Hello All

I will be moving abroad to take up work somewhere else.

I will be shipping my belongings by sea but I really, really, really don't want to send my violin along with it. I'm sure I have seen people with instruments on flights. I just wondered if anyone has any experience with hand carrying a violin on a flight?

I don't want to check it in too as I know it's going to be thrown about etc. I will also be carrying a piece of hand luggage.

I will be calling the airlines to ask, but just wanted to see if anyone knows anything?

Many thanks.

Who are you flying with? Definately Easyjet allows you to carry as hand luggage, and even though they don't say on their website, BA are fine. Both Gibraltar and Heathrow airports didn't bat an eyelid when I mentioned it, either at check-in or at the gate.

BUT you have to take it as your piece of hand luggage. BA allowed me to take a netbook or laptop bag in addition, but it had to be small.

Don't check your violin as they don't like the temperature differences and can fall apart!! If necessary, check a second piece of luggage.

Hope this helps...

It can be worth asking for an official email response to your enquiry, so that you can have something to confirm what you have been told should it be questioned at check in. Some people have had success with printing out relevant pages from airlines' websites as well. It is all to easy to come across a member of staff who interprets the rules differently and it can lead to a very unhappy start to your new adventure.

Definately, better safe than sorry.

Good luck with the move!

bmi and flybe are fine too

Yes, the advantage of BA over Easyjet is that with BA you can have a laptop bag (not necessarily containing a laptop) as well as the violin. Ryanair don't let you take a violin as hand luggage, I think you have to buy a seat for it.

Ryanair are a pain in the backside with musical instruments, I can't in any way recommend them...

Many thanks for all the replies.

I am moving to the other side of the world (Sydney) and I'm flying with Malaysia Airlines. I'll call them up on Monday just to check.

Noted on the temperature, I'm concerned about the handling more than anything else. I've got a good case but with the tossing etc, I just get worried. Mine is not an expensive violin, still it's my baby!

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On a completely separate note, is there anything I need to worry about temperature wise when I'm in Sydney? Do I need a humidifier for it?

Many thanks!

Never assume any airline will be OK. Some are routinely awful (Ryanair), some are almost always accomodating, but you're inevitably at the mercy of the gate staff, who may not actually work for the airline and in such cases are more likely to stick to the written rules without deviation.

Budget airlines are primarily concerned about how quickly you can get your luggage on and off, and IIRC Ryanair's custom size hand baggage regulation is designed to allow three bags to fit handle-outwards in a single 737 overhead bin. Long haul, loading the luggage and fuel takes longer than the passengers, and there's rarely a shortage of luggage space.

All that said: the best thing to do is appear organised and efficient. If you've got all the documents ready at check-in and when boarding, and if you're not faffing about with loads of bags, you demonstrate yourself to be a Good Passenger, and should have no problem.

Finally, scour every possible page of the airline's website for any proof that they have a particular policy, and also have as many relevant phone numbers handy as possible.

Malaysia are quite accomodating usually. But I have known them weigh like crazy - esp at the Oz end. YOu can plead them down a bit if you are overweight mind you but if you are tryng to suck up make sure the total is under the limit including instrument. Excess is pricey and annoys them. I would get there EARLY and be very polite. You do not want them under pressure at check in. With name and telephone number in hand of whoever you speak to on phone presuming they confirm you can carry it and any relevant webpages. I would def not expect another piece of handluggage except for a handbag or laptop bag however - check in your second bag/backpack. But you might be lucky. Coat pockets are useful for a few sundries and its cold in Oz at the moment anyway so you need one. Wear a decent jumper and coat and you dont have to put either into your luggage anyway.

The overheads of Malaysia economy fill up fast so if they do accept it dont wander on near end of the queue when they board or your closest ones will be already full. If they make you check it be ready with hard case, fragile stickers, handed in specially - do not rely on its closing system and make sure you have a way of reinforcing that - bind it up with straps etc.