Flying With Accordion? (from AllisonA/Animaterra)

Subject: Flying With Accordion? (from AllisonA/Animaterra)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 24 - 06:38 PM

Hello, all. I wasn't sure if this belonged above or below the line, but it has an accordion, so I'll keep it in the music section.
I'm traveling to the Orkeys and Shetland Islands from the US this summer, flying out of Boston, and I really want to bring my 72-bass Serenellini accordion with me. I prefer to carry it on (it's my Precioussss!). Any trips, airlines that are accordion friendly, airlines to avoid, etc.?
British Airways requires a hard case; I have the awkward, bulky one that came with the accordion but usually carry it in a Blue Heron backpack case. I'm open to buying a better quality hard case, so recommendations for that are welcome, too.
Lastly, are any of you in Stromness? Lerwick? We're even going to Fair Isle. I'd love to meet you.
Thanks!

Subject: RE: Flying With Accordion?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 24 - 06:38 PM

Not from Guest, this is AllisonA/Animaterra! I'll try to fix that.

Subject: RE: Flying With Accordion?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Jan 24 - 07:38 PM

Check out your accordion dimensions and weight in its case. Some airlines will allow them on as hand baggage if they fit the above specifications. I have flown my Saltarelle button accordion to France and Spain from the Uk several times as hand baggage, and can get travel docs etc into the case, though I guess it’s smaller than yours. Very bad for the reeds to go as hold baggage, as far too cold!
How are you getting to Orkney/Shetland from mainland Scotland? If by ferry, no problem, but if by air, check out Loganair for their rules.
Finally, the other option to consider is leaving your own precious accordion at home and looking to borrow or hire one over here. Scotland is FULL of piano accordions everywhere! (Button boxes much rarer!)

Subject: RE: Flying With Accordion?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 24 - 03:31 AM

The usual solution is to buy a 'seat' for the instrument, airlines some at least, have that option and it is the only way you can bs certain you will be able to take it with you in cabin.

Subject: RE: Flying With Accordion?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jan 24 - 05:54 AM

They do accordion hire in Aberdeenshire. Would that work out cheaper and/or better?

Subject: RE: Flying With Accordion?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jan 24 - 11:54 AM

From here: Facebook page (please resume any remarks here at Mudcat, where anyone else who wants to fly with an accordion can learn from these responses).

Subject: RE: Flying With Accordion? (from AllisonA/Animaterra)
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 28 Jan 24 - 11:13 PM

In your hard case use extra soft foam to cushion well.

The foam cuts easy and precise with an electric carving knife.

Pack your hard case inside a well cushioned cardboard box.

You might be best shipping it ahead by parcel-post.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

I cannot imagine renting one ... any instrument has a unique feel acquired through the years.

Subject: RE: Flying With Accordion? (from AllisonA/Animaterra)
From: leeneia
Date: 02 Feb 24 - 03:04 PM

Are you an experienced traveler? Are you fit, with good joints?

I just flew on Loganair four months ago, and I felt like I had slipped back several decades. They had stairs for boarding, rather than a ramp, and they had not made things easier by lowering the risers. It was miserable. (I have bad knees.)

How much will your accordion + case weigh? (A Hohner 72-bass weighs 33 pounds, just to get an estimate. Say the case weighs 7. That's 40 pounds.) Better try lowering 40 pounds at home.

Can you get it over the field, up the stairs, into the luggage compartment, back out of the luggage compartment, down the stairs and across the field? When you get to town, you will have to lower it carefully off every curb, because they don't have ramps.

Oh, it would be good to have the instrument on wheels for rolling. Decorate the case to make it distinctive. Why buy foam for padding when you can pack clothes around it? Mostly you want to keep it from shifting around in its case.

Me, I would not take a beloved instrument on a long, complicated trip. There are just too many risks plus too many inconveniences. (Lost, dropped, chilled, overheated, stolen.) Plus big trips have challenges, even if you are enjoying yourself, and another piece of luggage only adds to the challenges.

Subject: RE: Flying With Accordion? (from AllisonA/Animaterra)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Feb 24 - 05:14 PM

Looks like the consensus is, don’t bring your own instrument but borrow or hire when you get here!
You haven’t said exactly when you’re coming, but you might like to tie in with dates of folk festivals, although of course accommodation will be harder to come by then. Shetland FF runs from 2nd - 5th May, and Orkney FF from 23rd - 26th May.
There’s also Shetland Folk Frenzy from August 8th- 11th August, a summer school aimed mainly at fiddlers, but there is a pianist among the tutors.   
And the St Magnus International Festival in Orkney, which has everything from classical to jazz to folk, from 21st - 28th June.

Subject: RE: Flying With Accordion? (from AllisonA/Animaterra)
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 05 Feb 24 - 05:22 PM

> Lastly, are any of you in Stromness? Lerwick? We're even going to Fair Isle. I'd love to meet you.

What chance anyone who is in any of those places will happen to read this thread with its present title?

Could an Elf perhaps change the title to "Flying With Accordion to Orkney & Shetland"?

Subject: RE: Flying With Accordion? (from AllisonA/Animaterra)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 13 Feb 24 - 12:03 PM

Allison might also do well to post on thesession.org - it has a section/tab for "Trips" where you can tell people where you'll be and when, and hopefully they will come up with some suggestions for where you might find sessions.
While the site was started primarily to promote Irish traditional music, they are quite tolerant of Scottish and other nationalities' trad music now (not so much in the early days of it!)