Klarinet Archive - Posting 000192.txt from 2003/05

From: "Josh Gardner" <jtgardner@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Transporting instruments by air
Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 23:51:53 -0400

Last summer I traveled to Europe from the US with my double Wiseman case
with minimal problems. Upon returning, I was searched in Paris at the gate
which was a bit of a hassle. They made me open my case and show them the
contents. I had no problem with carry-on restrictions. The case fit
perfectly in the overhead compartment.

Josh Gardner
----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith" <100012.1302@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Transporting instruments by air

> Matthew
>
> I had exactly this problem in returning from living in the USA; with
> bass to C, Bb, A, basset joint and Eb and will be doing the same on a
> trip to the USA this summer only with my basset horn as well.
>
> My solution was indeed the Wiseman cases, which are tough enough to
> protect the instrument in the hold if you have to put them there. I got
> a bass case to hold the bass, Eb and basset joint, and a quad clarinet
> case to hold the A, Bb and basset horn.
>
> Both cases are too large to pass the standard hand luggage measurement
> test. So you do rely on the cooperation of the gate agent, and you could
> have a problem on a small plane. But the USA Federal Transport
> Commission explicitly allows musical instruments to be carried on as
> hand luggage (apart from things like cellos which need another seat.
> compartment. There's a statement somewhere on their web site. When I
> have travelled with the quad case in the USA, which I did recently, I
> had no trouble in getting it on as hand luggage in addition to a
> computer. But when I was returning with two Wisemans, I could only take
> one as hand luggage. So I had prepared a large "gear bag" which took
> both Wiseman cases in case they had to go in the hold. In this instance
> the bass case went in the hold for the Denver-London-Prague flights. No
> problems at all. Later, both cases had to go in the hold for
> Prague-London, again no problems (and yes they are quality instruments
> too). Wiseman cases are fine for vibration/bump/crush protection. The
> only technical problem that concerns me is temperature changes, hence
> the use of a gear bag with lightweight insulating packing (eg bubble
> wrap) round the cases.
>
> The main airline problem with shipping this lot in the hold is the
> weight limit - it can be over 50 lb, which is United's limit on a single
> case. And you may well get charged a lot of excess baggage on some
> airlines - $100s. So it is best to check with the airlines.
>
> I have several times shipped clarinets via UPS with good packaging, with
> no problems. I've also shipped soprano clarinets in the lightweight BAM
> cases, packed inside checked luggage.
>
> I don't have experience of hand carrying Wiseman cases on airlines
> outside the USA but no doubt others do.
>
> Note that you should remove the spike (peg) from a bass or basset horn
> and pack it separately in your checked luggage. Apparently the cellist
> Julian Lloyd Webber was carrying his cello onto one plane and the gate
> agent made him remove his spike, despite him saying that it had not been
> taken off for 200 years! (image of professional player attacking the
> pilot with cello rampant ...)
>
> Keith

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