Advice re: taking DD violin as hand luggage on transatlantic flight.

[cingolimama]

Wonder if anyone has had experience of traveling with DC's violin. The airline websites and "customer care" lines are bloody useless in clarifying what's allowable and it seems a LOT is left to chance.

For example, the standard violin case (even the shaped lightweight case is about 80 cm in length) exceeds the maximum allowable of 56 x 45 x 25cm. But then it goes on to say "Where possible, we'll try and accommodate instruments of up to 190 x 75 x 65cm" given at least 24 hours notice. "Try" is hardly reassuring.

It's all a bit iffy, and is making me nervous. The violin can't, under any circumstances go in the hold (it would invalidate the insurance). I know there are special travel violin cases where you pack the bow separately, but they are really expensive (around £350) and we just can't afford that.

But musicians have to travel all the time - and I don't mean world famous, wealthy ones - just the normal, professional and serious amateur musicians, and none of them are putting their instruments in the hold. So what do they do? Hold their breath and hope every single time they fly? What do you do with your traveling musical DCs?

We're traveling BA from UK to US. Any advice/experience would be gratefully received.

We have travelled from Ireland to UK with 2 violins 3 times. It was with Aer Lingus each time. There were several other children with violins on same trips, none of us had any trouble.

We get to gate early and aim to be among the first to board. The girls wear the violins on their backs, we try not to bring any attention to the violins. The children with violins don't take any roll on luggage, just a small rucksack. We travel with a full size violin and a 3/4 violin.

A violin teacher we know recommends putting violin into rucksack and carrying onboard, IF challenged to put in hold. It has never come to that thankfully.

I think you should be OK with BA. I do believe some airlines in US can be pretty tricky with instruments. Best of luck!

Even though it is outside of the luggage dimensions, she should be OK as long as she doesn't have lots of other hand luggage. The rules are there primarily to stop people bringing effectively their entire holiday's worth of luggage in a couple of gigantic wheelie bags. I've never had to send a musical instrument into the hold, although I have had to bite my tongue when an entire orchestra get on with all their double basses and cellos and all demand an empty seat next to them for their instrument. Only so many seats on a plane!

yes def agree about getting on board first- worth getting priority boarding if its an option. DD's clarinet case is a double, so quite large, and we haven't had any problem with carrying it on but we do make sure no one puts anything on top of it - so make sure you arrange your hand luggage so that can't happen, otherwise someone will try to cram a carry on case on top of the instrument

The cello on the other hand....travels as Mr Cello with seat

Mom, I wonder if Aer Lingus is particularly generous about this, given the number of fiddlers going to and from Ireland - glad to hear you've never had a problem.

Yes, I was thinking priority boarding would be the way to go - I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra.

It's the uncertainty that bothers me and frankly, is making me uncharacteristically anxious. But perhaps I just have to accept that as part and parcel of traveling with a young musician.

Any more stories or experiences (good or bad) I'd be eager to hear.

Many instruments have to have booked seats ... which can cause amusement when booking online as they tend to require a name. I believe 'Prof Francois Horn' has travelled the world quite extensively, for example.....

I can see that a violin would fall into that awkward 'almost but not reliably hand baggage size' group of instruments.

I know the manager of a full time music ensemble who travel with enormously expensive instruments on a very regular basis, and it is one of their major headaches, and multiplies the cost of travel 2-fold or more.

"although I have had to bite my tongue when an entire orchestra get on with all their double basses and cellos and all demand an empty seat next to them for their instrument."

I think they have to pay for that seat.

Easyjet's policy makes it clear that seats booked for musical instruments must be paid for.

Looking at varied websites, it does appear that cellos are a very specific scenario, who usually have a policy all of their own!

Do you know what aircraft you're flying on OP? Most longhaul aircraft have big overhead lockers and wardrobes. As long as you can get it past check in you should be fine...... Have you tried phoning BA?

Oh, there's no priority boarding, unless you're an Exec club member or travelling in First or business class.

MrsOlly, yes I've tried calling BA - completely useless - they just repeated what was on their (remarkably vague) website.

BA has a musical instrument policy:

www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/baggage-essentials/sporting-goods-and-musical-instruments

Print it off and take it with you in the folder that holds your passport along with any documents that show you purchased the violin yourself.

Arrive at the airport THREE hours early (rather than two). There is generally a lane for people with buggies and small children... politely ask if your violin allows you to go through this lane as it may need to be handsearched. Do not be alarmed if they open the case and swab the instrument. Just be very polite and patient.

When you carry the violin to the plane, wear the darkest jacket possible and be sure that you have a small case (a BAM contoured case is good). Use the shoulder strap and carry the violin over your shoulder - low and behind you as you approach the gate. If you are lucky, they will not notice your fiddle and you will be waved on. If there's a problem, present them with a copy of the musical instrument policy. Be polite.

If they insist that the case must go in the hold, give them the case and tell them that you will hold the violin in your lap (this has been done before). You can always wrap it in your jacket or a blanket (provided on all transatlantic flights) & stick it under the seat for take-off. It could even go in the overhead if other travelers are helpful and allow you to place the (wrapped) fiddle on top of other bags.

do not carry any bags other than the violin. Put any items that you might need in your jacket pockets or in the violin case.

Carry a diagram showing how a violin (in its case) fits into an overhead with other carry on luggage. (the violin is at the back, the carry on bags will fit sideways.. .you will never need MORE than your allotted space) .. you can show the diagram to any arse-y people who think that they own the overhead bins space.

Be sure to get a seat in the BACK of the aircraft - or purchase priority boarding (Easy Jet). If you are in the back of the aircraft, you can board first and then grab the overhead space.

Lastly - a BAM contoured case does actually fit under the seat and you can put it there ... as long as you have a window seat that is not on an emergency exit (no under seat bags allowed)

Easy Jet, BA, KLM, Aer Lingus, IcelandAir have all been fine. RyanAir - never never never... Lufthansa is probably okay.... I don't know about the rest but nobody I know has ever had any problems in spite of all of the bad news stories posted on Slipped Disc and the Violin Channel.

good luck .. pm me if you need more info.

Thanks cycle, yes I've read and re-read the policy, but it's actually very vague, and all standard cases (including the BAM contoured) fall foul of their allowed hand baggage. They do say that they will "try" and accomodate, but then you're not sure if they'll take it onboard or not, and it makes for an anxious trip.

I explained this in my original post. BTW, do you mean the BAM contoured or the BAM cabin case? Either one is too expensive at the moment, as I've got to purchase a new full-size violin soon, and have to save for that.

I like the idea of a prepared diagram - excellent idea, especially for arsy fellow passengers.

Do you have to take it - could you hire a volin in the US?

Cingolimama - all good advice above; we ended up having to pay for a seat (luckily vv cheap) for the clarinets this weekend (most peoples hand luggage was going in the hold, so was the only option to guarantee they stayed with us). And yes we have hired cellos before - in fact that has worked really well. Good luck - it all feels a bit random really, and chances on you will be fine!

here's a case that might ease your worries -- www.caswells-strings.co.uk/product/compact-traveller-violin-case/

BA will never commit to anything re musical instruments (in personal written communications) - but really, if you are polite and non-assuming at the airport then things should be okay... as I said, the worst case scenario is that they force you to check the case - the violin ( by itself) does not exceed the carry-on measurements. You can remove the violin from the case, wrap it in a jumper and hold it on your lap (it goes under the seat in front for take-off).

Do you know what type of aircraft she will be on? the ones with 2 -3 - 2 seating are best for overhead space. I usually check this before booking. Also, older aircraft are also more spacious.

as I said, wear a coat that is the same colour as the case (black or dark gray) and violin goes over the shoulder (behind the back)- and will blend in. Say nothing .. just act calm and keep walking. Most airline people do NOT want to hassle with passengers because it just takes too much time.... You can practice this (and a whole array of possible scenarios!) at home before leaving. It will build confidence.

My DC flies all the time with her instrument (it does fit on the floor and the case is large) and has absolutely never had a problem - except for with one or two arse-y passengers.. like the moron who started pounding on her case when passengers were queuing to leave the aircraft (and THAT merited a call to the police who took it quite seriously).

Stringchild - WHAT airline makes you pay for a CLARINET? am just wondering!!!!

Cingolimama PM me if you have more questions ....

I've travelled to America with BA, VirginAtlantic and American airline and Delta with a violin (sometimes guitars too) and they've all been fine with taking it on as hand luggage - normally goes in the overhead lockers- although last time, some other (stupid) passenger nearly knocked it outside whilst they were trying to squeeze their bag in......I smiled politely!

I have seen people take musical instruments to the airplane and hand them over at the gate to go on board and then collect them from the plane on arrival - same as people do for pushchairs. Is this a possibility? It avoids all the chucking around and conveyor belts or usual hand luggage.

Also for customer service i find tweeting really useful, BA will have twitter manned 24/7

helpfulperson ... yes .. those instruments that are handed over are the ones that go in the hold. This can ruin a stringed instrument - never trust a baggage handler. The absolute best way to travel with an instrument is to maintain as low a profile as possible, know your rights and carry a tape measure (inches AND centimetres).

Helpful - eeks! It's not a pushchair. No string instrument can go in the hold. It will be destroyed and the insurance invalidated.

No, I can't hire an instrument for all kinds of reasons (difficult to hire for short period, quality of instrument available for hire usually poor, would require us going into major city and using up a day of our holiday, and then again on the way back - er, no can do)

Paul, could I ask specifically what kind of case you took on board? Was it a regular (shaped or rectangular) case, or a special 'cabin size" case, which excluded the bow?

Lucked, tweeting's a good idea, will try.

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts and suggestions.

We've done this three or four times over the last couple of years (the most recent being less than a week ago), and had no problems taking violins (one full-sized, one 3/4, and one 1/2) as hand luggage.

The airline even let us board with the 'families with young children' even though ours are older, specifically calling us out as 'the kids with the violins'.

We've found most people are pretty reasonable about not crushing children's musical instruments.

The kids carry their violins strapped to their backs, all very openly. We do not use travel cases, as they add mass and bulk.

• Reg

Just a normal violin case (3/4 size)
I wouldn't worry too much, they'll let you on with it- just try to get on early and store in the locker x

We flew with BA to the US and had no problems with DS's three-quarter guitar. The type of plane we flew going meant that we could put it in the overhead lockers. Coming back the lockers were a different shape but the crew just put it in one of their bigger lockers in first class and we collected it at the end. They were really nice and understanding. As you say, think they are used to having musicians with instruments that can't go in hold. Have a great trip!

You just need to board first, so that there is room in the cabin.
If it's full when you board there's nothing you can do.
My dh manages with a case of woodwind instruments and several larger saxophones.
Speaking to them prior to boarding is essential.
You should be all right with a 3/4 sized violin.