Flying with instruments in the US

Subject: RE: Flying with instruments in the US
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 21 May 03 - 09:14 AM

Ooops! Being a pilot who flies IFR I thought the thread had something to flight regulations.

Come to think of it, the FAA WOULD be the final source for this info. I'd check their website and also individual airline sites. I always check and then re-check. Be prepared to hold up the safety inspection line though as I've heard from a friend that instruments and cases are thoroughly checked. Wire trimmers for replacing strings are definately a no-no I was told.

Another friend of mine travels overseas for business. He knows where he will be staying, so he ships his luggage ahead of him to avoid all hassles.

Subject: RE: Flying with instruments in the US
From: Willie-O
Date: 21 May 03 - 09:03 AM

Just came back from an excursion to Nova Scotia (flying within Canada) with the community fiddle orchestra. They let us take fiddles on board as a second piece of carry-on going down, but insisted on checking them on the return loop. Promised to hand-carry them, and then we watched the baggage handlers throwing them all on the conveyor belt into the plane, mostly upside down. OUCHHHH! (No harm done, we checked them all immediately on arrival.)

It was entirely at the airline's discretion whether we could take them on board or not. There were 20 of us so that was a lot of carry-ons.

Note: when we were allowed to carry them on, we weren't allowed to carry any extra strings with the instruments. Extra strings had to go in the checked bags. Ha. Feel safer now?

W-O

Subject: RE: Flying with instruments in the US
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 21 May 03 - 07:28 AM

I hate to be a "wet blanket" here, but I'm very dubious about the meaning (and possibly the authenticity) of this letter.

The Transportation Security Administration imposed very restrictive limits on what an individual airline may allow as carry-on luggage in the "post 9/11" tightening of regs. A specific limitation in that "crackdown" was that no passenger could carry on more than one item of luggage.

It is doubtful that the author of this letter has any authority to require airlines to accept instruments as carry-on items, although the decision would permit them to do so if they choose to. Individual airlines, one would presume, may still set their own limits on the size and kind of items they choose to permit.

In any case where you expect to need "special consideration," it would still be advisable that you communicate directly with the airline involved, and inquire specifically with respect to the flight and flight dates scheduled as to whether the special treatment you require will be made available on that date and on that flight by that airline.

Since this "decision" changes a specific published ruling, I am surprised that there is no citation of the specific rule that is changed in the letter. (On the other hand, good writing skills do not necessarily get one an appointment in the Federal Beaurocracy.)

Before putting too much faith in this letter, though, I would want to obtain a copy from an "verifiable source," such as direct from the FAA - Security regulations site. I've seen a lot of "more authentic looking fakes" than this letter - but then I've worked with government agents quite a lot, and we made lots of jokes about them (in private, of course). They probably did the same about us.

John

Subject: RE: Flying with instruments in the US
From: Miken
Date: 20 May 03 - 08:35 PM

Thanks for posting this weepiper, I hadn't seen it before and it's certainly good news. I've made a few copies. Are you aware of any size restrictions, or are they same as other carry-ons? Guitars would be probably too large for example.
Mike

Subject: Flying with instruments in the US
From: weepiper
Date: 20 May 03 - 07:45 AM

Apologies if this has already been posted, I did a search and din't find anything.

I read today on tradmusic.com that from now on musicians will be allowed to take instruments as carry-on luggage in US planes in addition to the normal one bag allowed per passenger. Read the article here:

good news