Flying with a mandolin...

**flagstaffcharlie** · Jun-03-2010, 1:00am

...because flying with a guitar has become so problematic!

I have a 10 day trip later this year. That'll be a long time for me away from a guitar. I guess I'll become a better mandolin player.

I wonder if the problems with flying a guitar these days will lead to more solo performers using a mandolin or mandola? It has crossed my mind, though my mandolin playing needs a lot of practice!

**Big Joe** · Jun-03-2010, 9:50am

It all depends upon the case you carry it in. If it can fit in the measurements required by the airlines you should have no problem carrying it on board. If not, you may have to check it just like a guitar. There are a couple cases that meet the requirements, but many do not. Just check with the airlines to get the right sizes so you can ensure your case will qualify as carry on. If not, be sure it is packed very carefully in a very good flight approved case or it could become kindling for your campgrounds.

**man dough nollij** · Jun-03-2010, 10:02am

I've carried a mandolin on many flights all over the world, and have never had a problem. It is important to note, though, that a standard A-style hard case will not fit in the little cage they use to check if a bag is small enough to carry on. You know the one I mean-- there is a little metal frame right by the gate that any carry-on bag should fit inside. There is no way a mandolin case can fit inside there, but it takes up less room in the overhead bin, so they don'r harass us. If they ever feel like getting picky, though, the little bugger'l have to be checked, which would be a major drag.

**Mandolin Mick** · Jun-03-2010, 10:19am

I'm facing that situation next Friday when I go to Bean Blossom. TranAir has a 22" limit on carry-ons, and my mandolin cases are 29". I'm hoping to persuade them to put it in the overhead. I don't really want to put it in my luggage, but I'm preparing for that if I have to. I'm not buying a seat for my mandolin.

**wildpikr** · Jun-03-2010, 10:27am

FWIW

This past week I flew to Phoenix [with connecting flights in Dallas/Fort Worth] and back on American Airlines. I carried my mandolin in a Travelite case as my carry on. On the initial flight I was asked to gate check the instrument and politely balked - I explained briefly what it was and the flight attendant then let me store it in the closet. On all remaining flights there was no problem [they didn't even ask about it] storing in the overhead storage bins. I've flown with it many times and this was the first time that I was asked to gate check; normally it hasn't been perceived a problem.

**Mandolin Mick** · Jun-03-2010, 10:29am

Wildpikr-

Do you think the mandolin case will be alright?

**Flowerpot** · Jun-03-2010, 10:32am

I've recently traveled by air, 4 times in the last 4 months, and have carried the mandolin with me on every trip with no hassles at all. I use a padded shaped gig bag, and it does not get second looks. I've also carried a 2nd bag, a computer bag, with me, and have not been given trouble. I've flown Delta, US Air, United all recently, and many were even small commuter planes.

With the airlines all charging for baggage, everybody is doing the carry-on roller bag that gets checked at the gate. The gate personnel are diligent about looking for medium to large bags and tagging them for loading for gate-side check. But the mando in a gig bag is small enough, and obviously a musical instrument, they look at it and go on the the big bags, some the size of coffins (so it seems). On most my flights, the overhead compartments have only been half full because 90% of the travelers are gate-checking their overnight bags.

I would not try a full sized square hard case; that would be too tempting for the gate personnel to tag for loading.

**mandroid** · Jun-03-2010, 10:40am

My $0.02 .. FWIW, Eastman Fiberglass cases are pretty tight fitting around the instrument,
and so present a small item to stow in the OHC.

given TSA is consistently taking away string cutters and all that, what-not
you would have in the storage pockets,
sacrificed to reduce the case size, in FG Eastmans, ... no problem..

you are going to have to put that stuff in the checked luggage anyhow.

the 3 D rings for a backpack strap attachment, on the case,
will let you wear the case thru check in.

**Mandolin Mick** · Jun-03-2010, 10:46am

The flight is Milwaukee to Indianapolis, no connecting flights. I'm going to go early and preparing myself for long discussions with the desk, etc.

**wildpikr** · Jun-03-2010, 11:50am

Originally Posted by Mandolin Mick

Wildpikr-

Do you think the mandolin case will be alright?

Being checked? I wish I could give you a better answer but I don't know; I guess it depends on the case and the baggage handlers. Mine is a Travelite [oblong but not shaped like a mandolin] with D-rings that I attach a strap to. I carry it slung over one shoulder and walk right through. I've flown both Continental and American Airlines and have had good luck up to this point. I was really apprehensive the first time I flew with it but I'm comfortable with the procedures now. This time I saw a lot of people carry on small rolling suitcases that were larger than my instrument, but they fit in the overhead bins so I wasn't too worried. Based on my experiences, I don't think that you'll have a problem. Hope all works out well for you.

**buckles** · Jun-03-2010, 12:18pm

I've flown Continental several times with a '22 A in its original case. I've never been hassled about the case. But the overhead storage compartment does present a bit of a problem, because this case is of a size that doesn't fit easily into the compartment. It won't go in straight, i.e., peghead or tailpiec facing in, and if I put it sideways, someone might not see it and might jam their bag in and crush it - so I try to watch it until the overhead is stowed and closed.

**Susan H.** · Jun-03-2010, 12:41pm

I have always carried my mandolin and no one has yet to give me any grief over it. I did have to gate check it once, but it came out to me fine. I lay it down flat in the over head and it does fine, and I'm able to put my other bag on top of it.

**Mandolin Mick** · Jun-03-2010, 1:24pm

Well, I guess I'm feeling less apprehensive about this now. I've had years of experience with other instruments, but basses and guitars you don't take as a carry-on.

I appreciate all the experience that you've all had and welcome any advice or personal stories that anyone might offer.

**flagstaffcharlie** · Jun-03-2010, 1:34pm

ugh... so now I'm feeling more apprehensive. I figured this was the easy solution to no taking a guitar. I have a little Mid-Mo and a padded TKL case. And like a dummy I sold the little hard case I had.

Anyone have a recommendation for a hard case that'll fit the Mid-Mo nice and tight. Maybe I should give Mike at Big Muddy a call and ask him?

**Mike Bunting** · Jun-03-2010, 2:10pm

At my airport, they have a wire basket and my Calton doesn't fit all the way in, lengthwise, but the overall volume appears to measure up to the requirements. The Calton works for Air Transat and for Baltic Air and Air Lithuania in Europe, and is OK for NWA, Delta, Air Canada and Westjet in North America in my air travel experience.

**Wolfboy** · Jun-03-2010, 2:27pm

I fly pretty regularly (at least four transatlantic round trips a year) and always have my 1920 A in a normal hard case as carryon - haven't been challenged about it once in ten years.

Granted, most of those flights are direct between Paris and Washington, which means 777s, which means lots of room in the overheads, but still, I've also taken it on smaller planes, even puddle jumpers, on various airlines, to Denmark, Ireland, Canada, all over the US - never a problem.

I think it helps that it's in a shaped case as opposed to rectangular, so it's smaller overall, and it probably also helps that the case has a shoulder strap attached, so I can hang it casually off my shoulder hands-free and it's less obvious - somewhat like mandroid's backpack idea.

I ignore the wire basket, and apparently so do airline personnel.

There are no guarantees, I suppose, and if you run into problems it's more likely to be on smaller planes, but my experience has been that mandolins are small enough to be carried on without any hassle.

**Mike Bunting** · Jun-03-2010, 2:32pm

Originally Posted by Wolfboy

.
I ignore the wire basket, and apparently so do airline personnel.

.

I've noticed that too.

**Mandolin Mick** · Jun-03-2010, 2:36pm

The case I would take is a mandolin shaped case, obviously carrying an instrument.

In fact, last Labor Day I was walking thru a park and a gentleman yelled from about 50 feet away, "What kind of mandolin is that?" Started a friendship with the guy and he has a recording studio and all!

**toddjoles** · Jun-03-2010, 7:20pm

I never had a problem with carrying on a Mando or guitar. I was told that I might need to check the guitar once about 9 months ago. I jokingly reminded them of the United Breaks Guitars incident and mentioned all the bad press for united due to the incident. I was slowed on without a second thought.

Also most airlines allow a carry on and a personal item (purse etc...) I once used the personal item thing for my Mando with no trouble.

**JeffD** · Jun-03-2010, 9:35pm

Originally Posted by Mandolin Mick

The flight is Milwaukee to Indianapolis, no connecting flights. I'm going to go early and preparing myself for long discussions with the desk, etc.

It has been my experience that there is no two way give and take discussions with the desk. Perhaps I am a horrible negotiator, but in any discussion I have had with the airlines it has been either do it their way, have a long discussion about it and then do it their way, have a long discussion and talk to a supervisor about it and then do it their way.

Through these long and numerous experiences I have learned a trick. The trick is to be prepared to do it their way.

That being said, I have gate checked more than once, with a sturdy fiberglass case, and had no problems. Once my bautiful white Eastman bowlback case had some really horrible scuffs on it, but never a ding, and the instrument inside was fine.

**Lachlan** · Jun-03-2010, 10:20pm

JeffD, you must be a horrible negotiator.

I have flown with my banjo in a gig bag and never been given a second glance, execpt for a few questions about whether I play bluegrass or other music. Never had to gate check it, always been given plenty of room to put it in the overhead compartment, and even had flight attendants help load others' bags in the overhead to avoid damaging my banjo. Flying with a mandolin is like carrying a wallet by comparison. Just walk to the gate with confidence and smile! (It's hard to be mean to someone who's happy.)

**John McGann** · Jun-03-2010, 11:01pm

Ironic that the expensive cases are big enough to cause trouble and need to be checked...the cheapo ones are small enough to fit in the overhead. So far, so good for me on the Travelite... $50. Mike Marshall travels with his Loar in one, which is good enough for me!

**Dave Greenspoon** · Jun-03-2010, 11:25pm

My Rigel A's shaped case fits the overhead w/o hassles, and has never been challenged out of Pgh, Albany, BWI, Atlanta, Tampa, and others. But clearly the gate keepers are deranged as I've often been thanked for playing and "making nice music" in the waiting area, instead of thanked for putting the mandolin away! And now that I'm flying to Rochester next week, wait and see what happens! LOL