In a message dated 5/27/04 10:37:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
With the imminent convergence of lutes on Cleveland, I was wondering
what the current practices were for flying with lutes--especially if
anyone has been on Continental Airlines.
With Cleveland being one of Continental's hub airports, I tend to fly
Continental more than any other airline, plus I ALWAYS travel with a lute, even when
traveling for work. I have never had trouble convincing airline officials to
let me carry my six course lute with me on board (Kingham case with a soft
cover). Usually they know that a musical instrument is a special case, even if
it doesn't fit the maximum carry-on measurements restriction. It is extremely
helpful to be upfront and to courteous at the ticket counter to ask for your
lute to travel on board. Open up the case and show the lute to them if
necessary. The same goes for when you are on board and trying to stow it. Flight
attendants have been helpful and also very curious about the lute when I've
flown!
I have never even tried to take two lutes as carry-on luggage. Instead, I
put my efforts in doing a careful packing job for the second, larger lute (see
below).
For those on this list, this is an excerpt of some practical information I
have sent to the registered attendees of the Lute Festival:
TIPS FOR FLYING WITH YOUR LUTE(s): Carry on baggage is limited to one smaller
lute that fits in the overhead and a laptop or very small handbag.
Otherwise, you can check two items in. If the flight is crowded, I recommend
reserving
a seat towards the rear so you can board earlier and get a better chance of
finding overhead compartment space before it gets filled up.
If you must check your lute, remove any contents from the case that might
arouse security suspicion, then pack it very snugly within the case so there is
no movement of the lute when jolted. Especially pack the body tightly in the
case and be sure that the pegs and pegbox cannot bang against the inside of the
case. Then add some foam rubber blocks 2 inches in thickness as bumpers to
the most vulnerable outside surfaces of the case: the bottom side and the front
especially. Wrap the case with heavy plastic and tape it up firmly, leaving
the lute's handle exposed for the baggage tag (cut out the plastic to expose
the handle). This more or less assures that the lute will be in one
orientation through most of it's transit. The bumpers help reduce shock if or when
the lutecase is knocked about, Mars Rover style! You may wish to print up your
own FRAGILE signs to tape to the plastic.
BE SURE to arrive early enough so you can have the lute clear security (talk
to an airline official if necessary) on the departure concourse level BEFORE
it descends to the behind the scenes security. This more or less guarantees
that the case and wrapping do not get reopened by airport security once the lute
is pre-cleared. Note: all airlines except Southwest Airlines restrict you to
two checked items. Southwest allows you to exceed that number.
For those connecting to or taking commuter/small planes: this is GOOD. You
can carry your lute to the gate and give it to the baggage handlers who stow
it onboard. Just after you exit the plane upon arrival, your lute is handed
back to you before you enter the arrivals terminal!
Note: I usually leave my lutes at normal string tension during flights, but
it isn't a bad idea to slacken the strings either.
Kenneth Be
Cleveland, Ohio
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