<p>Humorous thread. Anyone who travels frequently has horror stories where they and their luggage are in 2 different places. Bottom line, carry the critical stuff. If you're lucky enough to be flying business or first class, the "rules" tend to be overlooked abit so you can carry that extra carryon or they don't hassle you about those extra 10 lbs. As I write this, I'm over in Europe and decided since I'm not an octopus, I'd FedEx some important but easily replaced documents prior to even leaving. I called the hotel prior to leaving and verified that they got there so that was a few less things I had to carry.</p>
<p>So if you can't afford to lose it, don't check it. Unfortunately, that rule can't be applied to things like cellos, double basses and tubas. I'm just blessed that DD plays clarinet and all "her children" can ride with her in the plane...</p>
<p>Don't get me started on the topic of flying with a double bass, or the comments one gets when wheeling a 7'X3'X2' flight case weighing just under 100 pounds around an airport. Basically, anything in the eastern half of the US and Canada is within driving range in order to avoid that hassle. The people I feel for are the harpists who travel with their instruments.</p>
<p>Daughter has learned to live for a month at a stretch on the contents of a medium suitcase and a backpack (including concert wear), so that part of the gear is a non-issue.</p>
<p>I had my son read all the posts on this thread as he planned his graduation trip to Europe. The suggestions were great and very helpful and my son did not let his viola out of his sight/hands. Apparently all went well until he got to Customs in the Netherlands, where they questioned my son's motives of carrying his viola, accusing him of planning to sell the instrument in the Netherlands. Long story short - they insisted he demonstrate that he plays the instrument, so he played Chopin Nocturne in c# minor (theme music from the movie the Pianist), and they believed him and let him proceed. He certainly did not anticipate that anything like that might happen.</p>
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<p>they insisted he demonstrate that he plays the instrument, so he played Chopin Nocturne in c# minor (theme music from the movie the Pianist), and they believed him and let him proceed. >></p>
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<p>Oh my goodness...this made me laugh out loud. DS carries a triple trumpet case (Wiseman, very compact and meets carry on standards...but also durable so if they INSISTED it be checked it could be). He and I were flying together once and the security folks took all three trumpets out of the case and questioned DS about each one, why he had three, what they were used for, etc. He was THRILLED to share this information, but I suspect those behind us in the line were NOT so thrilled at the backup!!</p>
<p>violamandad- I know your son was looking into playing opportunities/masterclasses while he was in Europe. I was curious as to whether he found anything (besides the gig for Dutch customs).</p>
<p>Violadad,
He did not find anything specific, other than addresses of music conservatories in Utrecht, Amsterdam, Florence, and Rome. He e-mailed several places and the common reply was that there was nothing particular happening during his European adventure dates, but that he was welcome to drop in and visit their school and perhaps connect with a violist if there was one around. My son was somewhat resistant to planning anything in stone, since he wanted this trip to be somewhat loose and relaxed. But he did insist that he take his viola wherever he went and that he had practice goals for the trip - which made me happy.</p>
<p>I also know that he wanted the itinerary to be very different from last summer's conservatory visits for touring schools and having lessons as a prelude to college auditions. Since I planned last summer's trip to New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, we basically went from conservatory appointment to conservatory appointment, and itb was a "wild ride"</p>
<p>A word about traveling abroad with stringed instruments. When our youth orchestra traveled to eastern Europe a couple summers ago the tour company REQUIRED that we provide some sort of proof of ownership if possible. In addition to the original sales receipt we had to have a form with the maker and serial number. If you have a pretty valuable instrument, you should travel with a copy of the sales receipt. Imagine a customs agent worrying that you were trying to get an expensive instrument OUT of the country and refused to let it leave....</p>
<p>I think that is more for protection coming BACK to the US. Foreign countries don't care if you spend money in their country, but US Customs does care if you bring stuff you bought overseas back in.</p>
<p>This is a good idea for traveling with anything of value, especially if travels take you to a "country of origin." For example, clarinet players with Buffet clarinets traveling back from France could be accused of trying to import them since they are manufactured in France...</p>
<p>Actually, there used to be a US Customs form (I can't think of the form name or number) that you filled before you left the States that allowed you to record the item, model serial number, etc. It was then validated by US Customs prior to leaving and returned to you. This was then your "ticket back". I did this on numerous trips to Canada registering 3 or 4 cameras and a bag of lenses so as not to have to pay duty. It was your verification of ownership and purchase pre exit. Simple to do, we stopped at the border Customs office prior to driving accross. Took no more than 20 minutes max if you had all the info on a card beforehand.</p>
<p>Can you tell me more about your son's checking his cello? What kind of case does he have? Has it been ok? So far, we have purchased a seat for my son's cello. Only did it once, on Jet Blue, and there was no problem. (I've heard sometimes even with a purchased seat, airlines give you trouble. Jet Blue would not give the cello a frequent flyer number, though. We had to call the cello "extra Seat"</p>
<p>We have always checked his cello, although we haven't been happy about it. However, so far there have not been any problems. He has a Bam case with a Bam flight cover. It is pretty bulky. Sometimes we can get it hand loaded, but often it goes with the regular luggage. Once about every 10 flights or so he also gets dinged for a $75 oversize baggage charge. There seems to be no rhyme or reason why he only gets this occassionally. He found arguing did not help. He always travels with a credit card so he can pay the extra fee if necessary. He is looking forward to the day when he can afford to pay for a ticket for both him and the cello. However, there is not a discount airline that flies to our city. We do try to minimize transfers, however. I will pay more for a trip with only one transfer rather than paying less for one with 2 transfers. Cello did get "lost" once but was delivered to our home about 8 hours later. Fortunately, he didn't need it right away. I know he worries that it will be damaged or lost when he is going to need it right away. So far, so good. He did decide to drive to all of his auditions this year, however, because he didn't want to chance anything.</p>
<p>mommab- I spoke to my son briefly during the week and again this morning and without going into details he described the level of musicianship as "fantastic", and he's used to playing with top-notch musicians. </p>
<p>I'll post more specific details and his overall impressions for all those interested after he gets back in a week.</p>
<p>Thank goodness for these short term festivals, as his teaching gig in PA historically is smack dab in the middle of all the major 4 & 6 weeks festivals. He's been able to keep that job and still do a short term festival or chamber experience before and/or after the PA chamber program. He is reluctant to give that up as he will now be there four years as faculty, has full room and board, gets a nice pay raise every season and gets to play with NY/Philly pros.</p>
<p>They did it again. I just got back from picking my son up at the airport, and while he and instrument arrived, his luggage did not. Here we go again.</p>
<p>That's wild that it happened to him both directions! At least he (I hope) won't need to spend so much on toiletries. And hopefully his suitcase shows up soon.</p>
<p>Due to delays in Texas, his flight from Little Rock to St. Louis was delayed significantly. When he did make it to his next leg, he made it with seconds to spare. They were actually paging him before they closed the gate. So he made it on his flight out of O'Hare, and his luggage never got on the plane.</p>
<p>They delivered it at home today at about 5pm.</p>
<p>To add insult to injury, he had to check his viola as luggage when he was about to board the first flight from Little Rock . It made no difference that it was the exact same aircraft type that he flew on the trip in. The fact that it does fit in the overhead made no difference. The fact that he cited American's own musical instrument policy to the gate attendant made no difference. A completely arbitrary attitude on the part of the flight attendant.</p>
<p>He just finished a 2 page complaint letter to American, and is already holding a $150 flight voucher from the first luggage incident. </p>
<p>Oh brother. Well....DS got to Aspen and got there with all of his luggage thank goodness. If he loses it on the way home, he won't be happy, but at least he'll be here. If he has to check his trumpets and they lose those, he'll freak out. But that worrying doesn't have to take place until August 20.</p>
<p>Mine was arguing with the gate attendant, and when he said if the instrument was damaged, the airline would have to pay, the attendant took it as "a threat against the airline", and was ready to call the marshalls.</p>
<p>That's all I need... a professional musician on the "no-fly" list. "Want fries with that?"</p>
<p>Wait! Was his viola part of the missing baggage, too??? We would be having a melt-down! I'm glad it all showed up, but I don't blame him a bit for arguing, or for writing letters.</p>
<p>I know my S2 would argue, too. Easy going, but don't mess with his instrument. I suspect he would refuse to fly rather than check his instrument. (But his actually fits within the specified size limitations, which violas don't, so he might have more room to argue.)</p>
<p>Something to know -- if you fly internationally, your bags are insured for about $9 per pound under the Warsaw Convention. That's not very much. So no matter how much your instrument is worth, that's what you'll get. </p>
<p>Within the US, the airline liability is limited to $2500, which still wouldn't cover many instruments. However, if your flight within the US is part of an International trip, the International rules prevail.</p>