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Hey,

Just wondering if any of you euphers (or doublers) have ever checked a Yamaha euph in the slimline case. I'm flying out tomorrow, and had planned on just borrowing one of my school's bit Willson cases, but I thought I'd ask around first. Are those skinny hard cases tough enough for a plane ride???? Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Hi Cale,

I haven't flown with my euph as yet, but I know that some are able to fly with their euph as "carry-on".

I asked Steve Mead a couple of years ago how he flew with his horn. I expected him to say he always used an Anvil or Johnson case, but he told me he's never had any trouble carrying it on in a leather gig bag. This was two years ago and maybe the rules have changed.

Hope this helps.

I know many euphonium players that carry-on their euphs in gig bags without problems. Always depends on the person at the counter, but my backpack that I fly with is larger than a euph in a bag and I've never had anyone say the first word about it. I will point out that most of my air travel has been international, but the few hops in the US have had the same results.

Good luck and safe travels,
Josh Wirt

After having his Willson euph banged up as baggage in his Willson hard case the first two times he flew to college, my son has flown successfully on American Airlines a number of times with his horn in his Reunion Blues gig bag as a carry on. Depending on the size of the plane, the bag fits under the seat, in the overhead, or if you bat your eyes real nice and explain that you are carrying your career in your gig bag, you may even put it in the on-board closet.

The latter technique also worked with me with my younger son when visiting colleges during fall break. We walked on board with the horn and just handed it to the flight attendent and explained that we were heading to an audition and needed the horn to arrive in good shape. We didn't have any trouble coming or going.

That doesn't mean that the airline could have stopped us at the gate and made us gate check the horn. It certainly made for
nervous pre-boarding until we were on board, but everything
seemed to work out OK.