 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sharon
Date: 2002-04-02 05:21
I own a buffet r-13 and I wish to take it with me when i leave for a 3-week vacation. should I handcarry it? does the air pressure on the plane affect the wood? how should I handle the clarinet?
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Author: beejay
Date: 2002-04-02 10:20
Sharon,
There was an exchange about this a few months ago. You should check the archives. I think the consensus was that checking an expensive wooden instrument into the cargo hold was not a good idea.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-04-02 14:27
I just returned from a week's long vacation in Florida where I "sat in" for a rehearsal with the excellant Greater Miami Symphonic Band. My clarinets accompanied me on the aircraft as "carry on" and the only problem that they (and I) experianced was constant security screening where even my Harrison reed case was opened for inspection (once, almost upside-down). Fortunately, I was able to look over the shoulders of the "inspectors" and offer timely suggestions as to how to open my zippered Yamaha double clarinet case and its many compartments so as not too spill its expensive contents onto the table. One security expert commented, "Hmmm....., first clarinet I've ever seen."
Bottom line--your clarinet will not be damaged by the pressurized cabin. Carry-on is adivised over checking, and be advised that you will be frequently "randomly selected" for additional personal security screening as you are carrying a suspicious looking over the shoulder case. Also, be certain to wear clean socks without holes--"soul" searching, you know........ Good Traveling and Good Clarineting!!! (EXTRA--be certain to pack such items as reeds knives, files, screwdrivers and other sharp, pointed tools in your checked baggage. If you take them as carry-on, they will be taken from you by security agents as possible weapons--and they don't give them back)
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-04-02 14:50
When I have travelled with my clarinets, I always put some type of dampit or orange peels, or whatever your choice of humidifying device into the case. The air inside of the cabin is notoriously dry and I am always concerned of this fact.
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2002-04-02 17:50
I agree in using a humidifier in the plane. I've travelled with my R13 to Australia and to Eastern Europe(Romania, Hungary, Czech. Rep.) with no problem. Definitely carry it on, and don't have any reed knives, etc. in your case, as already said. If you HAVE to check it in, try putting it in your suitcase, where clothing should form a nice cushioning. Otherwise, I would just bubble wrap it to death, inside and out, as I did with my bass clarinet, and tape the case shut with airline tape. Putting a FRAGILE sticker doesn't seem to matter, as we had at least two broken cellos and other problems, but it couldn't hurt.
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Author: madvax
Date: 2002-04-02 19:53
If you are only looking for an instrument to practice with, I would suggest renting a student model for one month from your local music store.
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Author: allencole@jamschool.net
Date: 2002-04-02 23:13
I have had no problems travelling with both a clarinet in a pro-pack and an alto sax in a flight case as carry-on. This was true in both US and EU and flights in between. It was, however, pre-9/11. The biggest difficulty was the fact that I was allowed no other carry-ons.
Here are some suggestions from my experience -
1 - Travel wearing a jacket which has large, top-loading pockets. You can keep books, a discman, small valuables etc. in it and it won't count as a carry-on. If it's uncomfortable to wear in your seat, simply keep it between your legs or cover your legs with it during the flight.
2 - Check your airline's luggage rules thoroughly on their website. Rules are even tighter on international flights, and you need to know what they are. It wouldn't hurt, in fact, to print them out and carry them in one of your big jacket pockets. I know that Delta makes at least some allowances for musical instruments, although I think they probably have electric guitars in mind.
3 - Carry the most compact case possible. I bought a Pro-Pack for my clarinet and it worked wonderfully. My alto sax would not have been allowed in anything larger than a flight case, and I think that the only reason they actually allowed it was because of the rule allowing me a "laptop" (my clarinet ProPack) plus a "39-inch musical instrument" (my alto sax).
4 - If there is any chance that the case may be examined out of your presence, it might pay to have labels such as "This End Up", instructions for working unusual latches, etc.
5 - Carry some extra luggage straps (or strapping/filament tape) in case something goes wrong. Aer Lingus approved my tenor sax in a flight case all down the line until I got to the door of the aircraft at Newark. At that point, they changed their minds and took it from me. It came off the carousel at Shannon with 2 out of 3 latches undone. Those luggage straps prevented a disaster.
Again, this is from pre 9/11 experiences and I have never been singled out for a search. I would hope that a clarinet would have little or no problem in even a large double case.
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Author: MsRoboto
Date: 2002-04-03 03:02
I have traveled post 9/11 with my single clarinet. I did carry it on. Also, carried on my laptop. I didn't have a problem and was not stopped for random checks.
I would recommend wearing flat shoes. It seemed to me that most of the people stopped were wearing chunky healed shoes or boots. You remember the shoe explosive guy....
I am a poster child for items that should not be carried on for fear of being stopped - cell phone, laptop, palm pilot, clarinet, lighter, pocket knife (actually put that in checked luggage) - you get the idea. If have never been randomly searched and I have flown a 3-4 times.
Follow the rules. Be polite and patient even if the security line seems like it's never going to end. Arrive early.
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-04-03 17:32
Pre-9/11 I went to Europe and had almost no problems. In Chicago, waiting for the KLM flight to Amsterdam, my backpack was "wanded." Inside my backpack was my R13 in one of the tiniest BAM cases, my reed knife and file (a huuuuuuge one!) and more than a month's worth of diabetic supplies. I don't think the file was the reason it was wanded. My backpack was stuffed to the gills! But now I'd check the knife and file....I'd still have to carry on my prescriptions though! 
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