TSA Airline/Musician policy:Important!

Uilleann Pipes
1

In case you have not heard this yet… it is for real:

Good news for musicians! The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) has negotiated with the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) to secure the right for any musicians to carry on their instruments on airline flights.

They recommend that you print a copy of the letter of agreement and carry it with you, being prepared to show it to security personnel should there be a problem. Below is a link to the AMF page. Go to that page, and click on “here” to download a copy of the agreement in Adobe Acrobat Format.

www.local1000.com/carryon.html

Carry on lads! Hah, get it I sa… oh hell, never mind

Timmy

2

Woooo-Hooooo!!!

That’s great news! No more difficulties with guards asking ‘wot the hell’s that?’ and all.

Now all I need’s a gig… (sigh)

Mrk

3

Just a minute there, you still might have to take it out and show them, this just allows you to carry it on as carry-on, it’ll still need to be screened and maybe inspected. Try getting my Daye BRass Penny Chanter through. I fly every week, they all know me now.

Tim

4

Thanks so much, Tim.

Best,
N

5

It also helps to call ahead, speak to a supervisor and get their name and prior approval (you can fax them a copy of this agreement if they get sticky on the point). That way when you talk to people who might not have much of a clue, you can say “so and so approved it and here is an additional copy of the agreement between the airlines and AFM.”

Dionys

6

I am fascinated by this. I know it says you can take an instrument as a carry-on, but surely there are size limits. I mean, you could not likely get away with an upright bass or piano. Does this agreement just mean that you can carry an instrument on board if it meets the regular carry-on baggage size limits or at least will fit in an overhead bin? I am not trying to be to doubting here, just interested in if there are more details known. Thanks!

7

Just a warning to people with a slow connection: the pdf file linked to on that page is huge, 1.5 megabytes. It took me a minute or two to download over my dsl connection…

-David

8

Liestman, I am under the impression that an upright bass would entail a 2nd ticket because of the space it would take: where could it go, but occupy another seat? An uilleann pipe case might be allowable; I know of one fellow who breaks down his D set enough to fit it in a viola case for the purpose. I would, as mentioned, call ahead. I might have to pay extra if I were slinging my cittern along because of the size, but I haven’t flown with it yet, and it may vary per airline. Best to call ahead, for sure.

I am puzzled by one thing: does one have to be a member of the American Federation of Musicians for this document to apply? On the 2nd point, there is the phrase “Should your membership experience problems…” --I would hate to make a mistake like that: “Well, here’s the document!” --“And your membership card, sir?” Anybody know, offhand?

9

The Union’s site says only “musicians” on the first page. I wouldn’t think the TSA would limit this to union musicians.

We’d send a coulpe of union thugs with practice sets to kneecap 'em. :laughing:

Timmy

10

Take what you hear from TSA with a grain of salt.

Remind yourself that it is nothing more than a large, federalized bureacracy, and that airports will differ, and so will individual screeners.

If the screener is having a bad, day, nothing you can say, or do, or produce (this “agreement”) is going to help get you on board. And the more you protest their “law”, the more attention you will attract to yourself - and that is something that you DO NOT want to do at airport security.

Don’t go looking for common sense where none has existed before.

11

Amen to that.

12

I guess the safest thing is having a case that fits the carry-on size requirement.

As i absolutely refuse to have my pipes in the cargo hold.., i am getting a case just like that… :slight_smile:

13

First off, Tim, I am a Union Organizer of over 25 years experience. I have met a few fellows that were “rough” in that time, but not anywhere near as many as I have met in other professions. I guess what I am saying is that I resent the “Union thug” characterization. It is yet another example of a generalization that is not founded in fact being passed off. To the rest of those here, please do not turn this into a topic of discussion. I have registered my complaint, let it die here. PM me if you feel the need to discuss this further.

I carried on a guitar for years. I would ask to board with first class (I was travelling coach) so I could get to the overhead bin first. I would then tuck it up and in the back of the bin on its edge. This left plenty of room for everyone elses bag. So a set of UP’s certainly should not be a problem.<br.

All the best,

Mick

14

Mick,

That’s a clever idea, and I may give it a try next time.

However, getting a gate attendant to have some sympathy is one thing - having a TSA agent at the security screening not turn a simple request into a one-man Spanish Inquisition is another.
If you don’t get past TSA, the request to board with the 1st class passengers will be moot.

PS: My sister works for TSA. Oh! The stories…

15

Big Mick,

My apologies, about the union thing, I mave e-mailed you, and hope this clears things. No offense, just a joke, but was offensive to you and I am sorry. You don’t ever want to piss a guy off named “BIG MICK” anyway. Nicknames like that are usually based in some sort of fact. :wink:

My bad. hope all is well.

Tim

16

Tim,

To there and not further. Thanks very much for the apology. Back to piping.

Mick

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I am probably one of many who tried in vain to follow that seven-year-old link to the Local1000 site. I was able to download the pdf of the 2003 letter about carrying instruments on board at this link today:

http://www.local1000.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/.../TSALetter.pdf

Hoping it a) isn’t needed or b) proves useful if it is needed.

Jennifer

[ Moderator’s Note: Zombie thread. ]

18

Here is the link to the TSA page covering the official policy.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1235.shtm

And here is what’s on the link:

Transporting Musical Instruments

You may bring musical instruments as carry-on or as checked baggage. To help passengers who are traveling with instruments, we partnered with musical organizations around the country to understand the challenges of transporting musical instruments, and we recommend the following.

Check with your airline prior to your flight to ensure your instrument meets the size requirements for their aircraft.

Pack brass instruments in your checked baggage.

Bring your stringed instruments, within carrier size limitations, as carry-on items.

If you have an instrument in your checked baggage, include short written instructions, where a security officer will notice them, for handling and repacking your instrument. Make sure these instructions are very clear and understandable to someone with no musical background.

Carrying Instruments Through Screening Checkpoints

You may carry one (1) musical instrument in addition to 1 carry-on and 1 personal item through the screening checkpoint. This is a TSA Screening Policy. Airlines may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your airline before you arrive at the airport.

Security officers must x-ray or physically screen your instrument before it can be transported on an aircraft.

Security officers will handle musical instruments very carefully and will allow you to be as involved as possible in any physical screening.

If security officers cannot clear the instrument through the security checkpoint as a carry-on item, you should transport the instrument and checked baggage instead.

Instruments As Checked Baggage

You may bring musical instruments as checked baggage as long as they fit within the size and weight limitations of the airline you are taking.

We encourage you to stay with your instrument while security officers screen it to make sure it is repacked properly.

Owners should be present when an instrument is removed from its case for screening. For this reason, musicians are advised to add at least 30 minutes to the airline’s recommended arrival window when checking their instrument.

19

And here’s the link ( I hope) to the letter from TSA to the Musicians Union:

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:sthOKvhxFG4J:www.local802afm.org/about/TSALetter.pdf+tsa+music+instruments+carry+on+policy&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AHIEtbQrYZOvus5IrYs-BmcF1t2jD5VGbg


Note the key paragraph that says the TSA has no problem but their position cannot override an Airline’s policy.

20

Should put a “sticky” on this so it is easy to find later.

Neil