Ok, now what do I do??
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kontrabass
- 3 valves
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 11:30 pm
- Location: Toronto
- Contact:
Re: Ok, now what do I do??
Every tuba case is going to be "oversize" because they are bulky and awkward. My hunch is that airlines give that maximum size so they have the right to deny something if they have to. AND - if you call someone and ask, they are going to tell you a response that's "by the book" every time. The people you get on the phones - what do they know? They're customer service reps who are paid $8 an hour who've been trained to give responses according to a flowchart, they don't work in the airport and they don't have any understanding of how the actual day-to-day works.
For my part, I've flown with tubas and sousaphones in large flight cases - which are over the stated maximum LxWxH restrictions - about a dozen times, and NEVER had it denied for being oversize. I sometimes have to pay a fee for it being overweight - and, very rarely, for being oversize, but I've never been turned away at the gate. (Caveat: I fly out of Toronto, the airlines I've flown with a tuba - off the top of my head - are Air Canada, Westjet, Porter, American Airlines, British Airways, Air France, Singapore Airlines). There's an oversize baggage x-ray machine that the cases fit through fairly easily, if they don't I'm sure they would just open it up and inspect it by hand.
I think you just show up and play it cool, like there's no problem, don't say a word about size unless they ask. If they give you a hard time, be prepared to talk your way through and be prepared to pay extra fees. ("I've flown with this before and it's never been a problem". "Please, my job depends on my getting my horn there." "Can I talk with your supervisor" etc.)
If I had a choice between driving up to 2 days and flying with tubas, though, I would drive. Better to have the instrument in your control the whole time, you just never know. Flying is always a bit of a gamble, the price we pay for being modern jetsetters...
For my part, I've flown with tubas and sousaphones in large flight cases - which are over the stated maximum LxWxH restrictions - about a dozen times, and NEVER had it denied for being oversize. I sometimes have to pay a fee for it being overweight - and, very rarely, for being oversize, but I've never been turned away at the gate. (Caveat: I fly out of Toronto, the airlines I've flown with a tuba - off the top of my head - are Air Canada, Westjet, Porter, American Airlines, British Airways, Air France, Singapore Airlines). There's an oversize baggage x-ray machine that the cases fit through fairly easily, if they don't I'm sure they would just open it up and inspect it by hand.
I think you just show up and play it cool, like there's no problem, don't say a word about size unless they ask. If they give you a hard time, be prepared to talk your way through and be prepared to pay extra fees. ("I've flown with this before and it's never been a problem". "Please, my job depends on my getting my horn there." "Can I talk with your supervisor" etc.)
If I had a choice between driving up to 2 days and flying with tubas, though, I would drive. Better to have the instrument in your control the whole time, you just never know. Flying is always a bit of a gamble, the price we pay for being modern jetsetters...
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tubatooter1940
- 6 valves
- Posts: 2530
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: alabama gulf coast
Re: Ok, now what do I do??
I shipped my tuba to Seattle a week ahead of my gigs via U.P.S. ground. I let U.P.S. store help me package it. It got there fine for $200.
I shipped it back Fedex ground for $250. Tuba was fine. Box was rumpled.
I shipped it back Fedex ground for $250. Tuba was fine. Box was rumpled.
We pronounce it Guf Coast