Traveling with a TUBA

[MomX4]

What is the best way to travel on an plane with a TUBA?

Flight case?

Extra seat?

Looking for advice! Thanks!

[Tom]

The absolute best thing you can do is avoid mixing tubas and airplanes.

If you absolutely must fly with your tuba, a flight case is vital. Cases by Anvil and Meinl Weston come with high recommendations from me, although Walt Johnson cases (which I've never actually owned) seem to be highly regarded as well. However, a flight case is no promise that the horn will arrive "as good as new" on the other end, so a significant amount of risk still has to be taken to fly with a tuba.

Also, there have been many threads in the past on flying with tubas, good flight cases, etc. that would likely be worth your while to read before you make any decisions.

I would also investigate ground shipping options. Although there is a good amount of planning and coordination on both ends of your trip needed to do this, it is far less risky and would likely be cheaper than flying. FedEx ground, Greyhound bus lines, and Amtrak (my personal favorite) are excellent choices. They are fairly cheap, seldom (if ever) get your horn more than a few feet off the ground, and keep handling of your shipment to a minimum.

[sc_curtis]

Last summer I took my tuba onto the plane and put it in an extra seat.

They will let you do it, but you don't wanna do it!

(trust me, it sucks)

[TTkatz]

I would highly recommend the Unitec case company. I just ordered a case from them about 3 weeks ago. They turned around my order and within 5 days of calling I had the case (probably not the rule, perhaps it's an exception).

The case is extremely sturdy, and I flew with it just two weeks ago now, and it held up extremely well.

Only problem is that the case is about 60lbs without the tuba. It has the potential to cost you $160 every time you fly (at least for USAirways it's $80 because it's over 71 pounds, and $80 because it's over 62 inches in dimensions) I'm just going to be avoiding USAirways because they are from what I've seen the most pricey airline in terms of baggage. (world's largest discount airline my butt!)

-Christian

[Dave Y]

Last summer I took my tuba onto the plane and put it in an extra seat.

They will let you do it, but you don't wanna do it!

(trust me, it sucks)

What's wrong with the extra seat? I'd like to know, since I might be selling my flight cases (I've only used them twice in 7 years).

[MomX4]

Thank you for all the informative posts. Thankfully we have a flight case and will be using that on a flight to MTNA tomorrow morning, however the cost of excess baggage, over weight baggage PLUS over size baggage (if they charge us) will be over what an extra seat would have cost. I just hope the baggage handlers are nice when they see a musical instrument coming their way - it sounds risky. Thanks again!

[MaryAnn]

If there is any room inside that flight case....stuff it with bubble plastic, so that the heavier parts of the tuba are well-wedged in there. Worst thing you can do is have the bell held fast and the rest of it flopping around.

Remember, they WILL drop it down a flight of stairs, or the equivalent.

MA

[Art Hovey]

The most important thing is to travel with an old tuba that already has a few dents. If it picks up a few more you can live with it. If your brand new and very expensive BAT is damaged, you will never forgive yourself.
Here's an example:
http://www.galvanizedjazz.com/tuba/tubacase.html

[Jobey Wilson]

Well, most of y'all know of my past flight misfortunes... AA had to replace the bell & leadpipe on my beloved Alex CC about 3 years ago, and Swiss Air bought me a new Gronitz 125 F after the France disaster w/my B&S Symphonie F last April...I had to fork out a couple grand, but they atleast totalled out my B&S. Last time I flew with one of my tubas, the organization who hired us bought an extra seat for my horn (thank goodness). It was the BEST "flight w/tuba" experience I've ever had...not to mention what a great ice-breaker for flirting with the cute stewardesses! And only traveling with the horn in the gig bag...thought I was in "Tuba Heaven." Though... I was only flying with my Gronitz F tuba (short & squat), and it was quite a snug fit (especially on one "puddle-jumper" leg). I haven't done this with my Alex, and honestly don't know if it would even work. If I only need to take the Gronitz, I will now ALWAYS get an extra seat, but otherwise, check out one of the flight cases everyone's recommending. I love road trips, so unless absolutely necessary, I won't fly with my Alex. Pretty much any stlye F will fit fine in a seat, but I don't know if it would work for any big horns. I'm very curious to know what the largest horn is that anyone's ever flown with in an extra seat. Anyone done it with something atleast the size of a PT-6??? With the new bell, my Alex is now quite equivalent to a PT-6...little taller, though...he, he, he!!! ...God, I love that horn...Sorry Lee!

[geomiklas]

... If they hassle you in any way, quote the TSA website on transporting musical instruments.

I have travelled coast-to-coast many times when I played the harmonica with The Harmonicats. I was hassled many times, and that was before 9-1-1. All the rent-a-cops wanted was a free concert.

George

[sc_curtis]

Yes, everyone is uptight about you boarding the plane with your tuba until you show them that it has its own tuba.

If you wanna feel like a freak show, and have cramped space (depending on your axe), go ahead and get an extra ticket.

For what I payed for a round trip, I should have just bought a flight case.

[LoyalTubist]

I have flown with the tuba next to me as a passenger (at the time, I was in the Army--I discovered the tuba does not get a military discount!) You are entitled to a meal for the tuba, but it's hardly worth it. With a good tuba case, you are actually better off having the tuba checked in and sent with the other suitcases.