"Flying Is Major Pain for Musicians"

[Rooster_Ties]

Flying Is Major Pain for Musicians

Screenings, Limits on Bags Pose Some Risks

For Instruments; That Cello Needs a Ticket

By RAYMUND FLANDEZ

Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Chris Speed has traveled the world with his saxophone, but on a recent trip from New York to London, Virgin Atlantic Airways told the jazz musician that his instrument couldn't be carried aboard because it weighed more than 13 pounds.

Tense protests yielded a compromise -- the tenor sax could fly in the cabin, but the large black carrying case had to ride in the cargo hold. Mr. Speed swaddled his baby in blankets and pillows, tied his belt around it and stashed it in an overhead bin.

"It was such a hassle," Mr. Speed recalls, angrily. "And so ridiculous."

Tighter baggage and security rules have left travelers world-wide whining, but it's been a particular sad song for musicians who travel with the tools of their work. Despite repeated protests, lobbying and even a specific federal rule change, musicians are still struggling to find ways to travel safely and calmly with delicate instruments, often worth tens of thousands of dollars.

One big problem: Inconsistency between airlines and even security checkpoints over what can go on board, and what is banned. Alaska Air Group Inc.'s Alaska Airlines will take an instrument whose length, depth and height add up to 50 linear inches or less; the cutoff at AMR Corp.'s American Airlines is 45 linear inches. Some airport-security screeners will let large instruments through; some won't. Some musicians are asked to take them out and play a note or two to prove that nothing is hidden in the body of the instrument.

Musicians who play large instruments often have to buy extra seats for them, even though the Transportation Security Administration in December allowed musicians an exemption so they can carry one extra item beyond the standard small bag and a "personal item."

But even buying a seat doesn't always work. Although the TSA's edict governed how instruments should be processed by screeners, it didn't necessarily guarantee that the instruments could get on board the plane. Each airline has its own set of size measurements, weight limits, charges on extra carry-ons and other restrictions. Big instruments, for instance, such as a bass viola or cello, either have to be checked as cargo or have a seat of their own. Some airlines offer a discount for those tickets; some do not.

American says bass fiddles are accepted only on certain aircraft. Alaska says instruments can exceed the size dimensions required for carry-on provided that it can fit the overhead bins, and that varies from aircraft to aircraft.

"Our members lose jobs every week because some airline won't take their instruments to their jobs," says Hal Ponder, Washington lobbyist for the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, a trade union.

The musician's union, with 100,000 members, has received and heard more than 100 complaints on this issue this year, Mr. Ponder said. The group wants a standardized policy on musical instruments as carry-on for all airlines to follow.

Shipping instruments by overnight mail means losing rehearsal time and, more frighteningly, puts the instrument at risk of theft or damage, musicians say. Instruments are not only expensive, they can be irreplaceable, literally and emotionally.

Checking instruments as airline baggage is also fraught with danger, of course. Amy Brodo of Oakland, Calif., allowed her baroque cello, worth $25,000, to fly as checked baggage on United Airlines early last year. Her plane arrived safely, but her instrument took a detour, forcing her to cancel a concert for a day until the cello arrived, intact but with several puncture holes and cracks in its carrying case.

When Air Canada told Larry Ochs, a saxophonist from Berkeley, Calif., that his two instrument cases would have to be checked, he stopped in a bathroom on the way to U.S. customs and ripped off the baggage tags. He nervously stuck the tags in his pocket and got on board, toting the instruments.

Now, every time he flies he carries the letter that the TSA sent to the musicians' union about the rule change.

Even then, the security process can leave musicians strung out. The musicians' union is actually working with TSA officials on guidelines for safely X-raying and inspecting delicate instruments because of past problems.

"Our concern is that if we give them a trumpet, we don't want them opening up the cases and examining the trumpet or the $300,000 violin or the $700,000 cello," said Thomas F. Lee, AFM president. "We're extremely concerned that they'll break it."

Mr. Speed's flight back to New York went smoothly; this time, his case and his instrument were reunited and stowed safely overhead without him having to pay for the extra weight.

A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman said that because of limited space in the cabin and for safety reasons, passengers on international flights who have more than one carry-on or baggage that exceeds the weight and size limits should check it to cargo. The spokeswoman believes Mr. Speed was given an exemption.

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Just in Case

Most airlines allow instruments on board if they are under the size requirement (normally 45 linear inches) of regular carry-ons. Musicians get one extra free carry-on for their instrument, but there are usually a lot of stipulations. A sampling of policies:

American

• If instrument is too large, an additional seat may be purchased. In this case, an instrument must travel in a window, bulkhead seat.

• Bass fiddles are not accepted in the coach cabin and are only accepted on certain

aircraft types.

• Instruments may be transported as checked baggage, but airline does not accept liability "for damages and has limited liability

for loss.

Northwest

• Passengers must sign a limited liability release for checked instruments.

• If instrument weighs up to 50 lbs, it can go on board for free; but if it's between 50 lbs. to 70 lbs., the cost is $25. Beyond that, up to 100 lbs., the charge is $50.

• The airline is not liable for any instrument in a domestic flight.

• On an international flight, airline is liable for a maximum of $640.

• Bass violas and cellos will only be accepted as cabin seat baggage, meaning passengers have to purchase a seat for these types of instruments.

Delta

• For domestic flights, the airline is liable for checked baggage up to $2,500.

• For international flights, it's liable for $9.07 per pound for up to $640 per bag.

• An instrument can be carried on board as long as it fits in the overhead bin or under the seat.

• Instruments such as violins will be accepted as your one free carry-on baggage. However, the instrument must be within the limitations of Delta's baggage allowance.

United

• If instrument is too large for a carry-on, passenger can purchase another seat for the instrument at regular price. But instrument must not protrude above the seat back or weigh more than 165 lbs.

• Bonus: Musicians can get credit miles for the traveling instrument.

• Musicians are advised to add 30 minutes to recommended check-in time.

• Instruments can be checked if liability waiver is signed.

[Free For All]

Having just returned from a trip to the UK I can offer my input to this topic. I've flown w/my axe many times and have had NO problem (with one exception) carrying it on, but the with the current changes in checking and carry-on guidelines (a result of the troubled airlines wringing more money out of our pockets) these already confused policies have decended even further into total chaos.

The main problem to me lies with the enforcement of these policies- I called three times before my trip and got three different interpretations of airline policy. Add to that the chance that the person you check in with is similarly uninformed, and also that you are at the mercy of the person at the gate and you have the fixin's for a lovely trip.

I have recently stopped trying to carry on my horn- it does fit into just about any overhead, but lately it seems that I'm flying more frequently on those small commuter "puddle jumpers" that often have NO overhead storage. You can "gate check" your instrument which circumvents the trip through the baggage transport system, but you still have the possibility of damage from the instrument bouncing around in the hold.

I recently purchased an SKB hard plastic case made to transport golf clubs- my gig bag fits nicely inside and it seems to offer decent protection. Often people assume that I am carrying golf clubs and ask what my handicap is, to which I respond "Giant Steps" and receive a blank stare. Of course, once you check your instrument there is a reasonable chance you will never see it again. Once in my more naive years I was talked into checking my horn in the soft case ("Oh, don't worry, we'll take SPECIAL care of it!") Needless to say not only did they lose it for several days, when it did arrive it was demolished in prime Looney Tunes fashion. And of course I had to sign a waiver that released the airline from any responsibility. Yeah, I learned my lesson.

The latest restrictions apply to weight AND dimensions, but I did find out that there were exceptions for musical instruments. When I checked in for this latest trip I had to insist that the agent look up this info- they really seem to hate to do that. He found what I was waiting for and PRINTED OUT A HARD COPY for me, which turned out to be gold- I used it several times, and it saved many hassles. I have also found it does no good to "go off" on the agent when facing travel problems- they are but a pawn of the company, and most often respond better to a cooperative vibe than rage. Sometimes, however, a controlled "tantrum" at the gate works wonders. They usually don't want to spend time dealing with you and will let you by. That's a little riskier these days, though , with all the current paranoia.

At least I didn't have to fly back through NY or any of the affected blackout cities- I know some of my bandmates from NYC got TOTALLY screwed.

[Joe G]

I've been trying to purchase a flight case for my guitar, with no luck at all. It would have to be a custom job, and at this point there's not enough time to get that done from what I've been told (we fly out on the 20th). Not sure what to do.

[Rooster_Ties]

I've been trying to purchase a flight case for my guitar, with no luck at all. It would have to be a custom job, and at this point there's not enough time to get that done from what I've been told (we fly out on the 20th). Not sure what to do.

I'd start by pinning this topic, and/or starting a new topic (and pinning it too).

This is a big-ass deal, and my guess is you've got about 5-days to solve this problem -- if the solution turns out to involve buying a case that has to be sent/shipped to you.

I'm sure there's a solution out there, but getting the right eye-balls seeing your problem is half the problem/solution right there.

Anything special about your axe that the solution-provider should know about?? Will just any "guitar flight case" do?? Have you been able to find anything even close to what you need?? And if so, what was it, and why wouldn't it work??

IMHO, this needs to be an all-hands-on-deck kinda thing, until you get what you need, since time is rather limited

Edited February 1, 2007 by Rooster_Ties

[Joe G]

I've been talking with a guy at Sweetwater, and he's checked with every provider they know. Apparently there are no true flight cases (talking about a rectangular case with the metal edges) for even a 335 style guitar (similar to Scofield's), and mine is slightly different than that. So a custom job would entail them getting the precise measurements of my axe, then cutting out a molding to fit. Again, talking about $300 and 3 weeks. Jim suggested a case that was big enough to fit both my guitar and my current hardshell case into, which would be like a modified keyboard case. It would also be pretty big, and might also take more time than I have.

[Chuck Nessa]

Sounds like you need a coffin. Less likely to be inspected too.

[Joe G]

Yeah!

[Uncle Skid]

Big Al might be able to loan you one of his:

[Jim Alfredson]

For additional information about our cases contact us at

nycase@optonline.net

OR Call Toll Free 877- 692- 2738

Call and ask for Frank. They are the ones that made my cases for the XK System. If they can't do a custom job in the time-frame allowed (ie, a case that fits the guitar perfectly) then I think my idea of making a flight case that fits the entire regular case of the guitar is the way to go.

Or email Sco and see if he has an extra!

[Joe G]

I'll look into that tomorrow. I'm also checking into another possibility.

[Joe G]

That KISS coffin is the shit!

[Rooster_Ties]

Or email Sco and see if he has an extra!

Crazy idea, sure, but you never know.

[Joe G]

Yeah, aahh, no.

[Joe G]

Just placed the order. $308 - yeesh! It will be here in time, though I'll have to cut it out myself.

For additional information about our cases contact us at

nycase@optonline.net

OR Call Toll Free 877- 692- 2738

Call and ask for Frank. They are the ones that made my cases for the XK System. If they can't do a custom job in the time-frame allowed (ie, a case that fits the guitar perfectly) then I think my idea of making a flight case that fits the entire regular case of the guitar is the way to go.

Or email Sco and see if he has an extra!

[GregN]

I once took a strat on a plane. Took the neck off and put the body and neck in the overhead. Fit perfectly.

You would look sexy with a strat Joe!

Yeah, I know....

I am not being helpful at all here.

Greg

p.s. Could I borrow your case this fall?