View Full Version : Carry on mandolins
Jingles
Mar-22-2004, 3:59am
Has anyone ever had trouble with air lines not allowing you to carry on a mandolin? I used to work in an airport, and there is no way I'd trust the underpaid, overworked (like I used to be) baggage handlers to store my mandoin in the baggage compartment.
John Flynn
Mar-22-2004, 1:00pm
There have been multiple threads on this and the consensus seems to be that there is no problem, as long as it meets the size requirements for carry-on. I have done it many times, no problems.
Send me a private post with an email that i can reply to off the Cafe system. I'll attach a pdf file of a letter written by the Feds authorizing TSA airport screeners to allow small musical instruments as carry-on baggage in addition the limit already imposed. It's for real; and very impressive. It will solve an unexpected and unwarranted problems.
Go to the Traveling with Mando thread and download it from there.
Ken Sager
Mar-22-2004, 2:26pm
Send me a private post with an email that i can reply to off the Cafe system. #I'll attach a pdf file of a letter written by the Feds authorizing TSA airport screeners to allow small musical instruments as carry-on baggage in addition the limit already imposed. #It's for real; and very impressive. #It will solve an unexpected and unwarranted problems.
Problems with TSA's security only. Airlines have their own policies.
Ken
Bob DeVellis
Mar-22-2004, 2:41pm
I have a copy of the TSA letter but have never had occasion to show it. I suspect that if an airline employee didn't want to let a mandolin on as hand-held, the letter would do little to change his or her mind. I hope I'm wrong about this, though. Has anyone actually shown the letter and had a previously uncooperative employee say, "oh, well that's different. Be my guest." Or something to that effect. I'm in no way questioning Lee957's excellent suggestion to have the letter with you. Like I said, I have it. I'm just wondering if airport personnel take it seriously, given how easy it is to fake a document of that sort. Any first-hand experience?
John Flynn
Mar-22-2004, 4:05pm
I have the letter also and have never had to show it. As was already pointed out, the letter only applies to TSA. American Airlines, for instance, has its own policies. It will allow instruments, but they count as one of your two carry-ons, versus the instrument being in addition to two carry-ons, as in the TSA letter. The case still has to meet thier carry-on size limits. Also, if you are flying one of the "American Connection" small jets (aka "pencil jets," aka "lawn darts") where the overhead and underseat spaces are smaller, you may have to ground-check it. I fly every week and in my experience, the "commuter" or "connection" airlines are rougher on luggage than the main airlines. I have had stuff damaged in both ground check and regular check on commuters. I would never trust them with an instrument unless it were in a true "flight case."
My solution has been to go to a travel mando. I know people look down on those little buggers and I agree they are not great instruments, but I always know that it will fit in an overhead, no matter what type plane I am on and how crowded the flight is. Also, they are so cheap I am not too anxious about mine being damaged.
ericwall
Mar-22-2004, 5:06pm
Only once was a stopped at the gate by a young woman who said" Sir, I'm not sure there is room on the plane for that guitar." I was so floored, I said the quickest thing that came to my mind...
"Mam, this is a mandolin, not a guitar. I've carried it all over the world on airplanes of all types without a problem. It's also the way I make my living and is very, very expensive."
She then backed away and said, "Well the flight attendants will have to decide."
I got on the plane just fine! And I'm nowhere near a pro and my mandolin is not very, very expensive- but it worked.
Best,
Eric
Jingles
Mar-22-2004, 6:14pm
Thanks for the replies. I'll be sure to search the message board before posting next time. The reason I'm asking is that they made me check in a headless bass guitar the last time I traveled. It would have easily fit in the overhead compartment, but they gave me a hard time. Luckily it was in a hardcase, and It arrived without incident. BTW, if you do have to check-in an instrument I was told that it's a good idea to loosen the strings to relieve tension on the neck. Do you concur with that? Though interesting, physics was never my strong suit.
mrmando
Mar-23-2004, 10:56am
I actually called Continental Airlines and read a section of the TSA letter to them over the phone -- the part that talks about "aircraft operators" being instructed to allow instruments on board. In return I got the line about TSA having its policies and airlines having their own policies, yadda yadda. I then asked the nice lady what she thought "aircraft operators" meant, and she actually told me she didn't know.
That phone call was the occasion of my buying a Calton...
Eric's inventive diplomacy was a brilliant response.
Jeff Hoelter
Mar-23-2004, 1:03pm
I was in a hurry one time and didn't have time to check my bag, so I had 3 carry-on's. #When the SouthWest employeed stopped me, I showed her the TSA letter. #She took it to a supervisor and came back and said it was fine. #3 carry-ons. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
The word of the TSA letter DOES apply to "airplane operators" - whether they recognize that or not is another matter.
Normally with just two carry-on they never even notice the mandolin. #I've never had a problem fitting it in the overhead, even on small jets and prop planes.
Jeff
jpsy422
Mar-23-2004, 9:26pm
ive carried on:
Baritone Saxophone (about 5 foot case, weighs about 60 lbs in case)
Guitar (acoustic and electric in cases)
Alto Sax
Flute
not all at once, but over multiple trips. #they really dont care when it comes to instruments as long as they have the room for it/you buy an extra seat for it if its too big. (you can often get these at discounted rates)
a mando will by no problem at all as its small enough to fit as a carryon even in the most luxurious of cases.
just always ALWAYS insist that it is a very expensive instrument and you cant have it out of your sight. they will MORE than accomodate. (i even had one flight attendant ask me to play for her on a long trip, it was really fun, and she was really cute http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif )
jpsy422
Mar-23-2004, 9:30pm
Thanks for the replies. I'll be sure to search the message board before posting next time. The reason I'm asking is that they made me check in a headless bass guitar the last time I traveled. It would have easily fit in the overhead compartment, but they gave me a hard time. Luckily it was in a hardcase, and It arrived without incident. BTW, if you do have to check-in an instrument I was told that it's a good idea to loosen the strings to relieve tension on the neck. Do you concur with that? Though interesting, physics was never my strong suit.
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS loosen the tension on the strings before you fly.
and ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS take all of the air out of your toothpaste before you put it in with your cloths. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif