Flight Cases

[Rick Denney]

1) Anyone has a flight case brand that they would recommend
I have a Willson 3050 and a MW2182 and I would really like to take them both

2) Anyone has any tips for flying with a tuba, i.e. how early to
get to the airport and how to deal with security, and how to
pack my horn(s)... or anything else

This has been discussed quite a bit.

The brand most often recommended is Walt Johnson, but many pros whose orchestras pay for shipping use Anvil cases.

Even in such a case, the best recommendation I have heard is to put a deflated volleyball in the bells, and then inflate it until it pushes the bell away from the case lining a bit. That will support the bell where it's strong instead of at the edge where it's weak.

The airlines are inconsistent in their application of rules, and even calling ahead does not provide clarity or a dependable answer. Probably the best bet, since you are flying domestically, is to ship the tubas to your destination via Greyhound or Amtrak, and pick them up on the other end. This takes time, of course. We've seen everything from "no problem" to hundreds of extra dollars in excess baggage fees. We've even seen some packaging rejected altogether. Yes, it sucks. Folks with Walt Johnson cases usually don't have too bad a problem, but often have to pay excess baggage fees. Bring plenty of cash.

The airlines do their best to avoid being held accountable for damage they cause, and they cause damage fairly frequently as a result. Most pros who travel consider it the cost of doing business. Good, specialized insurance is probably the best answer there. Some folks have been able to get restitution from the airlines, but it usually requires a huge and protracted battle. Yes, it sucks.

If it's Chicago, why don't you drive? It only takes at most a couple of days from most of the country east of the Rockies.

Rick "glad not to travel with tubas" Denney

[UTTuba_09]

http://www.hammytuba.com/Flying%20with%20Horns.pdf

I have my thoughts, for what they're worth...

[Rick Denney]

Yale"not trying to sound like an ***"Quan

So, instead of just insisting that you are right, why don't you explain how you did it? I know my big tuba won't fit through the conveyor X-ray. Did you present yourself to the security gate and ask for a hand inspection? How did they get it through the metal detector. Near as I can tell, EVERYTHING must either go under the X-ray or go through the metal detector.

What did you say to the gate agent when you go through the boarding line? And the flight attendant who inspects everyone at the door of the plane? Did you have to show them your extra tickets? I couldn't get past the flight attendant once when I tried to fly with my tiny 621 F tuba, and she didn't even ask me if I had a seat for it. And that was friendly Southwest, not surly United, and LONG before 9/11.

How did you secure the tuba in the seat? Did you wrap a seatbelt around it? What part of the tuba did you wrap with the belt--it's design to go over a lap, and tubas don't have a lap. I can't even put my briefcase under my legs; I KNOW they won't let an unsecured tuba just sit there. How did you get two tubas down the aisle, without causing injury?

As one who flies several dozen times a year, I'm quite familiar with security checkpoints at many airports. I cannot imagine how I would physically navigate a tuba through the checkpoint at Dulles, or Atlanta, or Chicago. I don't see any place where they would be able to conduct a hand inspection even if they were willing. Even getting a big tuba through the doors of the mobile lounges at Dulles would be no mean feat.

So, tell us how it works.

Rick "needing details" Denney

[Long Beach State Tuba]

That business of "buying a seat" seems apocryphal to me. First, how would you get it past or through the security checkpoint? Second, most tubas will not "fit" into a seat (too tall). Some dude posts here everytime this comes up and swears he buys a seat for his tuba, but I have a hard time believing it is feasible...particularly in the heightened post 9/11 security checks...

I am glad that Yale posted this topic, because I too had the same question about flying with tubas. And I am also going to Chicago for the same event. When I bought my 188 i flew from the Oakland airport to long beach and i didn't have ANY problems. Sure, i may have received some dirty looks from people on the plane, but other than that it was really easy. But i guess i am just "some dude" who claims that he bought a seat for his tuba... Yes, i think buying three seats for you and your two tubas is a little much. I think i will buy a flight case for my 188 and just bring my 822 on the plane with me. WWBW has a great deal on a flight case right now: http://www.wwbw.com/Unitec-Tuba-and-Sou ... 5790.music

[mTaUrBkA]

For college auditions I flew with my tuba and bought an extra seat. I took three seperate trips and had several plane changes, and went through security at several different airports. Overall, that went well for me and would suggest going that route, however 2 tubas may be a challenge (you have experienced it, not me). Going through security my Mirafone 186 fit through some xray machines, but not others. When it did not fit, it was hand checked, and even sometimes just a look in the bag without even taking the horn out (go figure with all of that increased security...). All of the people who hand checked it were very polite and easy to work with, and often times even let me take the horn out and hold it as long as I kept my hands in sight. My horn was too tall to fit actually in the seat, except for a few larger planes I was one, however it fit just fine on the floor in front of the seat leaning against the seat, and buckled the seatbelt through the backpack straps on my gigbag. The flight attendants were always very happy when they came to come tell me to strap it in, and it already was. Only issue I had on some very small planes (I don't remember plane models, but just two seats on one side of the aisle, and one on the other) was that they made me and the tuba sit in a certain row.

If anyone does decide to fly with a tuba with them in an extra seat, I highly suggest jetblue. There is more legroom on their planes, which means much more tuba room!