[oscar4]

My son is travelling with his school band (from New Zealand to Croatia) next year involving a number of flights/bus trips and I am concerned about the welfare of his 2yo bari. It will be travelling in the original Yanagisawa hardcase. Will this case be sufficient to protect the sax? If not what steps should be taken to keep it safe?
I have seen other threads saying to carry the sax as hand luggage...after travelling thru Europe recently with "normal" luggage there is NO way that it would be allowed as carry on.

 

[cymru97]

Yikes...

I don't think I'd check my Yani B991 with any airline, especially in the original case. The case is nice, compact and rugged, but I've seen too many luggage clowns tossing baggage around to trust them. Any chance he could take a school bari? Since I don't fly with my horns others can offer far better advice, but if I were in your place I'd seriously consider buying some sort of ATA-style flight case. Yes, it's very expensive but will protect the horn best. You can always resell it after the flight.

Man, I'd hate to fly with one. It'd be nice to know if the school can hook him up with a loaner in Croatia. How long will they be there and how many concerts?

Best of luck!

 

[Jonathan C.]

Last time I flew with a horn. It was too on a school trip. They did a small number on my Tenor, and then didn't cover it, cause I left the airport. That was with a stock case. Never again.

~Carbs

 

[oscar4]

Thanks for your replies! But my hopes are sinking fast...
The band is visiting Slovenia, at least 3 different places in Croatia and Rome in the timeframe of about 18 days. The school has one bari which is used by another band member.
I have looked at other cases but they are pretty expensive in the US and that's without shipping down to NZ...we are talking thousands here, not to mention our poor exchange rate. As for resale...not a big market here.
I would be very interested to hear of peoples experiences who have flown with their horns, both successfully and unsuccessfully. One of the old experienced bari players here in NZ told my son to pack all his clothes in with the bari :shock: , needless to say I'm not holding that advise close to my heart!!

 

[awholley]

My bari made it to France and back in a Walt Johnson. Others have had issues with those cases (bari in particular). The general consensus I hear is BAM.

Maybe you could borrow or rent someone's BAM or other good case for the trip? Of course the trick there is finding that someone...

Alan

 

[jazzsax07]

Pack it in the case with towels so there is no movement. I use corks and cotton ball like thingys to hold keys down, like they come from the factory. That being said there is really nothing you can do if the inst. gets crushed.
Several years ago my school band was performing at North Sea Jazz Fest. as we left the stage the next band's tenor player asked to use one of our tenors. Their's had been destroyed by the airline. It was literally a "basket case"

 

[stefank]

I'll second the "pack out your case" suggestion. My tenor got to and from Beijing last year (via Air China) with no problems. I had the case thoroughly stuffed with spare socks, shirts etc which a) stopped anything from moving in the case, b) provided excellent cushioning, and c) gave me more room in my suitcase. I then gaffer taped the whole thing very securely shut before adding the prominent "fragile" stickers.

I think it would have survived most rough handling short of being run over with a vehicle. To cover that possibility you need to check the terms and conditions of your insurance policy. I would imagine one that guaranteed replacement in the case of an accident would still be cheaper than the armoured flight case option.

 

[Martin Williams]

Yes, PACK YOUR CASE!!

I flew with my bari like this, I packed the case, and then put it in a box like I was shipping it, and it went well.

 

[csax]

Martin - did the final 'box' fit within the maximum ' height x width x depth' for checked luggage ? Or is a bari case always going to be 'excess' luggage anyway ?

Great idea, just need to remember to take some packing tape to box it all up again for the return trip.

 

[Rowka]

These days you can expect and should plan for any bit of luggage going on a commercial passenger flight (checked baggage and carry-on) to be unceremoniously opened and man-handled by airport security.

 

[Dr G]

Asking - because I don't know the answer but want to toss the thought 'round:

Would it be any safer to ship it (EMS, etc.) there? It wouldn't be as likely to be inspected and you could more easily insure it if your current policy does not already cover it.

 

[Al Stevens]

Definitely pack your case as described here. Include lots of bubble wrap. Be sure to put packing inside the horn wherever you can. Make sure you can get it out upon arrival.

A friend of mine had a case specially built for checking his bari. He is on the road a lot. But for a one-time use, you can build your own.

Get some sturdy plywood and build a surrounding box to ship it in. Build it well to withstand drops and the weight of other luggage. Put thick foam packing in between the bari case and the plywood case. You'll need hinges and a locking hasp or two, and maybe even some wheels to make it easy to move around. You need to be able to open the box at the airport to inspect the horn upon arrival.

It will probably cost extra to check it because of size and weight.

 

[Martin Williams]

Martin - did the final 'box' fit within the maximum ' height x width x depth' for checked luggage ? Or is a bari case always going to be 'excess' luggage anyway ?

Great idea, just need to remember to take some packing tape to box it all up again for the return trip.

No, I paid a small extra fee for being slightly oversize, but didnt get hassled at all.

It was nice because it was sized well enough to not be to hard to carry, but big enough throwing around wasnt an option.

It was orig. packed in a protec case inside the box too, so not to big of a bari case, but nice protectic when stuffed with a little extra bubble wrap etc

 

[Martin Williams]

Of course if I was doing more traveling like that, with multiple flights in a short period of time, I'd get an Anvil case, and then I should be able to resell it afterward, they are very good cases and can be adapted to ALL kinds of equipment effortlessly.

Expensive yes, but you should be able to get a good resell on it so you dont have to worry

 

[oscar4]

Travel dilemma

Thanks for all your replies, very much appreciated. :salute:
I had dismissed the packing the case with clothes thing so thanks for setting me straight...we will use this if the quotes for other cases come in too expensive!! I have asked for quotes on several cases, Calzone, BAM, Jakob Winter and a locally made(&must email anvil too)...will have to see what we get but after past experiences I can't say I'm optomistic that the cases won't turn out to cost alot of $$$. It's the price we pay for being tucked away down here in the South Pacific!

Most respectfully Martin, a satisfactory resale of an anvil style case in New Zealand is not likely, sure people will "want it" but not want to pay anywhere near what it cost and alot of what we have to pay toward the case will be delivery cost which cannot be recouped. It's not cheap to ship to NZ and our exchange rate is poor, basically doubling the price of the case and shipping for us. If it wasn't such a great opportunity for our son I think I'd say he couldn't go...there will just be abit less in his inheritance :toothy10:

Again thanks for all your replies!! Cheers

 

[Dr G]

I have asked for quotes on several cases, Calzone, BAM, Jakob Winter and a locally made(&must email anvil too)...

Just to reaffirm... This is a case to put the case in. I don't know that BAM or Winter do such coffins. The Calzone and Anvil cases are straightforward for that - a box with a tough skin, reinforced corners, and lots of internal padding (typically about 2" thick). Given the shipping issue, going local seems a great idea.

G'luck.

 

[oscar4]

Don't know yet whether the local case will be up to the job...
Yes, my list does contain a variety of cases and I welcome thoughts on how the BAM & Winter cases would fare in the hold of a plane (they look good in theory but...), the advantage of these will be less XS baggage cost. The Calzone looks good, the outer shell looks very solid!
Nobody told me that once my son decided to play bari it would be such an expensive and logistical exercise...oh for the ease of carrying an alto onto the plane!! Or better still should have encouraged him to play clarinet...:toothy7:

 

[cymru97]

I agree with Dr. G, find a local shop to build one. A furnituremaker or woodworker should be able to create something rugged and safe. Cut the foam internals to fit the Yani case and pop it inside. There must be manufacturers making road cases in NZ. Nothing complicated a big rectangle with padding to hold another rectangle. That much traveling in that short a period of time is going to lead to abuse one way or another and I wouldn't trust the stock case alone.

Of course it's easy for me to say, I don't have to pay for it. Like Stefank said, check and recheck your insurance policy on that critter!

Again, best of luck.

 

[Dr G]

Nobody told me that once my son decided to play bari it would be such an expensive and logistical exercise...oh for the ease of carrying an alto onto the plane!! Or better still should have encouraged him to play clarinet...:toothy7:

Toots Thielman has made quite a career of whistling and playing the harmonica.

 

[stefank]

The insurance policy important. Not only may they break it, but there's also a chance you may simply never see it again, and no case protects against that (unless you leave it at home).