<p>The link is an article concerning how many airlines are going to become even more restrictive in enforcing carry-on size requirements. It appears the baggage police may soon be out in full force, making travel for musicians with legitimate carry-on instruments even more of a hassle.</p>
<p>For those that flew back from school in mid/late May, the high oil prices hadn't yet been reflected in ticket increases and the new first checked bag charge many carriers have implemented didn't exist.</p>
<p>We're going into the height of the summer camp/festival season, and it might prove helpful for those flying with instruments post issues as they arise.</p>
<p>Get your credit card out when you get to the airport. My son & his cello just left O'Hare to fly out to ARIA. Delta charged him $150 one way to check his cello in his behemoth flight cover. It was a few inches over the linear allowance. So total, his cello will cost $300 round trip to fly in the belly of the plane. A ticket would have cost $350. But of course, there were no more seats available. These new checked luggage fares just started recently so there was no way to have been ahead of the game back when I purchased the seat for my son.</p>
<p>D flies at the end of July with her violin. If anybody has any trouble with violins prior to that, let me know! Her case is definitely NOT checked-bag worthy. She's never had any trouble carrying it on, but it is technically outside of the carry-on dimensions.</p>
<p>The article I read also had that weight was going to be considered for carry on bags...even those that fit the size specs. DS carries THREE trumpets in his case. I hope they meet the requirement. I wonder if he'll be able to carry a backpack (with clothes etc) along with his instrument case?</p>
<p>I started researching violin cases after I heard this latest airline announcement (or almost announcement - I wish the news would be definitive - then I'd know whether action was truly needed!) </p>
<p>BAM makes a very small case that will hold the violin, but the bow needs a separate tube carrier. The case wasn't cheap, but there may be a discount seller. I didn't look as I'm not sure that carrying the violin and bow separately is the best way to go!</p>
<p>My S's smallest case is under the 45 linear inches (defined as total dimensions for the instrument according to several airline websites), but is longer by 3/4 to 1 inch for the max length of 30 inches stated by several airlines. My internet searches didn't bring up any obvious case choice for a length under 30 inches. So, we're also wondering what all this is going to mean in the next few months....</p>
<p>If you look for a new case, PLEASE share your findings with us! </p>
<p>In the meantime, all flight plans for the VIOLA are on hold and we're praying for the violin!</p>
<p>D is flying Delta. As of today, this is what their website says:</p>
<p>Carry-on Baggage
Guitars and other smaller musical instruments, such as violins, will be accepted as your free carry-on baggage on Delta operated flights1. These items must easily fit in the overhead compartment or approved stowage location in the cabin, on a space available basis at the time of boarding. If adequate space is not available, the item must be checked.</p>
<p>"Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cellists.
Don't let 'em pick basses that need big ol' trucks.
Let 'em be flautists and singers and such...."</p>
<p>As a singer DD's instrument was easy to carry - but hard to take care of :) No replacements available. Audition season made us both germ-aphobic.</p>
<p>Singersmom07 - amen to that. One student from my D's voice studio received offers from very prestigious conservatories in both voice and viola. He got sick during his auditions and chose to go with the viola. He told her he couldn't live with the stress of worrying about getting sick all the time. Now he has to worry about transporting the viola instead.</p>
<p>I have yet to see a viola case that fits within the actual measurement parameters for most airlines. I've looked. Unless you're playing a monster over 17 inches, most cases will fit easily into the overhead, even most small puddlejumpers/commuter flights.</p>
<p>If anybody knows of a stock case that will fit the measurements, please let me know.</p>
<p>Put my D on a plane for Oregon yesterday. She is flying Delta. Big plane to Portland, smaller plane to Medford. Was able to take her violin without any problems, fit in overhead both times. A fellow camp member met up with her in Portland (had taken Delta, 2 hours earlier from Atlanta). She is a violist, and also had no trouble.</p>
<p>They come back in a couple weeks. Hope the trend continues.</p>
<p>DS is flying home on Delta at the end of the month. In the past, he has carried on both his instruments AND a small backpack with his "stuff" in it. I hope he'll still be able to do so. I'd hate to see him have to pay to check a stinking backpack.</p>
<p>Oh...tickets were purchased LONG before the charge for baggage was added. The website says "for tickets purchased after blah blah". I wonder if that will matter.</p>
<p>Bought an extremely nice (and relatively cheap) 4/4 violin and 2 bows in China and brought it back a week ago. I had no problems at all going through international and domestic customs as well as the flight agency (Air Canada). It was placed in the overhead compartment of the 747 and no one said a word about it. :D</p>
<p>FYI, the violin was about 8000RMB ( 1200 or so USD). It was about 100 years old, Chinese hand made, and sounded terrific (so much better than the 700$ one I bought here 5 years back).</p>
<p>thumper - first checked bag is free. I think I would encourage your S to check his backpack. We didn't even let D take her laptop to camp -- wanted the violin to be her ONLY carryon, so less of an issue. First checked bag is free. </p>
<p>I just sent S an email this morning about the Delta charge change. He flies home on Delta on the 18th. He has a second checked bag, which he paid $25 for on the way out. I told him to print out the page from the Delta website and the email with his date of purchase on it.</p>
<p>We flew AirTran in May - bought the tickets in Feb. They changed their checked bag policy in May, and dinged us for two of them. Worse, they charge more if you pay in person than if you took care of it online in advance! Made me mad, since we bought our tickets long before the fee was even announced. Lady at the counter did not care. Tickets were same price on Delta and Air Tran, and we had gone with Air Tran on purpose because we could take two bags. All other things being equal (or similar), Air Tran has lost a couple customers!</p>
<p>Thanks Binx. DS has some medications that he really needs to carry on. I'll encourage him to find a spot in his instrument case (maybe inside a mute). If he can do that, he doesn't really need baggage at all. He has PLENTY of clothing and "stuff" here for the week.</p>
<p>I'll be interested if having the airline info and date of purchase info helps with the baggage situation. Let me know so I can have my kids do the same....if it helps.</p>
<p>I'll be interested if having the airline info and date of purchase info helps with the baggage situation. Let me know so I can have my kids do the same....if it helps.</p>
<p>Nope, did not help us one bit. We were told that this was the way it was. There was no way to argue out of it even with a supervisor. We just happened to get someone who was on the ball that day and enforced it. But on my son's return flight, it was never mentioned so there was no additional charge.</p>
<p>You got someone "who was on the ball"? Do you mean that the airline was right, and you were just hoping they wouldn't notice? </p>
<p>The reason I want my kid to carry the papers is if he gets someone who is NOT on the ball. Delta's website specifically says the new charge does not apply to tickets purchased before August 3. My S bought his ticket in May, and flew out in June. He flies back August 18 - the other half of the flight plan purchased in May. He paid $25 for his extra bag on the way out, and expects to pay $25 on the way back. </p>
<p>A portion of Delta's policy, copied from their website:</p>
<p>
[quote]
For tickets purchased on or after July 31, 2008, for travel on or after August 5, 2008, the baggage fees will be changing. </p>
<p>Current baggage fees for passengers who purchased tickets before July 31, 2008: Bag 2 $25
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My fear is that someone, somewhere will claim that the portion that says "for travel after August 5" is the deciding factor, and not the date of purchase.</p>
<p>I dunno, seems like the airlines each enforce their policies based on the whim of the particular employee or administrative level you end up confronting/pleading with.</p>
<p>On any given day on some of the pro or instrument specific forums there's some horror story about instrument classification and forced baggage classification, contradictory policies, capricious and uncaring employees and unresponsive supervisors and management.</p>
<p>Smiling, cajoling, presentation of official policy doesn't always work. </p>
<p>Just a matter of time before some frustrated musician stabs security with a Sartory, bludgeons a clerk with a horn, or inserts a bassoon where the sun don't shine.</p>