Taking a musical instrument as hand luggage

[LynGregory]

Another question...........

We are flying with Virgin from London Heathrow to Los Angeles and will have a Euphonium with us that we are taking out to my son.......

Has anyone ever managed to take a musical instrument as hand luggage?? How's the best way to tackle this?? Phone customer services ahead of time? Hope they are feeling accomodating on the day and let you take it as hand luggage? (even though it's bigger than strictly allowed).

We don't even mind paying the excess baggage fee, it's just that it's quite valuable and I'm nervous about them chucking it around..........

Any ideas??

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I had to google Euphonium, lol.

So since I was already on google, I googled "TSA musical instruments" and this TSA page looks like it will answer your questions!

 

[bumbershoot]

And from Virgin Atlantic's site:

CARRIAGE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Passengers carrying one musical instrument in its case, which is too large to fit within the cabin baggage allowance, may carry it through the airport security checkpoint subject to the relevant Airport Authority approval, where it will be taken at the departure gate for loading into the hold of the aircraft.

This item will incur excess baggage charges if it is in excess of your free baggage allowance.

Please contact us in advance, if you have any questions or if you plan to carry a large musical instrument.

 

[darph nader]

Well so much for my Sousaphone.

 

[mechurchlady]

The only way you could bring it on board the plane is if you could make it fit the maximum size for carry on baggage. I am sorry but that is the way the airlines are about carry on stuff. It has to fit in the overhead compartment and they limit the size of baggage so that people do not abuse the privilege of having carry on luggage. You might try taking it apart and bring the most valuable parts in your luggage like the mouthpiece and valves.

 

[bumbershoot]

The regs have been listed, so now I'll tell you that we saw a man with an overlong guitar (or something guitar shaped) get on board just fine last week. We were flying Virgin America, and hubby got a little miffed that the length of the case was over the limit, but I figured he could just lay it lengthwise in the overhead bin, and in fact that's what the guy did (he sat two rows in front of us). So they were in fact generous with the dimensions.

I googled euphonium dimensions, and everything I saw from what I could find said that the bell is 12 inches, so if that's so, depending on your case, it might actually work. Maybe. Good luck!

 

[KelliLee702]

Another question...........

Has anyone ever managed to take a musical instrument as hand luggage?? How's the best way to tackle this??
Any ideas??

My son had no trouble at all taking his Tenor Saxophone on the airplane one cross country trip at Christmas. It was great entertainment during our long wait at the two different airports, too!

Good Luck!