[zippey]

Hope someone could help me .I am travaling to the USA next year and would like to take my alto sax on board as hand luggage.I think that if I buy the smallest sax case it would be accepted as such as I guess that it would be about the same size as a small rucksack although not sure of the dimensions that Virgin set.I realise that if I get the smallest case to put it in the padding is likely to be minimal and so offer little protection.The last thing that I would want to happen is that the check in person insists that it goes in the hold.

Has anyone any advice on what make of case might be perfect for me or offer any suggestions...Thanks

 

[jetmech]

I carry a tenor on board often. Never had to check it. I use a pro tec case.

 

[bari_sax_diva]

You should be fine with an alto--I fly with mine all the time. If you want to be especially careful, get the smallest shaped case you can find (mine is a Walt Johnson flight case), and make sure you board early enough to find space in the overhead bins.

 

[notes_norton]

accidental double post, please ignore this one.

 

[notes_norton]

Make sure it's a flight case. There is a slight chance that you may have to check it, and although it is a slight chance, if you do, you will feel better about a flight case. This year I flew to Oaxaca, Mexico. I didn't take my sax, but during the last leg of the flight on an Embraer commuter plane, everything bigger than a lady's purse was gate checked.

I like a small, light, SKB case myself.

Check with the measurement requirements of the airline you are flying with. They will tell you length, width, etc., that is allowed.

Notes

 

[Pete Thomas]

You need to find out which airline and check with them. They have different policies which change from time to time as security levels change. They also vary with how strict they are at enforcing the rules. Usually I think you will be OK with an alto, but if it was me I would always check in advance. Also check their policy on compensation, especially if you find on the day you are dealing with a jobsworth and have to gate check it. This is unlikely with BA etc., but very possible with the budget airlines such as Ryannair or Easyjet.

 

[DaveR]

Alto sax has never been a problem for me. I know players who regularly travel with sop & alto and don't have problems, but....it's always best to check with the carrier before flying, you're not going 'til next year so you've got plenty of time to suss it out. Look here for official info http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/us/en/travel-information/baggage/hand-baggage.html but check with the Musicians Union about their agreement with the Airline Authorities which allows musicians to carry one instrument as well as one other piece of carry on luggage. Our bass player travels with his Steinberger bass in a soft bag and a wheel-on case with the the band music.

 

[scargo]

I will echo Notes, get something like a flight case (I have an SKB) as a just in case (no pun intended). Check with the airline. I HAD to check my tenor once, but I was flying on a puddle jumper and they flat refused and I was out of time to argue. After watching how they unloaded the planes (they literally drop toss the bags!!!) I feared my horn in it's Gator shaped case, but it turned out okay. Never willing to check again, it's just too scary.

 

[DaveR]

You need to find out which airline and check with them. They have different policies which change from time to time as security levels change. They also vary with how strict they are at enforcing the rules. Usually I think you will be OK with an alto, but if it was me I would always check in advance. Also check their policy on compensation, especially if you find on the day you are dealing with a jobsworth and have to gate check it. This is unlikely with BA etc., but very possible with the budget airlines such as Ryannair or Easyjet.

Most definitely, Ryanair & Easyjet are a nightmare for musicians. Avoid at all costs unless you have an industrial strength flight case and someone else is paying for it to go in the hold.

 

[SaxTon]

Alto in compact form fit flight case is no problem as it is small and will easily fit in smaller planes overheads as well. Key is to always board early and check the other bags so as to not draw attention to so many items (packpack, suitcase, etc.) In my experience of many, many flights tenor is no problem either. However , the soft bags are smaller that hard flight cases and this is what I use. As long as it fits in the overhead no problem in general. But tenor may not in small commuter flight planes (RJs, etc.)

 

[Bubba06]

I've flown with my tenor a few times. Try asking the nice young lady working if she would put it in a safe place for you, explaining the delicacy of the instrument.

-Bubba-

 

[hakukani]

Most airlines go with total linear inches, but be sure and check. Don't even consider ryanair...cattle get treated better, IMO.

 

[kavala]

You can ask the cabin crew to stow it in their lockers for you.

Some of the experiences quoted here may be true on internal US domestic flights.
However, the International Airlines get a bit anal these days about extra
carry-ons, and also with regard to security issues.

 

[hakukani]

You can ask the cabin crew to stow it in their lockers for you.

Some of the experiences quoted here may be true on internal US domestic flights.
However, the International Airlines get a bit anal these days about extra
carry-ons, and also with regard to security issues.

My solution to that is to not have an 'extra' carryon. Most airlines are one piece (like a backpack, or a horn), and one personal item (like a purse or laptop). I think you're asking for trouble if you take a backpack AND a horn.

 

[soybean]

Look at Hiscox for the most protective, Pro Tec for good quality and not expensive. A lot of people like the new BAM Cabin case. Also, think about how you want to carry it through airports. Backpack type cases are nice because they leave your hands free for opening doors, holding suitcases, etc. However, some cases are not really very comfortable worn on the back.

 

[zippey]

Thanks to evryone that posted replys to my question.
I now feel quite confident that all will be well as I am flying with virgin.
This is the first input that Ive done and am delighted with the responce.Thanks again

 

[PridgNYC]

I've traveled with my Jakob Winter fiberglass alto case many times with no problems at all. Small, durable, did I mention small, it's got enough room for the horn, a couple of mouthpieces, some reed cases and your neckstrap, but that is about it. It is also very light, and has straps for backpack carry.

 

[Super Action Man]

one time there was no space left on the overhead racks so I put it under my seat and put an open magazine on my lap whenever the stewardess walked past to hide the part sticking out.
too bad all they had was skymall .

 

[MartinMusicMan]

I've done a fair amount of international travel and I was about to say that in addition to checking with the airline it's also important to check with the country's and airport's policies about this sort of thing. For instance, it used to be that you could only carry on 1 bag if you were traveling through Heathrow or Gatwick airports. I heard that changed, at least for Heathrow. Also, on smaller flights in some countries you can't carry on anything bigger than 1 small bag. And in some countries you may have difficulty getting any unusual bag through customs. However, if you're flying from England to the US on Virgin, you should be okay. I like Virgin. It's a well-run airline (rare these days) and I generally have found them to be very accommodating.

 

[Kenneth]

Most airlines go with total linear inches, but be sure and check. Don't even consider ryanair...cattle get treated better, IMO.

As if cattle would deign to fly with Ryanair :bluewink:!

My solution to that is to not have an 'extra' carryon. Most airlines are one piece (like a backpack, or a horn), and one personal item (like a purse or laptop). I think you're asking for trouble if you take a backpack AND a horn.

Back to the subject at hand, I've never had a problem going onboard with my BAM Alto Trekking Case. Backpack style with additional space for a cellphone, documents, a notebook computer, etc., it's quite a neat solution for the one-bag-only policy when you need to travel with your horn, plus it's actually smaller than some of the stuff I see other people carry with them. I once actually flew Ryanair with it and they didn't give me any grief, maybe I was just lucky.

Kenneth