I bet this has been discussed, but my searches of the archives have been useless, so forgive me if this is a repeat of a topic visited before…
My wife and I are travelling to Ireland with UPs and fiddle. They do not meet the dimensions for carry on and we’re really not at all happy about checking the instruments.
Maybe we should stow our instruments into little backpacks for carry-on and pack our luggage in our instrument cases? 
I’d be grateful for any advice.
Dave Jones
I’ve had both good and bad experiences when flying. For me going to Ireland was much easier than travel from US to Canada.
This has been discussed before but from my experience, be sure to find and bring a copy with you of the airlines policy around travel with instruments. I have had airline staff make up crap on the spot and say it’s “policy” when they clearly were unaware of the actual airline policy. Have the print out with you!!!
Pipes can be broken down to fit in prescibed size luggage. Perhaps someone else can share how to travel with a fiddle.
Also, be sure to register you instruments with Customs before leaving so that you won’t have any problem bringing them back into the country.
Good Luck.
Paul
You will be able to carry one and one - one backpack and one instrument case each. I tried to carry three once - Froment pipecase, over-the-shoulder backpack-size case, and a camcorder-size camera bag and was rejected - camera went with me and camera bag into suitcase.
For peace of mind, you might consider ‘breaking down’ the pipes into a smaller, backpack-like bag and ship a pipe case as luggage (make sure it is sturdy).
DO NOT SHIP YOUR INSTRUMENTS VIA BAGGAGE - THAT IS A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR INSTRUMENTS - HANDLING IS ROUGH; UNHEATED CARGO HOLD WITH BLASTER HEATERS TO ‘REGULATE’ FREEZING TEMPERATURES; NEW ‘SECURITY’ POLICY TO HAVE ALL LUGGAGE UNLOCKED. DO NOT LET THE INSTRUMENTS OUT OF YOUR HANDS.
Even in the States, Jim’s advice is sound; I tried to travel with fiddle (1), pipes(2) and my normal briefcase (3) with computer, ipod, book, etc. Fortunately, triage happened and I gave my wife my fiddle to take home. Better be safe than sorry.
On the other hand, Nashville, TN seems to have the most travelers with dreadnought sized guitar cases that works as carryon. As well as crushed straw cowboy hats. If I ever see one of those again…
I’ve done the transatlantic trip a couple times with the pipes. I’ve also been across the US a couple times with the pipes. Never had any problems.
knocks on wood
Yeah, i’ve been transatlantic with pipes and fiddles before, both in their proper cases - not much problems. they might try and tell u the size is too large, etc., so just get really charming and tell them how much the stuff is worth, and it’s been handed down for 9 generations, and your great great grandfather lost an arm protecting the pipes on the voyage to Staten Island.
i once got a full sized harp onto the cabin of a boeing 737 airline - hilarious. i nearly took everyones head off taking it to the back of the plane to stow in the galley.
Dave – I have had great success using my soft-sided tenor sax gig bag to take my pipes on airplanes. It has both handles and a shoulder strap. It holds a half set with the bass drone slide removed, it fits in the overhead compartment of most large planes without any trouble, and it very obviously cannot be put into the baggage hold. I just wrap the pipes in some bubble wrap when I pack them in, and they have been protected. I have never yet had a problem. It’s light as a feather, another plus. Usually they will let me on with an instrument and one other small bag – a backpack or totebag.
KAD
I travelled with a guitar Boston/Shannon and back in June 2004 on Aer Lingus and no one said boo to me. It fit in the overhead compartment of the Airbus. In general, I’ve found airport and airline staff to be friendly towards musicians and instruments, with the exception of the customs officers in Shannon who almost always call me aside and grill me on where I live, where I bought the instruments, how much they’re worth, do I have proof of purchase, etc. B@$*&%@$!!!
Here is some information
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1235.xml
Thanks for the info, all. Never travelled with instruments before, so this is new to us. Sound like with some preparation, it shouldn’t be a hassle.
Next challenge will be driving on the left… on trips in younger days, we always backpacked and did the public transportation thing… Going to rent a vehicle this time… 
again thanks-
Dave Jones
You should call the airline for the case dimension requirements. There all have different carryon requirements. Usually it is in the form of maximum inches (i.e. length + width+ height = 53 inches or less). I flew Continental last year to Ireland, and bought a case that matched the requirements. I was able to get two sets (D and C) in the case, and packed the two bellows in my clothes Luggage (actually I think that I carried one on in a back pack in case they wanted me to play the at security to prove that they weren’t LETHAL weapons). It also helps if you can travel business or first class. My case was clearly marked “Winchester”, and still no one bothered me, but some other passengers wispered nervously. I completly agree with JIM’s advice about not checking an instrument, and when someone asked me as I was getting on the plane, “would you like to check that case sir?” I said that if it doesn’t get on with me, I am not getting on the plane. I had no problems at all and security barely inspected the sets.
The bigger the plane, the better. It is the feeder planes to the main hubs(and smaller jets, in general) where one will have the biggest challenge. Being in Chicago, Aer Lingus with its nonstop has been fabulous. On my last flight last year, sure enough, I got a Chicago native at the desk who had not seen Irish pipes before. Good news is that he wanted to have a look at them and there were no problems after that.