Recent experience travelling with instruments by air?
Maxine G
We're starting to think about our summer travel plans and have a lot of
trepidation about air travel with our instruments. In the past we've almost
always managed to carry on THREE banjos between the two of us. At worst,
we've had to gate-check one or more of them, to have them hand-carried back
up to the jetway at the end of the flight. I'm guessing that it won't be so
easy in the post-9/11 world. We're really hoping we'll be able to get them
beyond the security checkpoint and deal with them at the gate.
There was a story recently in the SF Chronicle about someone who was forced
to buy a full-price seat for her violin on Alaska Airlines. Yikes.
What have other peoples' recent experience with air travel been like?
Thanks,
Maxine & Brendan
--
mg at pcg dot net
tony goldenberg
breezed thru the SF airport. We had a very difficult time departing
SeaTac with United who was using Alaska's security system/checkpoint.
The problem was with Alaska Airlines. It appears that their people
were under a lot of pressure and became very worried for their own
asses. Hence they were not letting anything unusual thru. I have not
heard of any problems and received no significant feedback from my
posting about this problem in Jan. If you can fly nonstop from SF you
might be just fine. Love, tonyg
Jerry Hagins
several stops (one of them Alaska Air) -- got to carry on every time. I
was selected for search twice, once in Austin as I left and once in
Anchorage when I got off the plane to stretch my legs (ie, had no bags
with me). But I was surprised how easy the trip was though with additional
delays. BTW, the Alaksa Air folks apparently didn't let a disabled person
on the flight because she didn't have a photo ID (no driver's license
because she didn't drive).
Jerry
In article <Xns91CC638FBC0...@64.164.98.29>, Maxine G
Kerry and Sheila Blech
> We're starting to think about our summer travel plans and have a lot of
> trepidation about air travel with our instruments. In the past we've
almost
> always managed to carry on THREE banjos between the two of us. At worst,
> we've had to gate-check one or more of them, to have them hand-carried
back
> up to the jetway at the end of the flight. I'm guessing that it won't be
so
> easy in the post-9/11 world. We're really hoping we'll be able to get them
> beyond the security checkpoint and deal with them at the gate.
>
> There was a story recently in the SF Chronicle about someone who was
forced
> to buy a full-price seat for her violin on Alaska Airlines. Yikes.
As I recall, though, Alaska, when called on this, was mortified it
happened, said it was not their policy, made a refund and amends.
It varies, though. We discussed this very issue recently amongst
Seattle area old time musicians who've made the airtrip since September.
Several said it was easier to carry on one (reasonably-sized)
instrument (and one other small personal bag) than before, as the
checkpoints are looking for more serious stuff than musical
instruments. They're more serious about finding serious things, not
as nit-picky as what you put in the overhead. And there is more
room in the overheads, as people can no longer "cheat" with
extra stuff or huge carryons, especially if they have any kinds
of pointy metal objects or explosive-appearing items they
normally carry, they have to put them in checked luggage now.
I'll be flying with my fiddle in May, first time I'll fly with
instrument since September 9. So I am watching all this carefully,
too. But when I bring my fiddle, I'll check the rest of my luggage,
so it will be all I have with me.
Best regards,
kerry
Steve Goldfield
#>[posted and mailed]
#>
#>We're starting to think about our summer travel plans and have a lot of
#>trepidation about air travel with our instruments. In the past we've almost
#>always managed to carry on THREE banjos between the two of us. At worst,
#>we've had to gate-check one or more of them, to have them hand-carried back
#>up to the jetway at the end of the flight. I'm guessing that it won't be so
#>easy in the post-9/11 world. We're really hoping we'll be able to get them
#>beyond the security checkpoint and deal with them at the gate.
#>
#>There was a story recently in the SF Chronicle about someone who was forced
#>to buy a full-price seat for her violin on Alaska Airlines. Yikes.
#>
#>What have other peoples' recent experience with air travel been like?
#>
#>Thanks,
#>Maxine & Brendan
I have made two trips the last two weekends. First I flew to
Jacksonville on American. I checked my banjo, but I saw someone
carry a guitar case onto the plane. Last weekend I flew to Nashville
on Southwest for Breaking up Winter. I carried my double fiddle
case (a small one) onto the plane with no difficulties except that
they stopped me for a search even though I didn't set off the alarm
(You have to put everything, including your belt, in your carryon
bag to do that). I asked if I was being searched at random. He said,
no, he was just curious to see what I had in my case. He admired my
fiddles, and I went on. Leaving Nashville, where fiddles are probably
more common, I sailed on through.
But I'm still trying to figure out how to get my camping gear,
clothes, and a banjo to Clifftop without checking my banjo.
Steve
--
8<{)}-8<{(}-8<{)}-8<{(}-8<{)}-8<{(}-8<{)}-8<{(}-8<{)}-8<{(}-8<{)}
Steve Goldfield * Oakland, CA * stev...@earthlink.net
http:/home.earthlink.net/~stevesag/index.html
banjowine
I carried my Bacon banjo in a soft-sided gigbag on-board with no problem. I
was told by several people at United that any problems I may have would be
with the security inspectors, not with the airlines. I had no problem with
security.
United did comment that larger hard-side cases are a sometimes a real
problem. They also advised me to have
the banjo as my only carry-on, so I checked my briefcase, just in case.
Hal
d.d.t
> But I'm still trying to figure out how to get my camping gear,
> clothes, and a banjo to Clifftop without checking my banjo.
I like to mail my camping gear to a friendly person on the other side
of the country. Then I mail it back to myself when it's time to go.
Steve Goldfield
gar...@dandante.com (d.d.t) wrote:
I did that once. But it is expensive and relies on some timing
(getting to Clifftop on the same day or driving to that person's
house and being able to ship it back on a Sunday).