Traveling with the Tuba

[Tom]

The archives house some pretty extensive discussions on flying with a tuba.

Personally, I'd like to hear from someone who has purchased a seat and flown with a tuba in the last year...

The idea has always been intriguing to me, but I question just how easily that can be done with the post 9/11 airline security procedures and luggage policies. I can't imagine what it's like trying to buy a ticket for a piece of luggage and then actually getting it on the plane on departure day...I have a hard enough time with my (reasonably small) flight case.

[katfey]

The alternative is of course the cargo route. If you have just a regular shipping case - not a flight case - don't do it. The chances are good that your tuba will get smashed. My daughter has travelled with both Meinl Weston big red shipping cases and Walt Johnson cases and we have not had any damage to the tuba, but the cases have been gouged and bashed pretty bad. The scariest one was when we found the security inspector opened all the latches on the Johnson case, but only latched ONE when he was finished. Luckily that was enough.
You should expect extra charges for putting the tuba in cargo. Usually oversize and often overweight. The last airline I flew on it was $80 for oversize and $80 for overweight each way, so a total of $320 if they hit you with all the charges - sometimes a nice person will either look the other way entirely, or just charge for oversize.
If you are thinking about buying a seat for the tuba you should call the airline and talk to them and buy a ticket soon before prices go up. A friend of a friend has a separate frequent flyer account in the name of his tuba.

[hbcrandy]

Years ago, I took the first and second Houston Symphony auditions and purchased a seat for my tuba that was in a gig bag. They have extender belts for people who do not fit regular seat belts. That was what they put around my instrument. It worked well. At the time it was affordable. Texas International Airlines had "Peanut Fares" of $120.00 round trip from the Northeast coast to Houston.

[tubaaron]

Against all odds, I flew to Europe (and back) with my 2155 in a regular wooden shipping case with clothes stuffed inside the bell and in the spaces around the horn, and not a scratch was found! Was it more of luck or could that actually work i wonder..

[Uncle Buck]

Even if you get past security with the tuba, the airplane crew might not let you keep it in the seat you bought for it. Especially during take off and landing, they have every right, if they are so inclined, to require you to put it in the cargo bin (or gate-check it). Not a risk I'd be willing to take.

Seems to me that the better idea is to take the money you would spend on the extra ticket, and use it towards a good flight case.

[Tom]

Even if you get past security with the tuba, the airplane crew might not let you keep it in the seat you bought for it. Especially during take off and landing, they have every right, if they are so inclined, to require you to put it in the cargo bin (or gate-check it). Not a risk I'd be willing to take.

That's exactly what I was getting at in my first post!

The whole tuba-in-a-seat thing seems awfully risky to me. It would absolutely suck to be forced into either checking or leaving the tuba behind that was packed only in a gig bag!

[sc_curtis]

This past summer (June) I flew with my tuba (in my gig bag) in the seat next to me down here to Mexico to audition, and flew back. I will NEVER fly with my tuba again.

The flight attendent got this really bad attitude about me having to check it when we were getting on, until I showed her the extra ticket, then she was all sunshine and daisies.

I agree with the above, save your money and get a flight case. Although I had no problems on the "American side" at the airport, the "Mexican side" was a nightmare. Just get a flight case.

[sloan]

As I predicted a few years ago - there are now companies springing up to handle odd-sized baggage for airline travelers who run afoul of airline regulations.

Aimed primarily at folks travelling with skis, and other sporting equipment, these companies cut a volume deal with FedEx. They will arrange to pick up and deliver (pick up is usually one day ahead of travel, with delivery the day you arrive).

I poked one a month or so ago, and while shipping a tuba was unusual for them, they seemed happy to consider the possibility.

I was interested because I thougt I might fly to TUSABTEC in January, but I now think I'll drive.

If there's interest, I'll try to dig out contact info for the firm I dealt with.

[Tom]

I think that shipping it will be the best idea.

See if you can send it by Amtrak (train) "package express."

You'll need to send it out a couple of days before you depart so that it arrives in your destination at about the same time you do, but it's worth it for the kind of service you get:

1. Cheap (I've done it many times over for c. $70 insured)
2. Fast (about as fast as anything that's not an airplane)
3. Safe (you can buy insurance-they might have a limit, can't remember, the horn receives minimal handling-no inspections, luggage apes, etc., and it's never more than about 4 feet off the ground)
4. Reliable (far less risk that the tuba won't make it in a timely manner)

If it sounds too good to be true to you, it could be...Amtrak generally only offers this service to and from larger cities.

I've also shipped via Greyhound (bus), UPS Ground, and DHL...

Of those Greyhound was the cheapest (but also most risky...poor tracking system and little or no insurance available through them) followed by UPS and DHL. I encountered no problems with Greyhound and DHL, but have had mixed results with UPS (damaged tuba, but they paid up--hundreds of dollars-- on my insurance claim quickly though).

Go with Amtrak if you can, though...the best available.

[LauriH]

I think buying the flight case would be the easiest way to solve the problem. It might cost some dollars but then on the other side you would have around with you for a long time. You could also rent it if you know somebody who owns one, or better still borrow it. I'm sure that symphonic orchestras have flight cases and they might rent one of those for you.

-Lauri

[Tom]

Avoid flying with a tuba at all costs.

In other words...DON'T DO IT unless you absolutely have to have it and the only way you can get it there it to fly it along with you.

Call, email, send letters, whatever to anyone that has a tuba you could borrow or rent while you are at home. The pain of flying and the potential for damage make flying with a tuba a bad idea unless you have to have it and there is no other way (and there almost always is) to get it to where you're going.