In the light of the recent accident encountered by German cellist Alban Gerhardt on his way from Germany to the US, and having experienced a similar incident, I wanted to share my view on how to approach the daunting task of flying with your cello.
Let's first get some important myths out of the way:
-My cello is not that expensive so it doesn't matter that much.
It does matter. Even if your cello is not a Stradivarius, I promise you your heart will break once you see it damaged.
-I never had any problems with my cello case and I used it to check my cello for years.
All you need is one accident to see how wrong this is. My bet is that anyone who has an accident checking their instrument will buy extra tickets for the rest of their life.
-I am saving money by checking my cello.
Once your cello has an accident and you are forced to buy an extra ticket for your return trip, or make changes to your travel plans, and eventually pay for the repair of both the cello and the case, you are not saving money anymore. And your cello might not sound the same ever again.
How to fly safely
Buy a ticket for your cello.
This is the only answer. Any trust put in any cello case checked under the plane is just like rolling a dice. It might work and it might not.
Check your airline's policies before buying the ticket. Some may give you a 25% discount on the full-priced ticket, some will charge you the full price. Note that you should not be paying any tax on your cello's ticket.
What should I remember from this article?
Buy an extra ticket for your cello. Check the guidelines of your airline carrier before purchasing it. Get an ATA Carnet if you plan to fly to Europe, especially Germany.
Good luck, and safe travel!
No comments:
Post a Comment