 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: bob49t
Date: 2006-04-12 06:21
Participating in wind chamber course in SW France (Sept) and taking standard pair and Low C bass in Wiseman triple case. Flying KLM.
Search here of course but most of threads are from a few years back.
Anyone got new experiences/up to date advice re flying with bass ??
Thanks,
BobT
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-04-12 08:34
I flew to Holland a few months ago with a bass clarinet and took it with me as carry on (I think that's how it is called in English?). I had the original Buffet low C case, which is slightly shorter but wider than the Wiseman case. When I bought the ticket they told me I have to buy another ticket for the bass clarinet but they had no idea how big it is and they thought something like a cello. I told them it's much smaller but they still insisted. I didn't buy an extra ticket and was hoping to not have a problem. The way to Holland they just let me take it no questions asked, the way back they measured it, and although it was bigger than the allowed carry on bag size they said it's fine.
Some companies (I think all or most American companies) have rules about musical instruments, and you can take it to the plane IN ADDITON to the carry on bag, as apposed to taking it AS your carry on. When I flew to the USA (maybe the company was called TWA, I'm not sure) I put the bass clarinet in a closet they had and not in the overhead compartment. You need to be careful - when we landed I went to take my bass from the closet and it wasn't there! After a short panic attack I saw it a meter near the closet - the sturist took it out for some reason.
In Holland someone told me that since he got the Wiseman case he didn't have a single problem. He used the stock Selmer case before that.
After all this theoretical information, I would recommend asking the company what their rules about it.
Post Edited (2006-04-12 08:39)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob49t
Date: 2006-04-12 11:56
Thanks for that "clarnibass".........very useful. Will contact KLM to find out general policy re musical instruments then take it from there.
BobT
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob49t
Date: 2006-04-12 19:38
UPDATE for flying with bass clarinet.
Spoke to KLM today, as there were no clear indications for musical instruments.
So........................................
Cabin limit is 10kgs.
Wiseman case with Bb, A and Buffet low C bass weighs 11kgs. ie just over cabin limit.
Max dimensions allowable is 55cms by 35cms by 25cms.
However, my Wiseman case is 86cms long by 20cms diameter.
Volume therefore, of Wiseman case is only 56% of max allowable.
Lady I spoke to said as the weight is only just over, there will be no problem.
There is however, a single dimension max and that is 115cms. My Wiseman case as already mentioned is only 86 cms long.
At this stage then, this only applies to KLM flights, however I suspect there is a worldwide policy (not well advertised) of very similar allowances for conforming musical instruments as cabin luggage.
I intend getting email confirmation of this before travelling.
Just thought that this little bit of research may be of help if posted.
BobT
BobT
Post Edited (2006-04-12 19:39)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pmgoff78
Date: 2006-04-12 21:50
Sorry this is kind of late.
The American Federation of Musicians reached an agreement with the TSA a couple of years ago where you can take your instrument along with a carry on. Our community band played at the Midwest Clinic and our personnel manager gave everybody a copy of the letter from a Deputy Secretary of the TSA to the President of the AFM (just in case we got held up by security or gate personnel.) I was able to carry my Leblanc 430 Bass onto the plane without incident and the Flight Attendant even stowed it for me in an empty overhead bay before other passengers got on the plane.
Unfortunately that's only the U.S. Thanks should go to the AFM for getting that worked out. Sorry I didn't post soon enough to help.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: lowclarinetman
Date: 2006-04-13 01:00
I have flown KLM with the exact same setup you mentioned and had no problems what-so-ever. However, this was a few years ago and policy might have changed.
In general, Don't ask too many questions to the people. Certainly don't say.. "This is slightly too heavy, or slightly too big" You want to stay below the radar of any airline official. Act like you have done it a million times before and carry it on like you know what you are doing. When asked say " I know this fits i have carried it on before, and it has expensive/delicate musical instruments in it"
The wiseman case will fit in the overhead in most flight, only excepting small turboprop planes.(I haven even gotten on these before) Stick to your guns if they give you problems. Some folk in the airline industry don't want to deal with situations they are not used to. Just calmly insist it is possible. As far as carry-on. I only carry my instruments these days. No point trying to push things too far with a bass case AND 2 other carry-ons.
Hope this helps and happy flying.
bob
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob49t
Date: 2006-04-14 17:27
Thanks pmgo and lowclar. Bob, I'll be carrying through your suggestion to be bold, whilst armed with the knowledge that KLM say it's fine.
regards,
BobT
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
