Plane travel

[Merc]

I'm just wondering how plane travel effects a Mando if you're forced to check it in with your luggage. #I assume you would loosen the strings. #But can being in the belly of plane at high altitudes with pressure effect the sound or cause the top to collapse or sink?

[acousticphd]

Merc,

I've been regularly travelling with one, though always a less valuable one. My best advice is don't let it get checked. To that end, I think it is better to use a small, compact case or gigbag so that it can always qualify as a carryon. If you use an "indestructible" bulky case, I think it increases the odds that eventually an attendant will insist it be checked.

The luggage compartments are supposedly pressurized and somewhat temperature controls, or so I have read on the airline websites and elsewhere. I personally think the potential dangers are far, far, far, greater as a result of mishandling on the conveyer belts, into and out of the luggage carts, sitting on the tarmac in rain and cold, going up and down the luggage shoots, etc. If you must check, always insist on a priority hand check at the gate. I have been forced to do this a couple of times with guitars, and it has worked out fine, but you always hear horrible stories.

[mingusb1]

I carried on a nice little european A-style last year. #After the trip, I was fussing around with it and noticed 3 small rectangular "spots" near the back binding where the neck attaches. #The spots were parallel to, and touching the binding.

The only thing I could think of was that the x-ray effected some glue or something. #The spots looked to be below gloosy finish.

No big deal, but has anyone heard of this before?

Z

[John Flynn]

noticed 3 small rectangular "spots" near the back binding where the neck attaches

I have no experience with that, but I think a more likely cause is the pressure differential the instrument experienced in the cabin. If there was even a tiny, sealed air pocket created by the fitting of the binding to the wood and the finishing, the rapid change from ground level to several thousand feet, even in a pressurized cabin, could theoretically cause a problem. This is just a guess, but it sounds more plausible to me than the x-ray machine.

[Tom C]

My guess is that you just did not notice them before flying.

[saznpins]

I'm heading out west (Vegas) for vacation on Sunday and will be carrying on my little Sweet Pea. I wouldn't want to check any mando. I'd be worrying about pressure and temperature the whole trip and that wouldn't be any fun!
Cheers,
Sarah

[PaulD]

I'm with Tom C on the "guess" that you were just looking harder and found the spots after flying. I would think that enough air pressure change to cause problems with the binding or the finish would bring major havoc with the passengers' bodies! That's just my intuition speaking, though, I have no scientific basis to back that up. I know that I've carried my instruments on vacations in Utah where I've travelled from St. George (about 2,700 ft above sea level, IIRC) over Cedar Breaks (~9,000 ft above sea level?) in the unpressurized cabin of a 1965 VW bus without injury.

Unless you've plugged up the sound holes, I would guess that pressure is not a huge concern. I'm in the camp with those that say rough handling, weather, and temperature changes involved in checking an instrument are probably the biggest dangers. I've always carried my mandolin and checked my clothes (gotta have priorities!).

I read an article somewhere that I wish I could find. It was probably written in 2002 and talked about how hard it's gotten for musicians to fly with valuable instruments in the post 9/11 era. It's especially bad for musicians travelling abroad, into or out of the U.S. That would be tough to have an irreplaceable guitar or cello and have airport security insist that it be checked so you don't strangle someone with the strings or break it open and poke them with your trussrod!

Paul Doubek

[Philip Halcomb]

Be careful what you say Paul, don't give Rumsfeld and Ridge's replacement any ideas!!!

[PaulD]

You have a point Flip... can I delete the last sentence in my post, please??? I also deny any rumors that I have ever listened to Cat Stevens or own any of his LPs!

pd

[wallflower]

I wouldn't worry too much about temperature or pressure...

If you own a mandolin it was probably delivered either through a dealer or directly from the builder, and during transport it most likely flew on a plane. #Regarding temperature, allow the cased instrument to warm to room temperature over 24 hours before removing it from the case and it should be fine.

Life is Good! #Enjoy!!

[mingusb1]

Tom and Paul, that was my 1st good (expensive, for me) mandolin, and with as O/C as I can be, I'm sure the spots weren't there before.

I'd actually refer to it as "ghosting".

No big deal anyway.

Z

[PaulD]

That's pretty weird, Z. Like I said, my post was mostly conjecture so I guess it's possible that something happened in the X-Ray or in-flight. I would still be more inclined to believe it was something else.

pd

[John Flynn]

That would be tough to have an irreplaceable guitar or cello and have airport security insist that it be checked so you don't strangle someone with the strings or break it open and poke them with your trussrod!

I think they should require that any banjo be checked and not carried on. I'm not afraid it will be used as a weapon, I'm just afraid the owner might play it!

[fatt-dad]

-Fatt-dad sits in Panama with his mandolin having no problems with mandolin carry-on. It fits both in the overhead and under the seat, other than the fact that it removes from my leg room.

I have also taken my mandolin, the shaped hardshell cases work better, and packed them in my duffle bag surrounded by my clothes. Having checked the mando-caccoon with no problems. I just like to have it with me in the airport when there is a long delay.

¿fatt-dad¡