Does anyone know whether I will be allowed to take the cleaning rod for my flute in the flutecase as hand luggage or will it be seen as a dangerous object & be confiscated? I know knitting needles aren't allowed as hand luggage & apart from not being pointed at 1 end the cleaning rod's not dissimilar.

I think you might have a problem, as some of the American flutists (sic) on Flutenet have reported problems with this in the past. It might be safest to pack it in your hold baggage. It's also worth keeping a sharp eye open when yourflute goes through the X-ray machine - Security personnel have been known to open the case upside-down. Saying loudly,' It's a valuable musical instrument, please take care' seems to help.

To be on the safe side, I'd check it in the hold, I very nearly had my rape alarm (used to live in Nottingham, so very much needed!!) confiscated in case it went off on the plane and caused panic. I refused point blank to hand it over and in the end they found a little screwdriver and took out the batteries and made me put them in seperate compartments. After that I'd take the keys off and put the alarm in the hold. No way was I going without it!

Also the fact you're flying from NI can make things trickier...*sighs* they just love searching my stuff....

Thanks andante -I'll pack it in the bag that's being checked in for tomorrow.
So I put the flute case/bag on the conveyor belt that goes through the Xray machine & try to make sure they don't open it before I catch up with it? Or will I stick a fragile sticker on the case?
When I come over in September I'm only bringing hand luggage - not sure what I should do about that?

If you can pack it in your check in stuff then I would, to be on the safe side. Since 7/7 things have definitely tightened up.

A very famous violinist was nearly refused taking his violin on as a carry on recently as he could have "taken the strings off and used them to strangle the pilot". He managed to convince them eventually that he was not a terrorist and allowed on the plane.

I think if they refused to let me take it on as hand luggage I wouldn't get on the plane! Though it would be funny if I turned up for the concert in September minus my flute cos they wouldn't let me bring it!

When I put my shoulder bag (stuffed to the top with music etc) through the X-ray machine at Gatwick, on my way to Hungary, I saw the person looking at the monitor peering very closely and calling others over to look. I couldn't think what the interest could possibly be...then I was called over and asked to empty my tightly-packed bag (BAH!). As I did so, the security person looked at me somewhat quizzically and said, 'Tell me, am I right? Is it a tuning fork?' and the penny dropped.

I use baby tuning forks all the time and children are always fascinated by them. Recently my chiropodist used this giant one to test sensation on the sole of my foot and I thought it was so cool I bought it off her. It is enormous and the children are totally gobsmacked by the size and the deep note it produces. I had completely forgotten that it was lurking at the bottom of my bag!

The security chap grinned, waved it in the air and yelled out, 'I was right! It IS a tuning fork' and what felt like the whole of the airport turned round to see what was going on...

I scuttled away, somewhat red-faced....

A fragile sticker should work. Double check your insurance first, though, in case of problems, e.g. flute ending up in Ibiza!


Tricky question. Somehow I doubt if you'll be allowed to take in on board as hand luggage. Everything from screwdrivers to nail clippers are banned now and I suppose a cleaning rod, or even the flute itself, could conceivably be a weapon in the wrong hands. I'd check it into the hold if I were you, just to be on the safe side.

Trevor James make wooden cleaning rods which aren't pointy and there are also the plastic recorder/flute cleaning rods which would do the job, are 'non threatening' and cost under a pound.

At the risk of asking the blindingly obvious, have you asked the airline whether it'll be OK? (although if it's a budget airline with a £5/minute "help" line I'll understand why if you havent!).

I was heartened to see at Stansted there is a violin in the signs pointing towards the fragile items check-in desk.

Tomorrow I'm flying with bmibaby & as far as I can make out musical instruments are allowed as hand luggage (extrapolating from the fact that cellos are allowed on if you pay for a seat & my flute obviously fits in a small carryon bag & won't exceed the weight or size allowance to be carried on.) Have gone round their website in circles (Easyjet who I'm flying with in September specifically state flutes, piccolos, violins & similar are permitted if room). Tried ringing the telephone no. given & ended up in automated loop where you just got the same information read out by a robot. Couldn't find a realperson!
Probably worrying unnecessarily but I'm very fond of my flute & it did cost considerably more than a student flute, so I don't want to let it out of my sight

I'm sure your flute will be OK, it is quite small (not like a cello) and not dangerous. But I would pack the rod as check-in.

I've never tried taking my violin on a plane but no way would I check it in.

could you manage without the cleaning rod, or borrow someone elses' while you're out there?

For the September concert I will manage without, or improvise?! It would be silly to have to check in just a cleaning rod wouldn't it

That's what I was thinking! Can you imagine the look on their faces if you tried?!

When I went to Israel my luggage caused much consternation and worry checking in... it turned out they'd seen the windchimes I was taking as a gift on their X-Ray and I think they thought it might be a weapon! Fortunately they let me take them... this was before 9/11 or I think I might have had problems.

You can borrow my cleaning rod, Andy. Better bring your own cloth, though.

Under no circumstances check your flute in. It's not worth the risk. If necessary, play it to the security guys to show it's not a weapon.

Thanks andante I'll take you up on the offer.
Made me laugh - the idea of me playing "some of these days" or the faure to the security guys

They'd be blown away with how good you are

I've always had my flute as hand luggage when I've gone anywhere with it, but I don't think I've flown since very shortly after 9/11 (and that was sans flute & coming home from Israel) so I would guess that things may well have changed...

I have a friend who requently travels with his guitar(s) and has had some interesting debates with people over taking it on as hand luggage. (I can't blame the security people though, having been squahed into the front seat of a Ford Fiesta with one of them between my legs, I know how much space they take up, I could hardly breath let alone move)

But a flute... speaking from experience, I'd say you could give someone a pretty serious injury with on if you hit them round the head with it hard enough. Not that I've done it to anyone...

You've done what with a security guard between your legs in a fiesta

We flew back from Paris last week and they searched everyone and any hand luggage that was bigger than a handbag. Took ages!

I'm sure that for the September concert you could borrow a cleaning rod from someone who plays flute or recorder. Don't worry! Best not bring yours if it might be confiscated.....

Have you got your flute duet/trio/group finalised yet?! I need to know details of what you are doing quite soon now!

I've never had a problem with either flute or cleaning rods. HOWEVER I did cause a bit of a stir at Philadelphia a few years ago when the blasted x-ray alarm went off every time I walked through it. I was practically naked before the security guard conceded it must be the hook on my (iindustrial strength) bra!!!!!!! The moral to this story - never wear underwear in an airport......"swing lowwwww, sweet chaaaar-iotttt" x

Oh dear, I should really read through my posts, before I stick them up And I guess, it's too late to edit it now! It should have read:

" can't blame the security people though, having been squahed into the front seat of a Ford Fiesta with one of his guitars between my legs, I know how much space they take up, I could hardly breath let alone move)"

Bagpuss, that happened to my grandmother! I do wonder if the security people really thought this little old lady with her terribly London accent was a dangerous individual!

Lol - poor granny! Maybe they thought my boobs were actually explosives or something (well now, that depends on the company I keep - obviously!). Now, this Serious Musician is returning to her pianoforte with a glass of red. I am BRILLIANT tonight - never heard such talent.....

I took my flute as hand luggage when I flew to England (from Germany) a few weeks ago and nothing happened!
Taking a violin might be more difficult! A friend of mine had to remove the strings because they said that she might wrap them around someone's neck! How bizarre is that??!

Don't think I'd get away with taking a sax!

Yup, I heard this before, (see my earlier thread). The guy I know however was able to leave his strings well and truly in place...after some explanation

Was about to say the same thing, i read that article

I had my flute in hand luggage on the way to Tokyo once and after it had gone through x-ray they made me take it out and they had a careful look at it (maybe they thought it looked like some sort of thin high-powered sniper's rifle on the x-ray!!) It only happened the once though - must have been a very suspicious x-ray operator that day!! Mind you they also made me take out a small cake tin and open it - it had a small Christmas cake in - a present for a friend! Imagine - a Christmas cake as an offensive weapon!!

Is your cooking really that bad Chocolatedog?

It was a shop bought cake !!!! (Wouldn't inflict my own on my friends!)

*tee hee* great thread, guys

Fragile stickers don't work!! I had to take my piano accordion to Australia. It weighs 17 kilos with the case but fortunately, after a pleading letter, the airline allocated me an additional 'free' 10 kilos of baggage over the usual 20 kilos allowed so I didn't have squeeze the rest of my luggage into 3kilos!! Accordion in case was duly wrapped in plastic, labelled 'Musical Instrument Fragile' with orange fragile stickers on it all over and huge 'This way up'arrows and signs.
We took it to the special part of the check-in, explained everything only to watch in horror as the operator swung the case ! thump ! onto the belt with gay abandon to rest on its narrowist side. Off went the belt and crash, the case fell sideways.
Haven't had much faith in a 'Fragile' sticker since then

Oh no! Was it alright though?

yes thanks Nicki - it nestles in a foam bed inside the case so survived I'm pleased to say. I was bothered all through the flight though, as of course it disappeared down the luggage chute before we could check it

Talking of cakes....I know of a professional musician who, when travelling home for Christmas, was stopped. Apparently the cake he was carrying had a consistency similar to that of the explosive Semtex!!!!!!! I bet his mum, who had made the offending article, was delighted!

Oh dear. That could have been an interesting Christmas!!

I always bring my flute with me, and only once did they stop me and ask me what I needed the rod for - I have a metal one as well, I explained etc etc and it was fine. And in my case I carry the metal rod and a screwdriver - never any problem. Also have a baby rod for the picc in there.

I do remember though one time, coming back from touring paris, a guy had borrowed my Rizla papers for rolling hash ... and the machine picked up something about it .... THey took my entire case apart looking for hash

I once saw in an insurance thing they advise you not to put instruments in the hold as the temperature could harm an instrument. I've also had a few things smashed by baggage handlers' carelessness. It's definitely hard to imagine an instrument as dangerous.