Hi, I have tried to contact the airline for info on this but I hang on for almost an hour waiting on the line and then I give up, they never seem to answer!
I am flying to Italy at the end of the month (with British Airways) and I'd like to take my violin with me (and my keyboard which is quite big and weighs 15kg). It is me and my son, we both have a baggage allowance of 23 kg each so that will help (the two of us).
But how do they do it? do you just go to normal check in and from there they direct you to the 'oversize baggage check in'? or do you have to book this in advance with airline?
Any of you had this experience?
Also, are they really careful with instruments, I'll have my instruments insured before I fly, but I'd like to know that my violin and keyboard will still be in one piece at the other end, especially as keyboard is not in a hard case but a soft one.
Thank you for any info and sorry to ask this but I am getting frustrated trying to reach the airline on phone (will try to e-mail them too).
Jo

Don't know about your keyboard (that may have to go in oversized - in which case, you'll need a hard case), but your violin should be able to go in the cabin with you. I've never had problems with British airways before.

Enjoy your trip!

Allan

OH NO, haven't thought I may need a hard case for keyboard (how silly can I be?? )
I don't have one, looked them up, seems that nothing is cheaper than £100 will have to leave keyboard at home for this trip I think!
For violin, the hard case measurements exceed what is stated for the hand baggage allowance but they may still close an eye for violins as you say. I have e-mailed them as well now, lets hope they bother to reply in time!
Thankssss

I went to prague a couple of years (okay maybe more) ago with the school orchestra and most of the instruments bar the ususal small instruments, which included violins, had to go in the hold. But they all had to be wrapped in bubble wrap inside their cases and people who didnt have hard cases were loaned them. Anyway, at the other end, we didnt think twice to check on them, but when we got back to the hotel and opened them up one of the girls discovered that her cello had just fallen apart - because of the huge temerature changes the Hide glue had frozen then unfrozen and caused the instrument to just fall apart, but the airline insurance wouldnt cover it because we didnt open and check it as soon as it had arrived in Prague. So the next time we went abroad this time to strassbourg, every one of us was made to check our instruments. So be careful! I did read of a story recently of a cellist who frequently went abroad to perform, every time he traveled by air, he booked two seats - one for him, and one for his cello, this last couple of years the airline has refused to let him do this because of all the restictions on what you can and can't take into the cabin with you - they are worried I suppose that you could impale someone with the bow or slit their necks with a string I guess....And I know there was alot of trouble flying in the musicians for the Proms last year especially with all the bomb threats etc.

I 'assume' the case my violin came with when I bought it is good enough for air travel? I think it is a hard one or semi hard at the very least, it feels hard to me!
Thanks for warning me about checking the instrument on my arrival, I did not think of that one, very good tip indeed!

Oh no!

Well, your violin should go in with BA - I've flown with them a few times since the trouble and they've always let me take it on board.

You shouldn't worry if it goes in the hold, though - airline holds are pressurised and usually heated too - the whole freezing thing or massive pressure change thing is a myth (some very old aircraft don't have pressurised holds, but all modern ones do and no major airline flies with old aircraft). They don't always heat the hold though - usually only if there's animals etc in there - however the temperature is not the same as the outside temp and things will never freeze in their (bottles of wine and water for example do not freeze in your luggage), it's an urban myth and one which I believed until my other half (who works in aviation) put me right.

So, fear not!

Allan

I carried my violin with me last year on Singapore Airlines and it was fine. You just need to tell them that it's a violin. However, what with all these recent bomb threats on planes etc, security has been beefed up. I suggest you call BA and ask them if you need special permission to bring a violin on board. I have emailed SIA myself but haven't received a reply. Just make sure your violin is snug in your case, if there's little gaps between your violin and it's cradle, stuff it with tissue! =) I've heard of a case of a violist who brought his $14,000 viola with him but they didn't allow him to bring it on board so he had to check it in. When he reached there, the neck was broken. What worse is that the airline only compensated him $1,600. RIDICULOUS!

I went up to Gateshead on a British Airways flight only two weekends ago, with my violin. BA will allow violins/violas (in their cases!) to travel as hand baggage, in addition to the one piece of hand baggage for which they specify a maximum size.

As long as it will fit through the X-ray machines there's no problem. If you are carrying large instruments, such as a cello, then you will need to purchase an additional seat if you wish to carry the instrument in the cabin.

You may find they also want to look inside of the case and its compartments, so make sure you aren't carrying any liquids or sharp implements in there.

It's something to do with stricter enforcement of international regulations on the dimensions of ccabin baggage. Seems that violins can still make it, (esp. if you're a member of the Musicians Union who give you a passport for your instrument!! ), but violas not. They're just too big to fit. A lot are having to go into the hold these days though and I would take the packaging precautions very seriously indeed as instruments are very delicate and can all too easily break. I think the chap whose viola was broken didn't pack his for the hold so it had no chance. My teacher told me she took her violin in the hold and it was OK well warpped in bubble wrap etc and slathered in 'Fragile' stickers, then put in special handling. DON'T let it go with the regular baggage.

To be honest with you Jojo, unless you're going for a long time, I'd consider leaving your instruments at home, esp the keyboard. It's just not practical. I'll be going to Germany in July and my lil' step-sis who lives there is going to try and borrow a viola for me so we can play together, but if she doesn't manage it, then so be it. For 5 days it doesn't matter. At the end of the year I'll have to do without for about 6 weeks, unless I can be sure that I can take her as cabin baggage then. I doubt it, so I'll just have to be content with trying a few instruments in shops!!

Well,
I just got through British Airways (after MILLIONS of attempts and hours and hours, maybe days on the phone!).
They have confirmed I will be allowed to take it with me in the cabin so far that its not too big to go into 'x ray' machine at security
Figaro will be alright after all (I have decided to call my violin Figaro )
Thank you all, and I thought I'd let you know the official answer just in case you are travelling soon to Europe.
Jo

Was this Isserlis?
He always asks for a kosher meal for his cello to pay the airline staff back for all the extra hassle they give him for taking it on board!