Even before the terrorist
events of last September, carrying a violin or viola on board an airline
flight was an iffy enterprise. In recent months, musicians have
encountered greater scrutiny—and even more hassles—from airport security
and baggage checkers.
For the past 12 years, I
have worked with customers at Ifshin Violins in Berkeley, California, a
large and busy shop. I've often been the first person in the shop to see
damaged instruments when they're brought to us by customers. As a
result, I have written letters to the insurance companies as well as
airlines. In my correspondence I've learned a bit of background
information regarding flight travel with instruments.
At press time, the maximum
carry-on size allowed by most airlines measures nine inches wide, by 14
inches tall, by 22 inches long, and is much smaller than the standard
violin or viola case. Yet, if you're a frequent flyer, you know that
passengers routinely bring big duffel bags, and other large objects on
board. Usually, if the item fits in the overhead bin, the gate
attendants and cabin personnel won't object. But rules are rules, and if
an airline employee does object, he or she can keep your treasured
violin (and you) off the flight.
Today, airline regulations
are in constant flux. Due to ongoing security concerns, there has even
been talk of not allowing carry-on baggage at all. Everyone is on edge,
and as a result, carry-on baggage regulations are much more strictly
enforced. More than ever, you need to protect your investment. The one
thing you should never do is allow airline personnel to take your violin
case from you and check it in the baggage compartment. If you do, the
chances are good that your instrument and bow will be seriously damaged
resulting in expensive repairs and loss of value.
So, what can you do? You
could take your chances and hope that authorities don't object to you
carrying on your violin. I make a point of asking customers who have
recently flown with their instruments about this and usually, there were
no problems. If there is some objection to the instrument case,
diplomacy and a good attitude may well help you get on board with a
minimum of fuss. But you should be prepared or you may find yourself
standing at the gate as the plane leaves without you.
Use a Good
Case
If you
hope to get the instrument into the cabin, remember that some companies,
Bobelock for example, make cases that are designed for shipping
instruments. Because the shipping case is shorter than a standard
around-town case (there is no place for the bow) it is less likely to
catch the eye of airline personnel. Keep in mind that some cases may
still be slightly longer than the allowable size, and you'll need a case
for your bow so you can carry it on board with you.
If you must ship your
instrument, or stow it in the cargo hold, I recommend doing so only in a
suspension case. The pads that support the top and bottom of the case's
back go a long way toward protecting the instrument from shock. The
shell that the case is built around should be strong, not flexible
(plywood is better than Styrofoam). If the box is crushed, the case
should be able to withstand the impact.
Packing the
Instrument
Simply placing the violin in a
hard case is not enough. Put foam rubber blocks or compressed soft paper
on either side of the bridge, underneath the tailpiece, and under the
fingerboard. The idea is to keep the bridge from falling. If there is a
space around the instrument, place small pieces of foam or soft paper
around it so that it can't move. If there is a case blanket, be sure it
is in place. If not, use some thick bubble-wrap packing material to
cover the violin.
If you're flying to a
large city and will have access to a qualified violin repair shop, I
recommend taking the strings and bridge off and having the sound post
taken down. With no tension on the body, the instrument is much less
likely to be damaged. Take the tailpiece off and place it in the
accessory pocket with the bridge. If you must leave the tailpiece on, be
sure to wrap it well so it won't scratch the top of the instrument.
Whenever we receive an instrument from another dealer, this has always
been done. If you simply loosen the strings, the post can move around
and may have to be adjusted by a luthier.
Once the instrument is
packed inside the case, it must then be put into a strongbox large
enough to leave at least two inches of space all around the case. Use a
new box, or one in good condition (boxes lose rigidity quickly). The
packing material should either be Styrofoam chips ("popcorn," as it is
sometimes called) or the case can be wrapped in bubble-wrap sheets with
large bubbles. The case shouldn't touch the inside of the box at any
point. Don't use wadded-up newspaper because no matter how hard you try
to compress it, it will compress even more during shipping, and the case
will bounce around in the box when it's handled.
Tape the box securely,
wherever it can open, with high-quality sealing tape. Ifshin Violins
frequently receives boxes that are partially open because the shipper
didn't use enough tape.
When you check your
instrument, insist that it is put in the pressurized section of the
cargo hold where pets are placed. If it goes in the regular baggage
hold, changes in pressure and temperature can cause serious
damage.
Insurance
If your violin, viola, cello,
or bass is valuable, insure it. Get a written appraisal if you don't
already have one. If you do have insurance, be sure to check with your
agent and make sure that the instrument is covered during shipment. If
you don't have insurance, you can get it from the mail carrier, but be
warned, it's expensive (usually about 50 cents per $100 value). If your
instrument is worth $10,000, that amounts to $50 just for insurance.
Customers come in regularly with instruments damaged during shipping,
but in our 20 years of shipping instruments daily, no instrument has
ever been permanently lost. Damaged yes; but lost, no.
Which Shipper Should You
Choose?
I usually recommend UPS or
Federal Express. You should choose a shipper that can accurately track
packages every step of the way. If your instrument gets lost and can't
be tracked, you may never see it again. Whenever possible, go directly
to the shipping company's own location. This will save you a great deal
of money. If you're shipping across the country, you may want to pay the
extra price for air (three days or less). The shorter the transit time,
the less likely your instrument will be damaged. If the instrument is
very valuable, overnight is best. Of course, if it's a Stradivari or
Guarneri, you will want to hand carry it with you on the plane (or try
to). The big shippers try to handle every box as carefully as possible,
but with the enormous volume that flows through their systems every day,
accidents do happen.
Ship instruments early in
the week, especially during the summer. This reduces the chance that the
box will sit in a warehouse somewhere over the weekend. If it is 110
degrees outside, and the shipment is stored in a non—air-conditioned
warehouse, you can imagine the results.
Traveling with your
instrument via air is invariably a stressful experience–especially with
the current lack of clear across-the-board regulations. But don't forget
that many airline personnel are under an even greater amount of stress.
An abrasive, combative attitude on your part will only make things worse
and make the gate agent much less cooperative. Remember, attitude is
everything.
