[Trombone-l] Union/Airline Baggage Policy

[Bill Dinwiddie]

Those of you who are AFM members, please look at page 22 of the lastest, 
April 2006 International Musician. The article outlines the latest 
suggestions by the union for travelling with your instrument. While I cannot 
reproduce the entire article here, I will give you some excerpts 
(paraphrased):

"Until such time as the union is able to achieve its goal of reasonable 
industry-wide policies, and considering the complaints it has received, the 
International Musician offers the following suggestions when travelling by 
air with an instrument:

1. Investigate the various airlines policies before purchasing a ticket and 
chose an airline whose policy best meets your travel needs. To this end 
there are links to all major airline policies on the AFM website as well as 
a chart below summarizing these policies. (16 airlines policies are given in 
the chart)

The chart is intended only as a guide and should not be used in place of 
viewing the official policy of the airline. Because many attendants are 
unfamiliar with their own policy, print and carry a copy from the airlines 
website.

2. It is best to choose an airline that determines maximum carry-on 
dimensions in linear inches. Linear inches is simply the sum of your cases 
dimensions (length + width + height)

3. Carry a measuring tape.

4. If given an option, sit toward the back of the plane. For those first on 
board there are considerably more storage options.

5. Delta is the airlines that the Fedeation receives the most complaints 
about.

Then the chart is printed out:

I will give you some examples from the chart:

American Airlines, Maximum carry-on dimensions: 45 linear inches; Checked 
Baggage Restrictions: 62 linear inches, $80.00 extra for 63 to 115 linear 
inches; 116 + not accepted, Checked Baggage Weight Restrictions: 50 lbs; 
$25.00 extra for 51 to 70 lbs; $50.00 extra for 71 to 100 lbs.; 101 lbs. not 
accepted.

United Airlines: essentially the same as American.

I measured the golf bag I borrowed from a friend to take my horn to San 
Francisco later this month, and it came out to 74 linear inches. According 
to the chart, this exceeds the maximum free checked baggage limit, which is 
62 linear inches. I might have to pay an extra $80.00 (each way???) to have 
them accept my golfbag/instrument case as checked baggage, and all I am 
carrying is a Conn 24 H horn in a Protec gig bag!

Perhaps my paranoia is running rampant here, but has anyone ever been 
charged because their case was too big?

Let me know your thoughts/suggestions.

Thanks,

Bill Dinwiddie
billdin at comcast.net