I use a Pelican Case model 1510. It is carry-on size, has wheels and a pull handle, is crush proof, waterproof, guaranteed for life, and fits my full Childress set (with everything apart) incl bellows. I even have room for a change of clothes in case my checked bag is lost. I had no trouble carrying this on last May when I flew from Denver-Shannon. I think I would be comfortable checking this if I was forced to since I pack/wrap all the parts and reeds safely. This is where I bought mine, they had the best price at the time: http://www.opticsplanet.net/pelican-1510-carry-on-protector-case.html . I got the Lid Organizer too so I have pockets to put my altoids boxes, tuner, dental floss, elec tape etc.
I pack my empty soft shotgun bag in my checked bag (large duffle bag with my other clothes). When I get there, I reassemble and use the soft case to carry the pipes around in.
I may not travel the most frequently of any piper, but I suspect I travel the furthest, at least once a year, from Dunedin NZ to UK or Ireland. Basically, that’s half the hemisphere.
I would make two points:
Travel with a carry-on case WITHIN hand luggage regulations, whatever it takes to break your pipes down into that size by disassembling. Save yourself the anxiety that comes with “will they, won’t they accept my oversize pipe case as carry-on?”. 9/10 or 19/20 you’ll get away with it. Spare yourself the grief of that one time that a check-in clerk is inflexible, don’t assume that everyone thinks pipes are as rare and special as you do, and remember that things work differently in different countries.
Have you bought a new set of pipes or a chanter recently? They/it probably came to you from a reliable pipe-maker via DHL (shudder) or similar courier, on a plane in a cargo hold. Almost all cargo holds are pressurized and retain a reasonable temperature. In the past, and perhaps foolishly, I sent pipes in the hold (a set not as precious as my present one), where they spent up to 30 hours. I never had problems with reeds or wood. The main problem was holdups (no pun intended) because on arrival the case was assumed to contain a firearm because of its dimensions.
A couple of afterthoughts:
Best tactic with most airlines is to be up front, and honest. Air NZ, bless them, once let me take TWO oversize roadcases on as hand luggage when I told them that they contained valuable pipes. I don’t expect I’d get away with that too often.
I once saw a discussion about what is the best thing to put a tin whistle into for flying. Wish our situation was that simple!!
I may not travel the most frequently of any piper, but I suspect I travel the furthest, at least once a year, from Dunedin NZ to UK or Ireland. Basically, that’s half the hemisphere.
… make that a whole hemisphere! Or half a globe, or a long way …