I've been to the Gathering festival in Killarney and met a French guy who had a great fiddle case with which you can fly without any trouble. Have a look: http://www.finecases.com/browse/bam/bam-3191.html
You get a seperate case for the bow that you can put into your suitcase.
By the way, I flew with Ryanair and didn't have any problems although in Frankfurt-Hahn there were weighting all the hand luggage. I just had the fiddle case and they let me go, but I don't know how long I can get away with it.
I can't find the exact measurements of this case, but the French fiddler told me that it fits in the box they have at airports to measure hand luggage. It really looked very small.
Can't say I like particularly like the idea of carrying the bow in a separate case - too many opportunities for losing it. But if you've got luggage in the hold then the bow should be able to fit in a suitcase - just hope your hold luggage doesn't get lost or diverted en route.
A thought - would the case described be able to take an Incredibow?
Every time I've had to travel by plane I've made it quite clear to the attendant at the counter that the fiddle and bow would NOT, EVER, travel seperately from me.
To date, no one has ever opposed any argument. I suppose I must be a bit convincing with regards to this.
I also saw that guy's amazingly compact fiddle case at the Gathering, it would certainly fit hand luggage regulations, but he had to carry his bow in a separate tube. What's needed now is for someone to invent a bow that folds in half, to fit in the smaller case!
I don't think its needed and I fully agree with the way Fanning approaches it. Call your airline ahead of time and let them know the situation and get it cleared. This way you have a leg to stand on if they give you trouble. Essentially what it comes down to is letting them know that if they cannot accommodate your instrument as carry-on then you will not be flying with them. Trust me, they NEED your business more now than ever.
There's a much cheaper option. I'd been waiting for months for it to come out, and I'm pleased with it now that I have it. The dimensions fit airline requirements, and it does have a bow tube.
Lazyhound, there is no purchase of any kind for any bow to firtinside of a BAM travel case. It's also far, far too short. Same with the case I mentioned above.
I'd be a bit wary about phoning airlines ahead. A lot of the time you get some jobsworth who simply quotes official policy about musical instruments, often based on orchestral or brass band instruments, or things like cellos and double-basses, and the person you're talking to will have no idea about fiddles. So you may get a negative or off-putting answer which is misleading.
I have never seen a fiddle or mandolin in a soft case rejected as hand luggage. I don't think I've seen one in a hard-case rejected either.
It is also British airport policy that musical instruments small enough to fit in the overhead locker are allowable in addition to the standard hand luggage allowance.
I'm not sure if a combative approach will necessarily pay dividends at airports like Aberdeen. For example - Ryanair is the only way we have to get to Dublin direct so threatening to pay an extra £400 to take seven hours longer to go via London on BA is hardly going to have them quaking in their boots. Similarly with flights to Orkney and Shetland - the alternative is the ferry.
Having said that, as you could imagine, every flight between Aberdeen and Dublin seems to have its quota of fiddlers, guitarists etc and I've yet to see one have their instrument rejected as hand-carry.
I've never had problems taking my fiddle on as hand luggage. It's far smaller than those wheeled suitcases that a lot of people are taking on as hand luggage - some of them are bigger than the case I've put in the hold!! I had a really difficult BA flight last week as they allow two bits of hand luggage and a lot of people had a suitcase and another bag and they ran out of overhead space so in the end they had to allow stuff to go under seats
You can save yourself $436 if you stuff the fiddle into a duffel bag and shove it down the front of your trousers.If anybody questions you re bulge say you're a descendent of Errol Flynn. I wish I had that kind of money to spend on A FIDDLE never mind a case !
May be relevant, but some time ago (a year?) there was a discussion here about a specially designed travelling fiddle and bow (of interest perhaps to a touring cyclist). The instrument, as I remember, is the minimum length consistent with playability, and about half the width of a standard instrument (so the tone wouldn't be all that big). Crucially, the bow is designed so that it can be folded in half, and could therefore be carried in a BAM case, or other case of similar small dimensions. Such a bow could be of interest on its own.
BTW, I keep my spare bows in an old snooker cue case (relic of a mis-spent youth, etc), which is exactly the right length for a fiddle bow. Such cases are probably easily obtainable from sports retailers, and are likely to be a lot cheaper than the bespoke bow cases sold in some music stores.
Flew quite a bit with my fiddle, always as carry on, never, ever had problems. More than that, security/customs never ever questioned about it. And that holds for America, Europe, Australia, and Africa.
I've flown for years and years---never a question about me checking my fiddle---I just make sure I get on board early enough to stow it---it always fit's in the overhead---and I have a rectangular case too.
I would never ever check an instrument in. A band I play in went to the US a few months ago, and we could take our fiddles/flutes as hand luggage no problem but the airline (Continental) made us check the accordions and they were smashed to bits... (Some may see that as a blessing however )
Someone I know got brief queries as their fiddle case went through the x-ray but no probs. Got to their destination - the fiddle had been left at home!
Having flown several times with a friend who plays concertina, that gets looked at every time! Must look quite spectacular on the x-ray!
I was on a Southwest flight from Cleveland to Chicago last Thursday night....Weather was sooo terrible that United cancelled all of its Cleveland to Chicago flights......and put the passengers on Southwest! I suppose great for Southwest.
Anyway, there was a fellow with a very nice guitar case that he carried on. because of the huge passenger load, the Southwest folks wanted to check it.
I told my seat partner that I would get off the plane and sleep over in Cleveland before I did that.
The perfect flight case for the fiddle
The perfect flight case for the fiddle
I've been to the Gathering festival in Killarney and met a French guy who had a great fiddle case with which you can fly without any trouble. Have a look:
http://www.finecases.com/browse/bam/bam-3191.html
You get a seperate case for the bow that you can put into your suitcase.
By the way, I flew with Ryanair and didn't have any problems although in Frankfurt-Hahn there were weighting all the hand luggage. I just had the fiddle case and they let me go, but I don't know how long I can get away with it.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by fiddlinsue
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
That's a very nice looking case, but is it worth it?
Even without a case, a fiddle exceeds the hand baggage size limits. Once you're over that limit you're into the musical instrument rules anyway.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by TomB-R
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
I can't find the exact measurements of this case, but the French fiddler told me that it fits in the box they have at airports to measure hand luggage. It really looked very small.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by fiddlinsue
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
Can't say I like particularly like the idea of carrying the bow in a separate case - too many opportunities for losing it. But if you've got luggage in the hold then the bow should be able to fit in a suitcase - just hope your hold luggage doesn't get lost or diverted en route.
A thought - would the case described be able to take an Incredibow?
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
Every time I've had to travel by plane I've made it quite clear to the attendant at the counter that the fiddle and bow would NOT, EVER, travel seperately from me.
To date, no one has ever opposed any argument. I suppose I must be a bit convincing with regards to this.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by Fanning
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
"The dimensions of hand luggage must not exceed 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in x 17.7in x 9.8in approx)"
A full size fiddle is approx 23 1/2 inches overall length. Perhaps this case squeezes under diagonally.
Is anyone still having problems carrying fiddles on?
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by TomB-R
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
I also saw that guy's amazingly compact fiddle case at the Gathering, it would certainly fit hand luggage regulations, but he had to carry his bow in a separate tube. What's needed now is for someone to invent a bow that folds in half, to fit in the smaller case!
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by cathycook
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
I don't think its needed and I fully agree with the way Fanning approaches it. Call your airline ahead of time and let them know the situation and get it cleared. This way you have a leg to stand on if they give you trouble. Essentially what it comes down to is letting them know that if they cannot accommodate your instrument as carry-on then you will not be flying with them. Trust me, they NEED your business more now than ever.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by jasten
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
There's a much cheaper option. I'd been waiting for months for it to come out, and I'm pleased with it now that I have it. The dimensions fit airline requirements, and it does have a bow tube.
https://sharmusic.org/itemdy00.asp?T1=560N&tab=includes
oh, and it's $59, not $400+. If you like.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by reenactor
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
Lazyhound, there is no purchase of any kind for any bow to firtinside of a BAM travel case. It's also far, far too short. Same with the case I mentioned above.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by reenactor
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
Your link doesn't work re-enactor. Try this:
http://sharmusic.org/itemdy00.asp?T1=560N&tab=includes
I'd be a bit wary about phoning airlines ahead. A lot of the time you get some jobsworth who simply quotes official policy about musical instruments, often based on orchestral or brass band instruments, or things like cellos and double-basses, and the person you're talking to will have no idea about fiddles. So you may get a negative or off-putting answer which is misleading.
I have never seen a fiddle or mandolin in a soft case rejected as hand luggage. I don't think I've seen one in a hard-case rejected either.
It is also British airport policy that musical instruments small enough to fit in the overhead locker are allowable in addition to the standard hand luggage allowance.
I'm not sure if a combative approach will necessarily pay dividends at airports like Aberdeen. For example - Ryanair is the only way we have to get to Dublin direct so threatening to pay an extra £400 to take seven hours longer to go via London on BA is hardly going to have them quaking in their boots. Similarly with flights to Orkney and Shetland - the alternative is the ferry.
Having said that, as you could imagine, every flight between Aberdeen and Dublin seems to have its quota of fiddlers, guitarists etc and I've yet to see one have their instrument rejected as hand-carry.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by Bren
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
I've never had problems taking my fiddle on as hand luggage. It's far smaller than those wheeled suitcases that a lot of people are taking on as hand luggage - some of them are bigger than the case I've put in the hold!! I had a really difficult BA flight last week as they allow two bits of hand luggage and a lot of people had a suitcase and another bag and they ran out of overhead space so in the end they had to allow stuff to go under seats
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by Tarrantella
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
You can save yourself $436 if you stuff the fiddle into a duffel bag and shove it down the front of your trousers.If anybody questions you re bulge say you're a descendent of Errol Flynn. I wish I had that kind of money to spend on A FIDDLE never mind a case !
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by Red Robin
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
May be relevant, but some time ago (a year?) there was a discussion here about a specially designed travelling fiddle and bow (of interest perhaps to a touring cyclist). The instrument, as I remember, is the minimum length consistent with playability, and about half the width of a standard instrument (so the tone wouldn't be all that big). Crucially, the bow is designed so that it can be folded in half, and could therefore be carried in a BAM case, or other case of similar small dimensions. Such a bow could be of interest on its own.
BTW, I keep my spare bows in an old snooker cue case (relic of a mis-spent youth, etc), which is exactly the right length for a fiddle bow. Such cases are probably easily obtainable from sports retailers, and are likely to be a lot cheaper than the bespoke bow cases sold in some music stores.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
Flew quite a bit with my fiddle, always as carry on, never, ever had problems. More than that, security/customs never ever questioned about it. And that holds for America, Europe, Australia, and Africa.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by Dr.Carabus
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
I would never consider checking my fiddle.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by Dr.Carabus
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
I've flown for years and years---never a question about me checking my fiddle---I just make sure I get on board early enough to stow it---it always fit's in the overhead---and I have a rectangular case too.
# Posted on February 27th 2009 by fiddlefamily
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
I would never ever check an instrument in. A band I play in went to the US a few months ago, and we could take our fiddles/flutes as hand luggage no problem but the airline (Continental) made us check the accordions and they were smashed to bits... (Some may see that as a blessing however
)
# Posted on February 27th 2009 by snowyowl
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
Someone I know got brief queries as their fiddle case went through the x-ray but no probs. Got to their destination - the fiddle had been left at home!
Having flown several times with a friend who plays concertina, that gets looked at every time! Must look quite spectacular on the x-ray!
# Posted on February 27th 2009 by TomB-R
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
My box gets bomb tested regularly.....I suppose one crowd might respond to that with the saying 'Hope SPrings Eternal!"
Personally, I find it amusing.
This case would make the Chicago Mob jealous
# Posted on February 27th 2009 by zippydw
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
Anyone tried to take a fiddle on Virgin Atlantic to Florida.
# Posted on February 28th 2009 by N.P.
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
a bit stupid to have a fiddle case with no room for a bow. what do you do when you reach your destination? run about with the bow under your arm?
# Posted on March 2nd 2009 by munya beor
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
Keith 'Calton' allowed for the bow(s) in his original instrument case designs
# Posted on March 2nd 2009 by lisaniska
Re: The perfect flight case for the fiddle
I was on a Southwest flight from Cleveland to Chicago last Thursday night....Weather was sooo terrible that United cancelled all of its Cleveland to Chicago flights......and put the passengers on Southwest! I suppose great for Southwest.
Anyway, there was a fellow with a very nice guitar case that he carried on. because of the huge passenger load, the Southwest folks wanted to check it.
I told my seat partner that I would get off the plane and sleep over in Cleveland before I did that.
# Posted on March 2nd 2009 by zippydw