STME58
2063 posts
May 16, 2018
1:00 PM
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My son just got accepted to a summer program at NYU for multi instrumentalists. He will be flying to New York with an alto sax, tenor sax and bassoon. Has anyone had experience carrying this much fragile and expensive gear on a flight and do you have any tips on how to help make sure it all arrives in playable condition?
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jbone
2549 posts
May 16, 2018
4:25 PM
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No experience with airlines except many moons ago- 30 years or so- they x-rayed my harp case and got all excited until I told them it was harps and please take a look. You hear horror stories of guitars being trashed or flight attendants not letting them in the cabin.
If it was me I'd be driving. After all YOU will take the best care of your gear. We towed a travel trailer all over the US last year with our gear and used it many places with no issues at all.
I wish him luck for real.
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STME58
2064 posts
May 16, 2018
5:31 PM
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A road trip would be a great idea and a great experience for a 17 year old. Timing will not allow it though. He only has two days between finishing a summer music program here at San Diego State and needing to be in New York.
Harmonicas are a lot easier to transport than the larger instruments. I have had similar experiences to the one you describe. Once, leaving out of Shenzhen China, I found the best way to explain to the guard what they were was to pick one up and play it. It went over quite well.
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jbone
2550 posts
May 16, 2018
9:51 PM
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I guess maybe if he packed them extra well he could maybe ship them. Max insurance. UPS or Fedex. I just would not trust an airline with my babies if I had horns or guitars.
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johnleewfan
10 posts
May 18, 2018
5:34 PM
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A cased alto sax should fit in an overhead I would have thought?
NYC is one of the few places where it should be feasible to rent or even borrow a bassoon. What do the program staff have to suggest?
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LSC
779 posts
May 21, 2018
3:30 PM
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Depending on the value both monetary and sentimental, you should consider a Pelican or Calton case. They are specifically made for the rigors of airlines.
Failing that, it's a bit tricky. He'd most likely be able to fit the alto in an overhead as mentioned but the sheer hassle of three instruments is another challenge. Putting anything through the baggage machines is to be avoided at all costs. The other option is to gate check. You carry the instruments up to the door of the plane where you are handed a baggage claim receipt. The instruments are then carried by the handlers by hand to the hold. Upon arrival the instruments are waiting at the door of the plane when you disembark. This avoids things like being lost in transit or sent to some black hole on the wrong plane. Even then I'd put them in flight ready cases if possible. If not, be sure to use as much bubble wrap as you can manage and still squeeze the instrument into the case.
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LSC
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STME58
2065 posts
May 23, 2018
7:57 PM
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Thanks for the tips. I have contacted the college and they are going to see if there are instruments he can rent/borrow. If all he brings is an alto, it will make the trip much easier. I looked into Pelican and they don't make a case big enough for a tenor except for an equipment case that weighs 90 lbs. I had hopes maybe we could put the bassoon and the tenor in a Pelican case and check that, but a 90 lb case makes that impractical. Calton only makes string instrument cases, but there is a company called Bam, that makes woodwind cases of similar durability. I suspect if he stays with music, we will be getting him Bam cases for all of his instruments.
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chopsy
64 posts
May 25, 2018
10:57 AM
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As an upright bass player our forums are filled with horror stories about trying to travel with our instruments. Many prefer to rent an instrument in our destination city rather than try to bring it with us.
Could one of the smaller instruments be brought on as a carry-on?
Last Edited by chopsy on May 25, 2018 10:57 AM
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Buzadero
1326 posts
May 25, 2018
12:26 PM
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I ship goofy stuff all the time for various one-off Projects we find ourselves dumb enough to get involved in. I've done some very delicate scientific instruments of all kinds of oddball sizes and shapes.
If it were me and I was shipping the instruments you described, I would build my own crate or shipping vessel and ship it via one of the actual "freight" shippers.
If the musical instrument came with some kind of case, use it. Then cover it in a plastic trash bag or drycleaning bag. Build a wooden crate and set it up with pallet spacers underneath for forklifts.
Use glue and screws, don't count on smooth shank nails and luck. Get some two-part foam. It can be in cans if you have to but that costs. Typically you can get it in A/B liquid form. Pour it in around all your stuff and close the lid and screw it down. Let it expand and lock it all in. Ship it. It works.
Two admonitions: Make the volume as small as you can. Foam it first undearneath to protect the bottom before loading it in.
When the kid gets it at the other end, he needs a cordless screwgun, a small prybar and trashbags to dump the stuff that he claws off the wrapped goodies.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
MBH poseur since 11Nov2008
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