaxed than Ryanair.
I've just looked at Ryanair's web site and they say their musicial instrument policy is to charge £15.50 per instrument on the web site or £20.50 if the fee has to be paid at the airport. This is a change from their policy from last year which was to book an extra seat for the instrument.
Ryanair are stricter with hand luggage than other airlines and the metal frame thing they have at the checkin desk where you're supposed to measure your hand luggage is smaller than that of other airlines.
My experience is if you can get past the dragons at the checkin desk on the UK side then all is ok. They sometimes say they'll allow the instrument but security may confiscate it, but that's never happened to me. The checkin desks on the Irish side are much more relaxed usually.
Been looking at this today; according to Ryanair website, hand luggage has to be less than 10Kg and max. dimensions of 55x40x20cm. My son has to take his accordion next week so we reckon the box falls within these limits. But knowing Ryanair, who knows.
According to report I saw recently in paper here, they made something like 200 million Euro profit in 2006 from extra charges! hmmmmmmm - at least Dreary O'Leary resides & pays some taxes here in Ireland unlike many of his other high flying tax exiled buddies..
I recently flew Ryanair from Bristol to Shannon. I was checking a suitcase and also had a small backpack that I didn't want to check and my concertina -- the latter in an oversized case to provide some extra cushioning and insulation from heat.
When we got in line at the check-in desk there were signs everywhere saying the carry-on limit is strictly one piece only. I got out of line and went over to talk to the security guys at an x-ray station. I asked them if there would be a problem if I carried on both pieces. They started to tell me about the one-piece limit, but as soon as I told them that one bag held a valuable musical instrument, they said it wouldn't be a problem.
Everything went smoothly after that -- I was not questioned about the two bags when I went through security nor when I boarded the flight.
The two questions are;
Why are you flying Ryanair, and
Is your journey really neccessary ?
We're all intelligent people here on this site, well aware of the dangers of global warming and the significant factor played by the emissions of aircraft; and then there's the totally un-PC efforts of Ryanair, charging for every bit of luggage, harrassing disabled people with wheelchairs, etc., etc..
OK, I've not got much spare cash and a flight is a once-every-few-years treat, but still......
Bristol to Shannon - there's a car ferry, you know.
I always bring the fiddle as my sole piece of hand luggage, don't give them the chance to question it. Sure it doesn't fit into the metal box thing at the check-in desk but if you act confident enough and don't apologise for yourself it seems to work. Give them any chance and they'll make trouble! Good luck.
A bit different here, but does anyone have any kind of experience transporting accordions by container through the tropics. A bit of a long shot here, but info would be appreciated.
Avoid mixing whistles and american customs. They don't like them at LAX!
Each passenger is allowed to carry through the airport security search point ONE musical instrument in its case, if it can not be carried within a bag with the dimensions above". Department for Transport, September 2006.
They also note - "Airlines and airports may have additional measures in place, e.g. prchasing an extra seat for LARGE musical instruments such as a cello or double bass"
Enquire at your local MU regional office for a copy of the above
If you can prove you are a bona-fide professional musician, Bryanair cannot change the guidelines and make you put it in the hold.
Instruments on planes
Instruments on planes
Does anyone have recent experience of carrying musical instruments on planes. Specifically from Ireland. I have heard that Ryanair have specific requirements re dimensions etc. I have always in the past carried my instrument as hand luggage and used overhead bin. I would rather avoid having an instrument in with general luggage.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by C Sharp
Re: Instruments on planes
Ryanair will not allow you to take a musical instrument if it bigger than the hand luggage dimensions, so it depends on your instrument and its size. If it's bigger, you either pay extra to have it in the hold, or you can book an extra seat for it. When taking my guitar, I've found that because the seat prices are pretty cheap, it's often cheaper to book the extra seat, plus I prefer the security of having it with me at all times. If your instrument case is slightly over the hand luggage dimensions, you may get away with it, as I've never seen anyone have their hand luggage size checked, and I've seen a few people with obviously over-sized cases! It's up to you if you want to take the chance.
Mike
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by Mike C
Re: Instruments on planes
I've had to check in the banjo into the hold when flying from Manchester to Shannon, they allowed me to bring it back as hand luggage! Easy Jet flight from Liverpool to Belfast was no problem. I think it's a bit of a lottery but as mentioned if you want to be sure book an extra seat for your beloved Paragon!
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by banjoian
Re: Instruments on planes
I travel. all the time . Only once have i had to check my instrument in. just place it down out of view, when you checkin, and carry on shoulder furthest from the steward. Thats done me well for many years.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by piobagusfidil
Re: Instruments on planes
Last week I flew from Manchester to Galway with Aer Arann. No problem with taking the fiddle on as hand luggage. I asked the steward if they ever stop instruments from being carried on as hand luggage and he said only if the plane is full and the instrument is big. There was no charge for baggage at all and the overall experience was much more relaxed than Ryanair.
I've just looked at Ryanair's web site and they say their musicial instrument policy is to charge £15.50 per instrument on the web site or £20.50 if the fee has to be paid at the airport. This is a change from their policy from last year which was to book an extra seat for the instrument.
Ryanair are stricter with hand luggage than other airlines and the metal frame thing they have at the checkin desk where you're supposed to measure your hand luggage is smaller than that of other airlines.
My experience is if you can get past the dragons at the checkin desk on the UK side then all is ok. They sometimes say they'll allow the instrument but security may confiscate it, but that's never happened to me. The checkin desks on the Irish side are much more relaxed usually.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by Fiddlebabe
Re: Instruments on planes
Been looking at this today; according to Ryanair website, hand luggage has to be less than 10Kg and max. dimensions of 55x40x20cm. My son has to take his accordion next week so we reckon the box falls within these limits. But knowing Ryanair, who knows.
According to report I saw recently in paper here, they made something like 200 million Euro profit in 2006 from extra charges! hmmmmmmm - at least Dreary O'Leary resides & pays some taxes here in Ireland unlike many of his other high flying tax exiled buddies..
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by the wounded hussar
Re: Instruments on planes
I managed to get a full size fiddle case and a gigantic backpack that couldn't fit under the seats onto Aer Lingus and American flights recently.
Neither of the bags were under the size limit and the backpack was well over the weight limit. I was quite surprised at my luck.
But the airport in Chicago did take away my toothpaste.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by mcdevincabe
Re: Instruments on planes
I recently flew Ryanair from Bristol to Shannon. I was checking a suitcase and also had a small backpack that I didn't want to check and my concertina -- the latter in an oversized case to provide some extra cushioning and insulation from heat.
When we got in line at the check-in desk there were signs everywhere saying the carry-on limit is strictly one piece only. I got out of line and went over to talk to the security guys at an x-ray station. I asked them if there would be a problem if I carried on both pieces. They started to tell me about the one-piece limit, but as soon as I told them that one bag held a valuable musical instrument, they said it wouldn't be a problem.
Everything went smoothly after that -- I was not questioned about the two bags when I went through security nor when I boarded the flight.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by boxist
Re: Instruments on planes
The two questions are;
Why are you flying Ryanair, and
Is your journey really neccessary ?
We're all intelligent people here on this site, well aware of the dangers of global warming and the significant factor played by the emissions of aircraft; and then there's the totally un-PC efforts of Ryanair, charging for every bit of luggage, harrassing disabled people with wheelchairs, etc., etc..
OK, I've not got much spare cash and a flight is a once-every-few-years treat, but still......
Bristol to Shannon - there's a car ferry, you know.
# Posted on September 8th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Instruments on planes
I always bring the fiddle as my sole piece of hand luggage, don't give them the chance to question it. Sure it doesn't fit into the metal box thing at the check-in desk but if you act confident enough and don't apologise for yourself it seems to work. Give them any chance and they'll make trouble! Good luck.
# Posted on September 8th 2007 by Lizzy
Re: Instruments on planes
A bit different here, but does anyone have any kind of experience transporting accordions by container through the tropics. A bit of a long shot here, but info would be appreciated.
Avoid mixing whistles and american customs. They don't like them at LAX!
# Posted on September 8th 2007 by Djaque
Re: Instruments on planes
Each passenger is allowed to carry through the airport security search point ONE musical instrument in its case, if it can not be carried within a bag with the dimensions above". Department for Transport, September 2006.
They also note - "Airlines and airports may have additional measures in place, e.g. prchasing an extra seat for LARGE musical instruments such as a cello or double bass"
Enquire at your local MU regional office for a copy of the above
If you can prove you are a bona-fide professional musician, Bryanair cannot change the guidelines and make you put it in the hold.
# Posted on September 8th 2007 by geoffwright