Tis the season to travel too much. In the next month I will be on six planes, a United round trip with connections, and a Delta round trip. I’d like to take my bodhran (padded case probably about 17x17x6 inches or so) and low whistle (case, mailing tube, about 3 inches diameter and 2 feet long) and would obviously want to carry them on.
I emailed Delta and United about it. Delta, once I translated it out of Customer Service, replied with “These are what our rules say, we can’t promise you can take them on, feel free to gamble.” United, the larger concern, hasn’t responded yet.
Has anyone flown with these instruments and been able to carry them on? Care to share your story?
I don’t know about the bodhran…if it fits under the seat or in an overhead compartment, it should be fine, but with paranoia still running high these days, who knows? I’m willing to bet, however, that they won’t let the low whistle ride in the cabin. A piece of pipe that long just looks too much like a weapon. Heck, you’re not even allowed knitting needles anymore…I can just see them freaking over a low whistle.
Certainly. But if you head some sobbing from the Rochester area you’ll know they took my bodhran. Once my case arrives I will go to the airport and ask directly.
I have found this in my searches, but it’s a year old:
From the looks of things, I can cite Delta’s own policy back to them, namely “Instruments such as violins will be accepted as carry-on baggage if within the limitations of Delta’s three-free baggage allowance.” But United may be a problem.
In theory, United has the rule of either 22"x14"x9" or 45" total linear inches. Reality is that if the flight attendants or gate attendants think it’s too big, they’ll try to get you to check it.
Also, at some airports that are United hubs, such as SFO, they have a cutout on the xray machine that’s 14"x9" and if what you have doesn’t fit in the hole, you can’t take it to the gate.
If you check in at the ticket counter and ask for hand escort with it past security, you might get by.
Are we having fun yet?
Keep in mind that I have been a 50k mile per year with United for 8 years straight and they’ll claim they’re nicer to me than Joe Average customer…
What I’ve been doing with a guitar lately is putting it in a shipping box as if I were sending it UPS and check the shipping box. The only trick here is that they’ll ask you if there’s anything delicate or breakable in the box (or what’s in the box). My stock answer is there’s nothing in the box dangerous or breakable if they handle it as well as UPS. I tell them it’s “work supplies”. If you admit it’s a musical instrument, they will instantly demand you sign a complete waiver to any damage claim and refuse to check it if you don’t. If you use my stock phrase, you should be able to check it without having to sign the waiver.
It’s a pain, because I have to deal with a shipping box and I have to check bags, which is 40 minutes extra most airports, but it beats not having my guitar.
Beth,
If you have to fly with instruments, Continental is the best airline in my experience. Every February I fly from New Jersey to Florida with a Martin 000-18 in a hardshell case, a wooden flute and a bunch of metal whistles. Each and every time I walk on the plane and throw the guitar case in the overhead. The whistles and flute are in my backpack. I’ve never had a problem.
On the other hand, this past April while flying to St. Louis on American they gave me some stick about my guitar (I even had it in a gig bag that time so it would take up less room). Needless to say the guitar didn’t make it onto the plane. I’ve flown Air Canada to the Maritimes and Toronto and they were NOT helpful. I ended up with a smashed bouzouki case one time(miraculously, the bouzouki survived). Aer Lingus acted as if I was carrying dirty laundry rather than a vintage instrument. I just came back from Ireland a couple of weeks ago and I flew Continental. Again no hassles. Anywhere I go I’ll check to see if Continental flies there first even if I’m not bringing a guitar. I appreciate their understanding my rampant paranoia.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Paul. Unfortunately I bought my tickets before I even thought of getting a bodhran, and apparently chose the worst airline for dealing with instruments. I’ll know for next time though.
I’ve had both bodhrans and my Overton low D on board British Airways between Dallas/Fort Worth and London several times since 9-11 and nary an eyebrow raised. Heard a few bodhran-player jokes at Gatwick, though.
Your bodhran in it’s case may be acceptable as your carry on bag, mine is (in fact I pack clothes etc inside the bodhran. People are allowed brief cases, back packs etc.
If you get a chance to go to the airport before your trip, they usually (at least here in Canada) have a sort of metal frame that you can put your carry on bag in (usually next to the ticket desk). If it fits inside the frame, you can take it as carry on, if not, you have to check it as luggage.
Also some department stores where they sell luggage will have the same kind of frame so you can see if your bags/suitcases are an acceptable size for carryon. Good luck.
Beth, I don´t know anything about the Bodhran and the US, but I have flewn all over Europe with my Low Whistles and never had any problems to take them in the cabin. They fitted completely in my bag though. I also asked the guys at the x-ray machines if they could see alloy on them and they answered sure, so they must have been aware of them. (So much for security on planes, you could easily hide a knive in a LowD, could´nt you ?)
Enjoy your holidays, Dagmar
On 2002-12-06 22:31, Paul Anderson wrote:
I’ve flown Air Canada to the Maritimes and Toronto and they were NOT helpful. I ended up with a smashed bouzouki case one time(miraculously, the bouzouki survived).
When I was 15, I flew in from the Philippines on Northwest, and made the terrible mistake of checking my instruments in, rather than taking them as carry-ons. I arrived in America with a broken mandolin and a broken tenor banjo. After that I always travelled with my instruments as carry on luggage, and was faced with questions about tennis-playing from other passengers. It seems people can’t tell a mandolin case from a tennis racket case.
I had a few problems but that was with a concert flute right after 9/11- they didn’t want me to carry it on. However this christmas I will be travelling with a low D and a regular whistle- I find a few things are helpful…
Offer to open the case and show it to the screeners once it has been x-rayed, and even offer to play it if they don’t believe you. Be really nice, smile even if they yell or search you, patience, patience… I have learned this because I am dark, I always get searched- and just being as sweet as you can about things usually will get you through.
Also if you can- take the low whistle in a soft case- the plastic pipe case may arouse suspicion- the bodhran should be fine in its case…If you can get the low whistle into a backpack, they’ll hardly pay any attention to it- just don’t carry it seperatly. That draws attention.
Just be aware that this is the season when people fly with tons of stuff- so the screeners get cranky at people who carry on tons of stuff- You get one carryon and one personal item- the bodhran should be able to be counted as your “personal item”.
And finally if all else fails and they won’t let you through with it at the screening area just check the instruments into baggage because if they confiscate it you won’t be getting it back…
Hi Angela, thanks for the advice. I won’t have any other baggage at all other than the whistle and bodhran case, not even checked stuff, and a board member is sending me a case she made to use for the whistle. It is PVC lined but is covered in fabric and has a carrying handle, and looks much more 'professional" than anything else I’ve got.
So I am crossing my fingers, practicing to demo at the security station, and plan to be very nice and patient to all!
The only thing I’m debating in my mind is whether to suggest a hard-sided or a soft-sided case. I have travelled pretty extensively with highland pipes on planes, and the ONLY time I ever had trouble was in Heathrow (which ended in detention, which is a long LONG story). I would completely disassemble the pipes and put them in a small canvas briefcase. It worked well and was compact.
When I’ve traveled with flutes (I haven’t taken my whistles anywhere yet, I just realized!), I’ve always put them in roll-up cases (TuffBags or Cavallaro) that would fit into my carryon. That way, I can put T-shirts or sweatshirts or something around them and be relatively sure they’re well-protected.
A little more advice. I can’t imagine the bodhran being a security threat, but it might be too big. Measure the dimensions (with the case) and ask the airline beforehand. Once you hit security, be willing and even eager to open it for them and let them have a look around. They’re just doing a tough job, and they (usually)appreciate a little help as much as anybody.
I use a cymbal case for my Halpin–it fits perfectly and it’s very well padded bordering on indestructable. I would certainly pack the inside of it with clothing. The most fragile part is the head, and padding it from behind will make it much less succeptable to damage if worst comes to worst.
