Need advice on traveling with tuba

[goldenmoose]

Hey,

I am looking for some advice on traveling with my tuba. I've never traveled with a tuba before and I'm a little lost. I wouldn't mind just driving to the audition with my tuba but it is over 1300 miles away. What are some of my other options? How can I fly with a tuba? If so, how? Can I ship it? Any other ideas?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[Jobey Wilson]

Depending how big your horn is, I HIGHLY recommend you buy an extra seat for the horn. Triton Brass has been touring quite a bit lately, and this is, believe it or not, by FAR the most economical & "peace of mind" solution. I do not think this would work for a BAT (my PCK might not fit in a seat), but anything like a Meinl Weston 2145, Miraphone 186, etc and smaller should be fine. You MUST have it in a window/bulkhead seat (no seats in front of you), that is NOT in an emergency exit row. Short story:

I've had 2 horns destroyed by airlines...both were in good flight cases, but when TSA examined them, they did not re-pack them correctly & they were heavily damaged...when baggage handlers see "Fragile" stickers, they typically see how far they can throw it. When Triton went to Western Mich Univ couple weeks ago, I had a hard-core anvil case for my F tuba and United charged me $320 ONE-WAY from Boston to Chicago to ship it. On the way back, United REFUSED to put the case on (even though they shipped it from BOS-ORD), and I was forced to buy a seat on the way back and leave my $1,000+ case at Chicago O'Hare airport...yes, I'm in a huge fight with them right now trying to get the case back & other charges reversed.

Buy a seat..period...jobey

[Bob Kolada]

I think Klaus would suggest you get the french horn player on them....

[Wyvern]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=37281" target="_blank

If you dare the inexpensive option.

[tubaguy9]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo