travelling with pipes

amckay · Post by **amckay** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:36 pm

Hi All
Did a quick search of the forum but found no thread that directly addressed this topic. I'm sure it does exist.
What is the best way to travel on a plane with your pipes? Do you remove the reeds and take onboard? Take the entire set onboard? Leave the whole lot in the cargo hold?
My instincts tell me that the depressurised cargo hold does no favours to the reed...

Brazenkane · Post by **Brazenkane** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:14 am

i've detailed this awhile back;

i use a softcase that i had made for me at this company (http://www.mooradian.com/Mooradian_Cove ... /Home.html) make me a bag that i've used this all over the world, and i've never had an issue. btw- YES, you bring it on board. mine was built to hold a concertina, flute, and full set of pipes and be w/in the limits of 72" (HxLxW) which is I believe what most airlines use as a general rule. i highly recommend this company and have been using their bags for over 20yrs now. if you give them your specs, they'll make you whatever you need.

carel · Post by **carel** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:17 am

one of the threads

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... ht=luggage

carry the pipes always as handbaggage

Pat Cannady · Post by **Pat Cannady** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:43 am

always carry them on

get to the airport early

try to get a good rugged case as small as practicable

get to the airport early

there are various solutions, I prefer a double breakdown shotgun case for transporting my pipes around - alloy frame, tough metal latches, fibreglass panels on the exterior, eggshell foam inside

get to the airport early

Try to take advantage of travel miles club status on any credit cards you have so as to get the highest priority available when it comes to boarding.

get to the airport early

A 1 meter long pipe case will fit in overhead bins on aircraft as small as a Bombardier CL 65 Regional Jet; even the 22x14x9 baggage template used by many airlines can still accomodate a broken down full set in concert or flat pitch (assuming the bass reg bar is removable from the mainstock).

get to the airport early

Board the aircraft as early as possible

get to the airport early

Stow your pipes overhead.

get to the airport early

Let the people arriving late with huge rolling carryons check their baggage instead of you

get to the airport early

As for security, it has never been a problem; they almost always want to take a look at the contents of my pipecase but that's as far as it goes

get to the airport early

and uh,

get to the airport early

Capesce?

papuga · Post by **papuga** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:32 am

I have not been allowed to bring my penny chanter into the cabin on ryanair flights the last few years, as the chanter is considered a dangerously heavy piece of metal by security people. The same with my low whistle. Bringing my wooden Keegan chanter and concert flute on board has not been considered a problem, though.

tommykleen · Post by **tommykleen** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:07 am

Pat has covered the ropes pretty much. He did forget to mention the most important item of all: get to the airport early

There are some subtle things which may or may not help.

-I travel with my pipes in a viola case, which makes me look like a high-priced, internationally-famous classical musician; one who is no doubt carrying a Stradivarius, and should be extended extra courtesy. If only they knew the truth!:o

-I always check my personal bag instead of trying to carry it on with the pipes, even though it seems just fine for most people to carry on 2.5 buttloads of luggage

. I can wait at the baggage claim with my happy pipes to keep me company.

For the actual boarding procedure:

-I use a shoulder strap which allow the pipes to be slung, comfortably and casually, from my shoulder which belies their actually mass/size. It doesn't look as though you are lugging any whopping-big item that will inconvenience anyone. I make a special effort to not look like the weight of the pipes are a bother at all: nice straight posture and some extra spring in my step. A preemptive trip to the airport lounge prior to boarding often aides in this

-If I am wearing a jacket (which in Minnesota is just about 364 days out of the year), I sling the pipes in a way that the jacket blocks the bulk of the case from view of the boarding officer. And I have them hanging on the side away from the ticket checker.

Lots of simple little stuff. Who knows if it really helps or not. But so far (touch wood) I have not been required to check the pipes, after many, many trips. Should that happen I have a cunning plan. A plan so cunning you can stick a tail on it and call it a weasel: I intend to hold my breath until I get my way.

T

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:43 am

Ditto tommykleen ... if only the TSA people knew the havoc I wreak not by CARRYING them but by playing them at my destination

Tho' on one trip I had to check them planeside

Never a peep about flutes, low whistles, high whistles or the like, and I carry my flute in a pistol case.

My fella has run into trouble once or twice with his fiddle (it's in a close-to-viola-sized case) but he's been able to get the flight attendant to let him stow it in the little closet on board in the cabin. The attendant has whinged, but if there's room that's an option.

That's an interesting idea about pulling the reed. Hmm.

mukade · Post by **mukade** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:09 am

If you have regulators, remove the tuning pins and put them in your checked luggage.

The pin on my regs really are very sharp and I'm sure the security officers wouldn't be too happy.

I have flown with a few chanters and I have never had any problems.
A notebook PC would make a decent club, so I don't see how they can get iffy about a chanter, although Ryan Air is well known for its bad customer service.

Mukade

misterpatrick · Post by **misterpatrick** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:32 am

This topic comes up quite a bit but always a good. As for cases, Amazon has a good deal on th Protec double viola case right now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002W37UQ

For those of us in North America a great deal at $137.

tommykleen · Post by **tommykleen** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:05 am

misterpatrick wrote:This topic comes up quite a bit but always a good. As for cases, Amazon has a good deal on th Protec double viola case right now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002W37UQ

For those of us in North America a great deal at $137.

"Water and abrasion resistant 1680 gauge ballistic nylon exterior"

Now, that's dead sexy!

I think most folks use the viola case. Anyone use the double violin case?

waymer · Post by **waymer** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:54 am

Anyone use the double violin case

I use an alto sax case that has made it through screening even though it was about 1/2 inch to big to fit in that little cage that they have for you to check your carry on for size

Chris Bayley · Post by **Chris Bayley** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:31 pm

Let the airline know in advance and if you are carrying them in anything that looks remotely like a gun case allow plenty of time as you will be escorted to the special security area.
On a recent trip to Sweden was whisked off under escort to a scanning area at Gatwick and the same both ways at Arlanda (I use a gun case). The worrying thing was that I was not checked at all when I came back into the Britain
The case did not have to be opened at either of the airports and they just x-rayed it so it you want to bring a submachne gun into the UK just glue a few keys onto the barrel
Chris

TheSilverSpear · Post by **TheSilverSpear** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:13 am

I've only had trouble once *knocks on wood* and I have flown all over the US and frequently between Ireland/the UK and the US. This trouble occurred on Singapore Airlines from JFK to Amsterdam via Frankfurt and they gave me a hard time because apparently they don't allow hard cases as carry-on baggage (I suppose they are worried about it falling out of the overhead bin and killing somebody). I refused to check the pipes and bought a duffle bag in the airport. It was a bloody expensive duffle bag, the pipes didn't fit very well, drones were hanging out, but as it turned out it was the best duffle bag I ever bought since the airline lost my luggage on that flight.

I normally keep the pipes in one of those hard, cases that Mickey Dunne and Cillian OBriain used to sell. It usually gets on board fine, even on EasyJet. The one time I flew Ryanair last month to Dublin, I put the pipes in a soft case I'd gotten for such purposes, as I'd heard all sorts of horror stories about Ryanair. When I checked in I held it below the counter. I'm not sure the check-in people even saw it. After that, there was no trouble.

Security sometimes asks what they are and if I answer, "Bagpipes" or "Irish bagpipes" they are usually placated. One woman in security went, "Oh, that is sooo cool! Can I see them?"

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:24 am

tommykleen wrote:
misterpatrick wrote:This topic comes up quite a bit but always a good. As for cases, Amazon has a good deal on th Protec double viola case right now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002W37UQ

For those of us in North America a great deal at $137.
"Water and abrasion resistant 1680 gauge ballistic nylon exterior"

Now, that's dead sexy!

I think most folks use the viola case. Anyone use the double violin case?

DANG!!! That's a great price! I got the single Protec viola case for about $100 with shipping and all (from Cases & More) and have been happy with it -- because I only have a practice set I was able to leave one of the cute little storage thingies in mine. It's very handy for my rapidly growing collection of rushes ....

But that seems like a couldn't go wrong thing, especially if you want something light-ish to carry.

Oooh, I'm about to go ballistic on that nylon, baby!

Brazenkane · Post by **Brazenkane** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:26 pm

i agree w/Pat on most all accounts.

I've faked limps, sickness, car accidents, antique courier, etc. **the latter doesn't work as well, so skip that** to get on the plane early. it ALWAYS works.

inevitably, there are a half-dozen people bring their sextuplet baby prams ....Christ only knows how they get all their junk on the plane with out being to required to check the swing-set they try to stuff across 9 overhead compartments....but that's a diff. issue.

I found "rugged" cases to be overkill and worst of all heavy. i can remember flying to O'Hare, thinking that gate 11 SOUNDED to be near by. What felt like a mile later, i'm still lugging my rugged case wishing it was lighter.

The case I recommend can be carried as a backpack, suitcase etc.

different strokes I suppose.......... a rugged case can withstand a mandatory check, but in all my travels, I've never experienced that.

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