Ned, I don't know the state of things at the moment, but I'll tell you my experiences. Tell the folks at the counter that you want to check it at the gate (NEVER, EVER, have them put it on the conveyor belt at check in!!!). When you get to the gate, tell 'em you want to ask the flight crew if you can carry it on. IF - and it depends on the degree of the personal relationship troubles of the person taking tickets - you can get past the gate keepers, you're almost assured of keeping in the cabin. I've never had a crew turn me away. If you have a flight case, you won't have this option.
This worked fine for me bringing my large swan-neck back from Paris in October on both the international and connecting domestic flights. Ditto previous flights from Germany, England and Italy. On short domestic flights in smaller planes, I have had to check it at the gate. I've taken my chances without a flight case and haven't had any problems. Of course, this was before the underwear bomber made the probability of someone such as yourself carrying an explosive device aboard inside a lute case that much more likely. Good luck! Chris --- On Sun, 2/7/10, nedma...@aol.com <nedma...@aol.com> wrote: > From: nedma...@aol.com <nedma...@aol.com> > Subject: [LUTE] Flying with a lute > To: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu > Date: Sunday, February 7, 2010, 10:23 AM > Since a lute in a > case (even small Renaissance) is too large for carry > on, I'm pondering the options should I > fly this summer with my > instrument. I suspect a custom made > shipping case would be rather > expensive, and wonder if anyone here has > tried any of the available > commercial luggage cases? I see > that Samsonite makes a hardshell flite > case that looks as if it would be big > enough (31"x21"x12") to hold my > lute in its light plywood case, for about > $160 discounted. With some > bubble wrap or foam packing, this might > be adequately protective. Any > one know of anything as good or better? > > > > Ned > > -- > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
