Bumping And Jaring

[sarahforgot]

I'm new to the concertina...3 days new. I love it. But we are flying to Missouri in june and i plan on taking it with me. I know a lot of bumping and jaring isnt good for the box, so should I take it as my carry on or would it be ok in my checked bag?

[Paul Read]

I'm new to the concertina...3 days new. I love it. But we are flying to Missouri in june and i plan on taking it with me. I know a lot of bumping and jaring isnt good for the box, so should I take it as my carry on or would it be ok in my checked bag?

 

I would say never check your concertina. I've heard too many horror stories. Take it as carry on.

[rclepper]

I would strongly recommend carrying on any musical instrument that you can possibly persuade the airlines to allow. I have seen and heard too many horror stories such as cellos impailed with forklifts, crushed stringed instruments, etc., to trust the baggage handling and automated conveyor systems. I'm even buying a seat for my bouzouki on an upcoming flight on a new, bare-bones airline with cheap promotional fares (it was cheaper than the insurance...).

 

You may get some interesting reactions from the security folks upon scanning your concertina according to another recent thread on this site, but at least you'll have your instrument intact when you reach your destination.

 

Randy

[sarahforgot]

Very good points. I took my banjo as a carry on last year but I didnt realize they would check it when I got to the plane, talk about worrying. My case got a bt scratched, but my banjo luckly was fine. I'll never do that again. I certinly dont want to take any more chances with my concertina than I have to. And by the way I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when they are trying to figure out what it is.

[asdormire]

Loose your purse--your concertina is the same size.

 

Alan

[Hooves]

I've heard that sometimes the finish on an instrument can be affected by being in the cargo hold of the plane, but I have not myself ever expierenced this: a friend of mine many years ago said his cello's finish got damaged when he tooka trip to europe with his cello.

 

Which seems strange as instruments are often built outside of your home country and shipped in.

 

The forklift story alone I think would keep me from bringing anything other than a hrmonica with me on a plane!

[Brian Peters]

My recent experience is that my concertina case is small enough to count as a "personal item" in US airports, so you can take that and a bag of the usual size. British airports are only allowing one item of cabin baggage, but since the Musicians' Union negotiated a concession from the airports authority you can now officially take a musical instrument as well as your regular cabin bag. I would advise any MU members to make sure they have their membership card and leaflet describing the concession, although when I boarded in Manchester they didn't ask for either. I just said "musical instrument" and they waved me through.

[Dirge]

Flying to NZ from England last November a huge duet in its box was gracefully accepted as cabin baggage; musical instruments being the only permitted second item at the time (sounds like it's the same.)

 

It may have been negotiated by the Musicians Union -well done them I say- but there was no mention of the MU in the airport site I checked it on beforehand (I'd have been worried if it had and remembered it) or at the airport, so I don't think that's vital. The original info came from Cnet and if you search back in about october you'll find the original posting with link and can check it for yourself if you wish.

 

When I got to the airport there was lots of stern stuff about what you couldn't take and no mention of exceptions so I asked the checkout manager, who took the concertina off to see security; he came back to report that it was absolutely no problem.

 

If they had enforced one item I would have had to take the concertina in the plane. I don't think you should even consider letting the baggage handlers have a go at it. Posting an instrument is enough to jar reeds out and baggage handling seems to involve much the same sort of roughness.