Dan McCartney wrote:
I'm wondering if any on this list have had the misfortune of having to
travel with horn by air in the last couple days. Are the airline
security people allowing instruments to be carried on (sans valve oil,
I suppose)?
I just got back from a vacation that involved some flying. Travel away
was pre-Aug 10, travel back was post-Aug 10. I didn't take my horn but
my wife took her bassoon. Her case is another one of those that doesn't
fit in the carry-on template but fits in every overhead compartment just
fine.
On our return flights, we didn't notice the airline crews really having
a different attitude towards carry-on baggage. The TSA screeners just
made absolutely sure that nothing liquid or gel-like (even chap stick!)
was in any carry-on baggage.
My recommendations:
1. Don't pack more stuff in your horn case than you absolutely need.
Definitely no valve oil or slide grease.
2. As long as your case fits into the TSA's x-ray machines, you'll
probably get through the checkpoint without any problems.
3. Don't try to bring a bunch of extra carry-ons. Forget about the AFM's
"musicians get to carry an extra bag" letter. One horn and a
shoulder-bag or purse is not too likely to get you hassled. Check
everything else.
4. Wear your horn case like a backpack. Walk aboard just like everyone
else with a backpack. Don't draw attention to your baggage being any
different from anyone else's.
Number 1 is the only one that different now from last week.
Hopefully the rules won't get so bad in the coming weeks or months that
traveling with a musical instrument becomes prohibitively difficult.
Greg
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