Mandolin on airplane [Archive] - Mandolin Cafe Forum

ngzcaz

Jun-04-2004, 4:00pm

This has probably been asked and answered, but
Has anyone recently flown w/ one as a carry on ?
I'm sure airline security would want it opened
to check the contents. I found a flight to Nashville
from NE Pa over the 4th of July I cant pass up.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

John Flynn

Jun-04-2004, 4:51pm

TSA will definitely allow them through screening as carry-ons. If they ask what it is, the right answer seems "a mandolin," not just" a musical instrument." TSA will very likely want to open everything. When boarding the plane however, it is completely up to the airline. If it meets the airline's rules for carry on and will fit in the overhead, you are on a full-sized plane and you are not on a full flight where everyone is fighting for space, you will be OK. If they want you to ground check it, be nice, tell them its a fragile musical instrument and beg a little, you may luck out. Worst worst case, if they do make you ground check it, you might want to slack the strings, remove the bridge and pray. I fly round trip every week. I have rarely had a problem, but occasionally you get a flight attendant on a power trip in bad mood.

WaywardFiddler

Jun-04-2004, 5:03pm

FWIW I've had no trouble getting a violin through security. They treat about any VSO (violin shaped object) as if it were a Strad.... mine ain't :-) my bow is worth more than the VSO... but anyway... security is very careful about instruments. The airlines tend to give you a pass on the carry on limits as well, within reason. Don't try to carry on a doghouse... but again, the crew tends to treat all instruments as if they were fine antiques. A smile and a good attitude go a long way.

Side comment for entertainment value: One time back when my daughter was 4 1/2, it was pretty slow in security, and one of the friendly agents asked if my daughter would play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for him. He was joking, but she couldn't get her violin off the conveyor fast enough to give him a concert there and then! Twinkle you want, Twinkle you get! Good thing he requested something on her play list!

-dave

sailaway

Jun-04-2004, 5:11pm

if you are worried about case dimension , call the airline you are flying -ask what is the maximum linear dimension of the case. they will say something like '45 inches' ---
then measure your case say 24 " long plus 10"wide plus 10" high is 44 inches you you are OK ! State this number firmly and with great confidence to the. If you are paranoid , make a diagram of your case and stick the airline's website printout stating maxumum linear dimensions on it then politely show this to the ariline person trying to take away your mando. and by the way they freak at unwrapped strings or nail clippers in the little pick compartments... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

fatt-dad

Jun-04-2004, 6:57pm

I have carried them on planes and never been asked one question - they just go through the xray. I have also surrounded them with clothing into my duffle bag and checked them through. Now I may not do that with a "real" mandolin, just a select few pac-rim jobs - ha.

f-d

JDARTGOD

Jun-04-2004, 7:10pm

Make SURE you check inside and clear everything out of your case that may be "possibly used" as a weapon.

I had to give up my handy dandy string cutters when I went by myself to the airport for a flight.

Carry that baby on!!

John Flynn

Jun-04-2004, 7:41pm

Re: The "linear dimensions" thing. That is very true and a great idea to know that and it works when your are flying full-sized airplanes, like an MD-80 or 737 on up. But there is a new game the airlines have started playing when they are using commuter aircarft, like an ERJ, on services such as "American Commuter." Your "under-the-minimum-linear-inches" carry-ons may get through security, and they may get past the boarding agent, but they may only get as far as the door of the aircraft. Then, at the door of the aircraft, the flight attendant may require the larger of your carry-ons to be "ground-checked," even if it meets the parent airline's carry on limitations. If the flight is full, anything the size of a rectangular mando case goes to the baggage handlers, period. A shaped case may make it, but I wouldn't bet my mando on it. As I mentioned before, I fly one of these two ways every week and I fly with a mando often. I know this drill well. An addiitonal problem is that the customer service operators and the websites for the parent airlines who are franchising these commuters are not reliable sources of information on this.

odeman

Jun-05-2004, 6:52pm

I've been flying on business with my "security blanket" for years. First, travel guitars, then ukes, but mostly one of my mandos. The best one is when I travel with my Weber Sweet Pea and the security guy at the x-ray machine gives me a "what in the heck is that" look. Plus, the case is cute and has always been a nice conversation piece when traveling. 'Never had a problem with any of my mandolins. They'll fit in any overhead or even under the seat.

Dagger Gordon

Jun-05-2004, 11:49pm

I've never had a problem, but sometimes I check it in anyway if I've other stuff to carry. I've got a good flight case for my expensive mandolin (if you don't then it's time you did). On vacations I travel with a cheap mandolin which has an OK case and it seems to work.

The last time I flew was from Turin, Italy to Glasgow in March, when I intended to check my mandolin in and the desk said I'd be better to take it as carry on! Admittedly that was just before the Madrid bombing, it might be different now. I've hardly ever been asked to open it, even going in and out of the US. You can see the strings quite clearly on the x-ray machine.

One possible point I've heard but have not encountered myself is that you should remove any spare strings,pliers or anything else you may have in the case as they could conceiveably be 'dangerous weapons'. I wouldn't have thought of that myself, but I think I read it here once.

BigRig

Jun-06-2004, 12:41am

One tip I've found useful on the smaller planes is to ask the stewardess to store your mando in the front closet. A smile and good attitude go a long way to ensure your instrument is treated with respect. Also, designating seats at the front of the plane adds a visual security to this process. Always emmitt confidence that your mando is not an out of the ordinary carry-on. I have flown numerous with my Weber Yellowstone for almost the past three years with almost no question. Those few times I was qestioned was at the door to the plane. I assured them with complete confidence that the mando complied with their restrictions and kept on stepping. I also keep a copy of the TSA letter verifying the validity of musical instruments as carry-ons in my case as backup validation.

Bluegrasstjej

Jun-06-2004, 1:46am

I've never had any problems with carrying my mandolin on the plane. Even after terror attacks I'm sure there will be no problems, they will screen it and find it's just a mandolin.

Scott Tichenor

Jun-06-2004, 6:23am

I'm actually surprised this question even gets raised. This isn't even on my radar and I fly all the time with mandolin in tow.

Bottom line is unless you have some kind of monster case that is way, way out of line with 99.9% of the cases out there, then you have something in your possession that is well under the allowable carry-on size. Compare your case to the next guy you see carrying on golf clubs.

The airlines don't care what you're carrying on as long as it's safe (banjos??? hmmm), unless it's just too big. I've flown many times with guitars, easily 3-4 times bigger and not been questioned.

It's all about attitude and being confident. Start asking a bunch of questions at the ticket counter though and you're way more likely to receive an answer you don't want to hear. It's under the allowable size so you DON'T need to as THE QUESTION. Or get smug with a TSA agent and cop an attitude and they may decide to have you check your "ukelele" just to get their kicks.

Staramouche

Jun-06-2004, 3:57pm

The last time I peeked out my window to watch the baggage "handlers" load the plane I knew nothing sacred would ever be left to their clutches. I am sure they are very nice people who had their dreams of professional wrestling dashed by an ankle injury, but they wouldn't get my mando!

The accoustics in many airports are too nice to pass up if'n your flying late, and a soft strum can bring huge smiles!

~~~~~~~~Joe

aimee

Jun-07-2004, 8:39am

I flew Delta this past April and brought the mando along with no questions asked. The smaller commuter flight had a rule about only one carry on, so naturally I brought the mando on board. I'd have to agree with the folks here who stated that patience and a good attitude is the way to go.

Ken Sager

Jun-07-2004, 9:24am

I've said it before, I've never had a problem except with America West Airlines. They ALWAYS insist an instrument is too large to carry on, regardless of its size.

Never fly America West, and always be polite. You'll be fine.

Joy to all,
Ken

peluna

Jun-09-2004, 5:58am

Here is some infor that might help:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?content=0900051980069af6

Here is the letter I carry when I travel with my mandolin or my guitar..
http://www.local1000.com/pdf/carryon.pdf

Tom C

Jun-09-2004, 6:36am

American Airlines has a size restriction of 45" L+W+H. My Bobalock case is
31+13+6. By all rights they may make me check it in. What then? It is the same
length and width(maybe even smaller) as a shaped case -only this is rectangular and it just looks bigger.

John Flynn

Jun-09-2004, 6:39am

Never fly America West, and always be polite. You'll be fine.
Let me add American Connection (Chitaqua Airlines). Same deal.

John Flynn

Jun-09-2004, 6:47am

Tom C:

I can only speak about the airline I have to fly every week. The problem with your Bobleck on American Connection (Chitaqua Airlines) would be that they just don't have any spaces on the ERJ big enough for some cases. They have to sort of follow American's rules, but they literally don't have any place to put it, that plane is so cramped. The way they sort of comply with the rules, is that they do this "ground check" thing. They let you carry it on the jet way, but then they make you give it up at the door to the plane. It is all manual baggage handling from there, like the old airline days, possibly more hazardous than what actual checked bags go through now. I have had the handle literally ripped clean off an expensive suitcase by those guys. I would really worry about putting a mando through it. Plus, American customer service does not offer this info.

Tom C

Jun-09-2004, 7:09am

No, I'd be flying a big plane to NY to CA ofr symposium. No banana planes -Chitaqua Airlines. Oops, maybe I should join DNA -Nation Dyslexic Assoc.

Hubert Angaiak

Jun-09-2004, 11:17am

I just flew in and carried my mando. It was xrayed and opened to check the contents. it was fine, but it wasn'r put back the way I usually pack it. Yes, be polite and take out all the little things you never know which person will check you though. The 737-200 is cramped, but the Flight Attendants were nice to put in the closet. I have a Peg case in case I have to check it as baggage. You usually can carry them on, but it all depends on an individual person you are dealing with. Good luck!