<p>The airlines will not budge on the two carryon limit. I would receommend an oversized messenger type bag for laptop/purse/personal needs.</p>
<p>One more thought- Delta historically has the worst rep as being the most instrument unfriendly airline, and has over the years been boycotted by the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) because of its policies and arbitrary enforcement of its own rules regarding carry on instruments.</p>
<p>Delta has recently amended its procedures and has come to an agreement with the AFM and has reworded its policies as to be more accomodating. The jury is still out and any change can only be verified by checking a wide range of experiences over a period of time.</p>
<p>I would use Delta as the last option if traveling with a carryon instrument if you can avoid it.</p>
<p>Shipping is difficult also. We shipped a violin by UPS, marked on all sides as fragile, & it was damaged. Had to send it back to the shop for an estimate on repairs. It came back damaged even more. We don't know whether is was UPS or FedEx that time. Both had a go at it.</p>
<p>We did several trips with my son's horn. It was never refused. On every flight they allowed him to place it in the flight attendants' closet without any problem -- although on one flight they asked him to play :). We flew NW.</p>
<p>violadad, what were the problems with violins on Delta flights?</p>
<p>We just recently came back from international trip by Delta - as usual, my D had her violin with her as the carry-on. While Delta had proved her notorious reputation about checked in luggage (Don't Expect the Luggage To Arrive ;)), everything was OK with viloin.</p>
<p>myau- </p>
<p>Delta had a specific policy wording that allowed violins as carryons, and since it omitted violas, many were denied boarding or forced to check the instrument as baggage. A strict interpretation of the policy by "by the book employees", capricious and arbitrary enforcement dependent upon the assigned personnel, denial when being shown the airline's own instrument policies, reluctance or denial in involving supervisory personnel to override the lower level deciscion, threats of security intervention & denial of boarding privileges; cases of actual denial of boarding...</p>
<p>The list is endless.</p>
<p>The fact that a violin/viola case dimensions in total are borderline or in excess of the linear aggregrate doesn't help (even though virtually all but a double instrument or custom case will fit the standard overhead). </p>
<p>If you search any of the instrument forums for "flying" or "Delta", you'll read many accounts over a number of years from students, amateurs and performing professionals.</p>
<p>Arbitrary enforcement can happen at any airline, yet Delta historically has been unwilling to address the complaints until recently.</p>
<p>Suggest loosening the string tension, somewhat, in any event! Back when the earth was still cooling, I traveled through South America with a string orchestra. we traveled on some sketchy airlines. The one thing I recall is that the string tensions were released to better enable the instruments to weather the changes in pressure and temperature we encountered.</p>
<p>CM, our D has also traveled with a horn without any problem though with many crossed fingers regarding arbitrary attitudes. She carries a copy of a letter from the TSA advising that airlines are to cooperate in carrying instruments as additional carry-on's, just in case...has never had to wave it around. Often her horn has traveled at the bottom of the First Class coat closet. Several times one of the sympathetic cabin crew have been horn players as well.</p>
<p>ViolaDad, it occurs to me: how could Delta employees tell a violin from a viola without trying to tune it? Otherwise, I shouldn't think that most would have a clue, the size differentials not being <em>that</em> great.</p>
<p>TheDad- </p>
<p>A couple of points: sometimes even the TSA letter does nothing to help, but it's smart to carry a copy. There are numerous documented experiences where the TSA letter has been provided, and the airline agent refuses to acknowledge, accept, or follow the recommended guidelines.</p>
<p>Viola versus violin- you're right in that many airline employees would not know the difference between the two. Novice traveling violists are reminded to call it a violin if questioned to avoid the potential of possibly being checked. Delta's old policy specifically listed violin, and by omission many a viola has been consigned to checked baggage.</p>
<p>There can be a significant difference in sizes between a cased violin and viola. If you look at one of my earlier posts, I give the normal dimensions. In addition to being longer, the viola has wider upper and lower bouts which vary considerably due to the viola being a non-standard sized instrument. Thus, a viola case is not only longer, but wider and deeper than a violin's.</p>
<p>My son's 16.5 inch will fit in a case only slightly larger than a violin's, yet the case is not one he'd trust for travel. His travel case significantly exceeds airline's posted lineal aggregrate for carryons, yet it still fits comfortably in almost all commercial overhead compartments excepting some connecting puddlejumpers.</p>
<p>I agree the TSA letter is like carrying garlic against vampires: it's supposed to work but you hope you don't have to test it, eh? </p>
<p>After some early experiments, D found that the best path for her horn was to act as if she assumed that it would be stowed in the cabin, e.g., not asking anyone about it. If she did ask someone, there were discussions and judgments that did not take place if she merely appeared at the gate with horn in hand, backpack w/laptop on back.</p>