flying

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

What does one do with these in this day and age. I am off to a gig far away (within US) and haven't flown to one for a long time (totally local for the past ten years!).
Some friends just leave it all behind, even instruments. They borrow rather than risk and hassle. I am taking one mandolin, but don't know what to do about emerg. tools. Some of you who do this must know the answer. Should I just borrow a wire cutting tool when I get there? Seems ridiculous for 48 hours, but maybe the most practical solution.

rasa

[mandoJeremy]

Yeah, just borrow one or you can pack it in your suitcase as long as you are not carrying it on. I went through this the last time I was flying and had to go back to the Delta counter to turn in a wrench that was around two inches long. They all got a major laugh out of it because what in the world could I do with a two inch wrench? Unscrew the wings in flight or something? It was quite ridiculous but I just put it in my suitcase on the way back and it was no problem. I always carry my mandolin on though and would highly recommend doing the same.

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

thank you mJ, anyone else?

rasa

[jimbob]

I fly back and forth between Africa and the US with my mandolin. I just leave the tools (and ivory picks) out of the case. I have never had any trouble taking it on as carry on.

[Stephanie Reiser]

Flown many times between Maine and North Carolina with Mando in tow. Always leave the tools in the suitcase underneath, but the instrument never leaves my side, and in the case I also keep the electronic tuner. Never a problem. I wish they would demand an onsite visual inspection so that I could take the mando out so that everyone could see, but after going through x-ray they just dont care.
Put all metal tools in the suitcase and you will be fine.

[steve V. johnson]

Yep, that's the way. Put the tools in the checked-thru luggage. Smooth.

Happy travels,

stv

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

Thanks, everybody. I'm traveling light, so I'm sending strings on ahead and put a #wirecutter in the contract. I've rarely had a serious contract problem, so I expect this will work.

rasa

[bratsche]

Took a mandola with me for the first time earlier this month on a trip. I never check any luggage, but only use a light shoulder bag as my other carryon, so I put some spare strings in a metal Altoids box in my carryon next to other metal things like the digital camera, etc. (Had a nail clipper in there too, in case I needed to cut a string.) No problems - and of course I didn't break any strings, since I have yet to do that, but you never know. And I can't think of a nicer way to while away the time waiting in the airport than sitting there playing a mandola, something that I'd never have the audacity to do with any of my bowed critters! ;-)

bratsche

[Salty Dog]

Last year, I was pulled aside after the X-ray and asked to open the mandolin case. #I asked to remove the mandolin as to do it improperly might cause damage (Calton case). #That was no problem. #What she wanted to see was a string winder/nipper in the storage compartment. #I explained what it was to her and she could see that it would be nearly impossible to cause damage to anything other than a string, I was allowed to put it back in the case and proceed. #I also had an Intellitouch tuner and several sets of strings.