<p>D just finished grad audition at UMich yesterday and found transport options thru the Umich general forum on CC. She said there were LOTS of options from the airport. She ended up having a kindly friend of a friend of a friend etc. to pick her up. We are Cal girls as well and we have a hard enough time driving in the rain let alone the ice and snow. You are making a wise choice using the Limo service.</p>
<p>Thanks for this tip OperaDad!! I am a HUGE fan of rolling clothing when travelling...and even Martha Stewart had an issue about rolling towels to make it neater and space saving..lol, If Martha says its the best way, who am I to argue. My son is currently in the process of auditioning for Grad School....3 schools down, I think he has 3 to go, I could be wrong. He's at NEC this weekend...., even when travelling by car..keeping his suit neat is an issue. I am such a geek about having clothes just right, when auditioning. I am a firm beleiver in first impressions matter..especially in this type of situation. They are not only selling the "voice", but they need to begin to sell the package. Does that make sense? Regardless, I'm going to buy him this rolling thingy for his suit:) Thanks!</p>
<p>I personally would suggest you just take a cab. You'll have no problem with the instrument, or looking for your shuttle, etc. Coming from NJ, we are always happily surprised at how reasonable cabs are from airports to hotels in the midwest, lol. They are usually very very easy to find at most airports.</p>
<p>Not ALL cabs can accommodate the cello and flight case. We've been turned away and waited for ones with larger trunks. </p>
<p>Northwest Airlines charged my son $100 each way this past weekend for his checked cello/flight case. Bummer. </p>
<p>.</p>
<p>Not ALL cabs can accommodate the cello and flight case. We've been turned away and waited for ones with larger trunks. </p>
<p>Northwest Airlines charged my son $100 each way this past weekend for his checked cello/flight case. Bummer. </p>
<p>.</p>
<p>I will be travelling to Northwestern with my bassoon for an audition in two weeks. I guess my question is actually pretty general. How strictly do airlines follow the guidelines. For example: my bassoon is 27x12x6 (45 linear inches) so it fits in the overhead bins according to some airlines (United, Airtran, Continental), but will not fit in the size-check bins. What is the likelihood that I could get my bassoon on the plane for airlines that ask that it fit in these bins? I am having issues finding a reasonable flight where they will accept my bassoon. One other question: I am having trouble fully understanding US Airways' policy regarding musical instruments. They say, "Musical instruments are permitted as carry-on baggage as long as they can be safely stowed and have dimensions no greater than 75 in/190 cm (length + width + height)." However, they continue: "US Airways allows customers to carry their musical instrument in the cabin with them if the instrument exceeds the size restrictions for carry-on baggage and/or the customer believes that the instrument is too fragile to be handled as checked baggage." Does that require me to buy a seat for my instrument, or could I safely fly? Thanks for the help. I find a lot of the wording on airlines' websites to be vague enough that it is difficult to be sure at times.</p>
<p>The problem with an instrument that size is that you NEVER know in advance whether you will be allowed to carry it on the plane. You might be allowed to put it in the overhead on the way out there, for example, but not on the return trip. The wording is always vague enough to be interpreted in many ways and all it takes is one strict employee, one who is having a bad day, a new employee who has not seen this exception before, a crowded flight, a late change to a different type of plane, or any of several other possible reasons and you may not be able to carry it on with you. Additionally, with the airlines charging more and more for checked bags recently, they now have a financial incentive to make you check anything that is in any way questionable.</p>
<p>Yeah, that's what we decided. We've booked an American flight. Now I need to have a good audition... easier said than done.</p>
<p>Just wanted to report that we made it to Detroit (Ann Arbor) and back, via Chicago on Southwest and the cello arrived on time, and unscathed. The flight cover will never look new again, however. And it was left out in the rain for enough time for the flight cover to get soaked. And the TSA did open it on the way back, though it doesn't look like they moved anything inside the case. No one checking in the bag either direction even mentioned an oversized bag fee, which was great.</p>
<p>I can now update with our most recent audition trip info. Our cello checking experience so far:
Delta, 8/07 about $70
Southwest, 2/08 free
Southwest 2/08 about $70
Conti 3/08 free
Conti 3/08 free
Airtran 2/09 $94
Southwest 2/09 free</p>
<p>So, no more Airtran reservations when we have to check the cello. I was informed by a skycap at our airport that Airtran has inspectors in the baggage loading area who are paid on a commission basis for finding overweight/oversize baggage that was not appropriately charged-for at the check-in area. Best of luck to them -- until/unless the other airlines that serve our market move to a similar system, I'm not likely to be checking much baggage with Airtran. I might add that the number of people attempting to stow heavy oversized 'carry-on' bags on board the passenger compartment of the Airtran flight we were in was higher than on most flights; the compartment with my coat in it was stuck shut by the weight of someone's slightly-too-large bag on the compartment door.</p>
<p>Son flue Jetblue for the first time over the weekend for a pro audition, and called it the most pleasant airline experience he's had. No instrument hassle, friendly courteous employees. Maybe it was the airline, the route, or the fact that it was a direct non-stop flight (virtually all his other experiences involved changing planes).</p>
<p>I do remember them having major issues over the summer.</p>
<p>He said he'd book his next trip with them if possible. </p>
<p>The pessimist in me still says its a crapshoot.</p>
<p>My D and flew on four different airlines over the past month to auditions. Jetblue was by far our favorite. It was the first time I'd flown Jetblue and was very impressed, from the kindness of the stewardesses to the free snacks!</p>
<p>Just another Jetblue endorsement. DD flew from CA to Boston on Jetblue and also said it was one of the BEST flying experiences she has ever had (no instrument involved in her travels, however)</p>
<p>How have you all been doing with the weather??? Seems like we keep dodging the bullet.</p>
<p>Husband made it out of Boston today before the 8-15 inches of predicted snow began to fly. (was taking DD to see two prospective teachers in NY over the Weekend)...Thankfully it is supposed to be clear by Wednesday when we fly back to Boston to get her so she can go to her last two auditions.....Whew....I think we are going to make it through the season without a cold or messed up airtravel....Feeling very fortunate</p>
<p>DS's flights were CANCELED yesterday to an audition site. The airlines refunded his money (on a non-refundable ticket) because they could not get him on a plane until TUESDAY at least. We haven't heard from him yet, but he was in contact with this group that the ensemble was for to set up another date. Please keep you fingers crossed this can happen. It's a small ensemble and they personally scheduled each 1/2 day long audition. They told DS they would work with him. We hope it all works out!</p>
<p>Oh, thinking good thoughts, Thumper!</p>
<p>Yesterday I was thankful for dodging bullet weather and cold wise....spoke too soon...DD has posted on her facebook account that she thinks she is getting sick....OH NO....Her Juilliard audition is Thursday and has another audition on Saturday....Obviously not good for a singer!</p>
<p>opera-mom - when you posted that earlier - I thought "uh oh." Maybe it won't develop into anything - I have had that happen to me several times this winter - sniffles or scratchy throat one morning that I was sure would be a cold and then gone the next day - here's hoping that will be the case with your D. </p>
<p>I made the mistake of asking my D this morning when she last had a migraine and the minute I asked, I thought "uh oh."</p>
<p>Be well, everyone....the season is almost finished! My worry beads will click for all, and they are powerful!</p>
<p>Sweet lorelei! Good luck to everyone. You're almost at the finish line.</p>