[Trombone-l] Union/Airline Baggage Policy

[Denton Thomas]

Bill,

Personally, I haven't had much trouble traveling with my horn (2 fairly 
minor crinkles in 6-8 years).  I don't believe the situation is ideal, 
but it works.

Yearly, I fly 6-8 times here in the US and across to Melbourne, 
Australia.  Not a ton, but normal for a student.  Normally I fly on 
Southwest, United, Continental, Qantas, American.  I play a Shires Bass, 
and now use a BAM gig w/ backpack straps.  I've heard that some symphony 
players will check their bam cases straight off (!#%), but I'm not brave 
enough for that.  I put mine into a hard golf case which is surely 
larger than 72 linear inches.  Although I don't bother with bubble wrap, 
I do pack in towels, jeans, and shoes along the sides (to keep the case 
from moving around).

I've only been charged extra once - on the way back from Hawaii.  That 
was because I packed in a lot of souvenirs, and the inter-island weight 
load on Hawaiian stinks. :)  It's Hawaii, though, so $25 was worth it.

Again, I don't think my situation is ideal.  I've had my bell crinkled 
twice, but not with the current travel setup.  Previously I tried using 
a hard case (checked it the horn in the case w/ bubble wrap, yada yada. 
Crinkled it real nice on the first time out ... I was 19, whaddya 
expect?), and my Edwards bass in its leather gig inside of a golf case 
(that got my bell just once over a few years). 5 years of travel sure 
beats the hell out of a golf case.  Time for a new one of those, but 
they're cheap compared to new horns :)

I'm interested in hearing how other guys cope, especially bass 
trombonists?  I'm really afraid to carry-on my horn, even in the BAM, 
because I don't want to see it get 'gate-checked' all the way to my 
destination.  I have an inappropriate 10.5" bell - I know it would fit 
in the overhead on the Qantas trans-Pacific flights, but that doesn't 
help when I travel domestically here or there.  I heard that Weismann 
was going to be making some cool bass bone gigs, but they hadn't started 
production when I inquired (last October).

Great question, Bill.  Hope to hear what more people have to say.  
Thanks for the run-down on the AFM materials, too.

Cheers,

Denton Thomas

-- 
DentonLT at usa.net / dentonlt.com
+1.512.680.7395
Entering DMA: Performance, Trombone
The University of Texas at Austin