All of this depends on what you can afford, and for those of us in the
US fitting into all the airline regulations and price cuts. I flew
from the San Francisco area to New York City with my orpharion, a few
weeks ago and because I was using my United frequent flyer miles for
part of the flight, I was on 3 flights both going and coming = 6
planes. Plus it was Winter weather, so I had some delays and plane
changes. All the airlines are charging for checked bags and have
weight limits. They do not charge for carry-ons. On the way out I was
on United and they have a lot of new rules - they will no longer do
gate checks for anything except wheel chairs and strollers. I had the
most problem with a flight from Denver to Chicago, where there was a
"rule book Johnny" at the gate. I ended up asking her about the YouTube
videos with the Taylor guitar and she seemed to think they were
entertaining but rules are rules. She tagged my orpharion for a gate
check, but there was nobody to take it when I got to the gate, so I
just walked onto the plane. The flight attendant was happy to put it in
the first class coat closet.
My theory is that if you start asking these people if you can carry an
instrument on, they will say no because that is what they have been
told to do. It's also better if you book the flight early, so you get
on the plane before all the overheads are full. The instruments are
odd shaped and if the bin is full of suitcases they are not going to
move them so your case will fit.
On the way back from NYC I was on American and Alaska Airlines, where I
saw quite a few guitar and bass cases, plus something like a French
horn, in the waiting area. There were no questions about any of these
instruments going on the planes, and no announcements about no
instruments as carry-ons. So it might be well to avoid United until
they change their policies.
Nancy
Thanks for all the replies to my question about flying with my
lute.
You've given my things to consider. Since my instrument in its
light
weight case would undoubtedly fit in overhead storage, it's
tempting to
ask to let me take it on board with me when I'm at the gate. But
I'm
hesitant because what if I'm told "no"? At that point it's too
late to
make alternative arrangements. If airlines are still willing to
sell
an extra seat for one's instrument, this surely would be the
safest -
but most expensive - method.
Ned
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Representing:
FROM WALES - Crasdant & Carreg Lafar, FROM ENGLAND - Jez Lowe & Jez
Lowe & The Bad Pennies, FROM SPAIN - La Musgana and now representing
EARLY MUSIC - The Venere Lute Quartet, Paul Beier, The Good Pennyworths
& Morrongiello & Young
Administrator THE LUTE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
web site - [3]http://LuteSocietyofAmerica.org
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