buying a ticket for tuba on Greyhound?

[Kayla]

Has anyone done this before? Can this be done? I have done it on airplanes with no issue but I don't want to assume the same for the bus. It's Saturday so I can't call customer service until Monday, but wanted to buy the ticket(s) this weekend. Any help is greatly appreciated!

(Oh, I also did a search on here and couldn't find anything, but if there is a thread dealing with this topic, I would like the link to it.)

[Dan Schultz]

Kayla... I ship tubas via Greyhound all the time. If I was riding a bus, I wouldn't have any qualms about just letting my horn 'ride underneath'.

[PMeuph]

Kayla... I ship tubas via Greyhound all the time. If I was riding a bus, I wouldn't have any qualms about just letting my horn 'ride underneath'.

Unless it were in a gigbag....

[Kayla]

I wasn't completely sure where to post the thread, but it makes sense to put it on a heavily trafficked board compared to this one.

I think I'm just going to call tomorrow and see where that takes me. I wanted to avoid underneath the bus but based on the overall success I've read with Greyhound (and what you guys say), it should be okay.

Thanks anyway.

(considered the Tilt-A-Whirl, but no stops to where I'm going)

[Dan Schultz]

.... I think I'm just going to call tomorrow and see where that takes me. I wanted to avoid underneath the bus but based on the overall success I've read with Greyhound (and what you guys say), it should be okay....

You might want to ask your ticket agent. If the bus is 'straight thru', you'll be fine. If there are bus changes, you will need to make sure the tuba also goes on your bus.

[RyanSchultz]

Make sure the horn is insured and that damage caused by shipping and theft are covered.

[Ben]

I have traveled with my ex-186 in a gigbag - I purchased an additional ticket for the horn. As the bus was near full, and many people were in line, they were some upset people who were waiting standby who were denied access to the bus, but the conductor allowed both me and my tuba to be seated. Here is the problem, as the bus was full, no one would move so I could sit next to my horn, so someone other than me got to have some extra room on my dime. No harm came to my horn, and I am happy about that.

[Kayla]

I have traveled with my ex-186 in a gigbag - I purchased an additional ticket for the horn. As the bus was near full, and many people were in line, they were some upset people who were waiting standby who were denied access to the bus, but the conductor allowed both me and my tuba to be seated. Here is the problem, as the bus was full, no one would move so I could sit next to my horn, so someone other than me got to have some extra room on my dime. No harm came to my horn, and I am happy about that.

I am currently on my last bus of the trip. I ended up buying a second ticket for my tuba, which actually was cheaper to do than to check it for under the bus (passenger discount). The three stations I was in - Kalamazoo MI, Indianapolis IN, and Columbus OH, were all relatively pleasant to wait in, and the staff people were nice and curious about the tuba. As I loaded the buses, all of the bus drivers gave me no hassle with my tuba once I explained that I had a second ticket. The trip from Indianapolis to Columbus was rather full, and like Ben's experience I ended up having to set my tuba in a different seat that wasn't next to me. I may have gotten lucky with staff and bus drivers, but my experience was pretty good, and I met some really intriguing people along the way.

Also - a smile, manners, and a positive attitude will take you a long way while traveling.

[Dan Schultz]

... Also - a smile, manners, and a positive attitude will take you a long way while traveling.

+1

[bort]

I may have gotten lucky with staff and bus drivers, but my experience was pretty good, and I met some really intriguing people along the way.

You're pretty much guaranteed to meet intriguing folks when ridin' the dog.

[Ben]

happy you had a good trip!