10 replies to this topic

[mark]

This is a message from the President of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. It is an important issue that we all as musicians need to be involved in.
Regards
Mark

[Michael_Molnar]

Yes, we saw this and I responded.

Mike

[hollenbach]

Yes, we saw this and I responded.

Mike

I think he posted it for those who would rather frequent one section of the board than another.

[gowan]

The saga continues: http://www.bbc.co.uk...hester-11138657 Of course this is a British airline, not an American one.

[skiingfiddler]

The saga continues: http://www.bbc.co.uk...hester-11138657 Of course this is a British airline, not an American one.

That link definitely shows how capricious all the rules are about bringing a violin on board as carry-on.

Even the solution being proposed

"The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) is now warning anyone intending to travel with a small instrument to check very carefully before travelling and to ensure their instruments will be accepted as hand luggage before booking any flights."

doesn't really help. An airline may state as general policy that a violin will be regarded as acceptable carry-on, but then restrict all carry-ons at the gate because of an overcrowded flight.

What is needed is a guarantee at the time of ticket purchase that the instrument will be allowed on the plane, if the player has gone through some reasonable procedures (which may include some reasonable surcharge, but something less than purchasing an additional seat). That guarantee then makes it the airlines responsibility to arrange the flight in such a way as to ensure the player can bring the violin on board.

[chronos]

There's a new petition from the AFM:

Musicians constantly face difficulty traveling with their instrument. Although AFM won a commitment from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to allow instruments through security checkpoints, policies for carrying instruments on to airplanes still vary wildly from airline to airline.

The inconsistencies in airline policies make it extremely difficult for musicians to plan their travel and earn a living. Thus AFM fought for language to be included in the Senate version of the FAA Reauthorization Bill (S.1451) that will streamline the airlines’ carry-on policies regarding musical instruments. If this bill passes musicians will be able to carry most musical instruments on board and place them in the overhead compartment or in a seat (if a ticket is purchased).

This bill is currently being debated in Congress and it is critical that all musicians weigh-in to demand that the Senate version (S.1451) of this language be included in the final bill. Please sign our petition below to support streamlining airline carry-on policies, so that travelling with an instrument is safer and more reliable.

Please sign this petition to demand that the language included in S.1451 is included in the final version of the FAA Reauthorization Bill.

[chronos]

US Aviation Bill Helps Musicians

[Addie]

US Aviation Bill Helps Musicians

Does anyone know when this take s effect? I have been sweating over this issue lately because I will be flying with violin in a few weeks.

I could also use case advice. I thought about a thermoplastic if I had to check. Thoughts?

Thanks

[Addie]

Update: I was traveling last week. I asked everyone I could about my case at the airport. They all said it would be no problem.
The trick is to board as early as possible, to get overhead space. Most people are carrying on "rollers" of a standard size. Once they put one in there is no room for violins or violas.
I boarded as soon as I could and had no problems. A violist from the Minneapolis symphony boarded late and they had to scramble to accommodate his case, but they did find overhead space for him as well.

[JamesRugby]

not that I'm flying any time soon but what would happen for a cello



James

[reedman]

not that I'm flying any time soon but what would happen for a cello

Cellists have to buy a seat next to the bulkhead for their instrument. The problem in the past has been that even then, some crews on board have still insisted on having the cello stowed below, regardless of the fact that it had it's own paid seat.