This airline won’t board violas
OrchestrasMessage from Florian Peelman, professor at the Hanns Eisler Academy in Berlin:
I was denied boarding today on a Brussels Airlines flight from Brussels to Bilbao due to my viola case exceeding the baggage allowance measurements. Their website says violins are allowed, and I have flown many times with them before without problems.
I am on my way to teach a masterclass in Vitoria-Gastiez.
It was never like this on Sabena.
It’s gonna burn longer than a violin, if you go camping.
But not as long as a cello…
let alone a double bass – they keep you warm for hours!
And you know all about camp, Fred.
For reference, here are the rules. The following are not allowed as carry on baggage:
-Illegal drugs and narcotics, as these are strictly prohibited by law in most countries.
-Firearms and ammunition, as well as any replicas or imitations.
-Explosives and flammable items, such as fireworks, gas, and aerosols.
-Poisonous and toxic substances, including pesticides and certain chemicals.
-Lithium batteries, violas and other hazardous materials, as these can pose a safety risk if not handled properly.
Great response to a frustrating situation.
Exactly!
Good shout Patrick! On being asked by Queasy Jet if I had any sharp instruments with me I said “Only my violin” – this wasn’t taken too kindly and nearly missed my flight…
Jokes fall flat with those types ….
He’s a natural.
Rotten luck, especially if it was allowed previously. But here is what the airline’s website says about musical instruments — I assume carryon is the real issue.
“Bring your instrument as carry-on baggage
You can bring small musical instruments as carry-on baggage if they fall within the standard limits (55 x 40 x 23cm and 8kg). Musical instruments that exceed the dimensions by a few centimetres (e.g., violin, flute, etc.) may be transported as carry-on baggage and count as one piece.
Make sure your instrument can be stowed away in the overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you.”
55 cm is 1.8 feet long. Any full size violin’s case is going to exceed that by quite a bit. A viola case is usually 32 or more inches long, really just a few inches longer (and wider and perhaps also deeper) than the usual violin case. But some viola cases are really enormous, especially if an 18″ (body size, not overall length) viola is involved, something I learned while case-shopping recently. Either Prof Peelman had the misfortune to deal with someone unaware of their airline’s stated allowance of musical instruments, or they found his viola case’s size unacceptably bigger than the especially allowed violin cases, which are indeed already longer than the stated rules for carry-on.
Well it’s important to maintain some standards.
Yea. Violins. You know. Instruments with class. What did you try to being again? 😉 ;d
I guess you committed a viola-tion!
Not Bad if not original BUT … thanks for reminding me
Stringing you along?
I am dismayed by this latest example of growing restrictions on carrying instruments onto aircraft cabins. Whilst that is bad enough I am also dismayed by the comments on this platform, which lack a serious engagement with what is a very serious and growing problem for the music profession. All professional musicians need to push back against this trend. Failure to do so would be catastrophic.
I agree it’s definitely a serious issue. But PLEASE we need a little humour along with the music.
Boycott the guilty airlines us my suggestion. Plenty of musicians out there!
Eda, I can enjoy a viola joke, even though I am a violist of long standing. But this is not a trivial matter. Violas may exceed this airline’s carry on policy. Next stop violins. Will we be expected to find that funny? No, this has to be resisted, or else before long there will be no musical instruments allowed in any aircraft cabin. Just think for a few moments about what effect that would have on the music profession.
Lots of sympathy, Michael. A fellow violist told me recently she had to book a seat for her instrument. Very unfair, as most viola cases will fit in the overhead locker.
Same happened to me when booking the ticket; and then when I boarded the cabin staff said there was plenty of room in the overhead lockers; so I was effectively paying full price for an empty seat. It’s the uncertainty if you trust to the staff on the day of the flight that’s so corrosive.
Adopting a pompous attitude is never an effective way of tackling a problem. Probably makes it worse, in fact.
Not unheard of on this site.
I am starting to practice on my childhood Harmonica…not funny But yes I AM !
I bet I’ve standed my viola longer than you, Michael.
Discrimination what would the legal Profession argue: an instrumentalist (except the sainted Larry Adler) might have his livelihood badly affected by travel restrictions BUT not a Pianist !
Lighten up, Michael. Take your work seriously, but not yourself. Life us too short.
Thank you for your concern John. In fact I’m recently retired, so I do not take my work too seriously at all. But I do worry for my former colleagues who are still working, and whose professional lives are becoming more difficult.
He really should invest in the blowup model, it fits nicely in a pocket and can be inflated in minutes, intonation is also much more secure.
Go by train next time?
Musicians with out boards.
This is why, years ago, I bought a shaped case so that my viola looked like a violin at first glance, hoping that the airlines personnel would make that assumption. I also understand there is a French (I think) case company that makes cases in two parts, one for the bow and one for the instrument, that are detachable so each part fits the luggage guidelines. So far, I’ve actually had more problems going through security than issues with boarding planes
I double-checked the two-part case and the company is Italian, Bogaro and Clemente. The case style I saw was the Alexander. I’ve been considering it for myself- hope this helps someone!
There is zero chance I’m gate checking my horn. Zero. Chance. It’s going to be a long drive….
“Can you throw me in the cargo hold and gently place my horn in the seat?” I promise it won’t recline or leave the tray table down during landing.
Just tell them it’s a violin. I once heard that Bernie Greenhouse used to do that with his ‘cello. Most airline personnel wouldn’t know the difference…
I found that a Trinity viola case (16”) has the same length of a violin case (full). I ordered one for the future flights with my 16” viola. I used to carry my electric viola (16”) in a slim violin case (full) for flights and it worked. Anyways, it’s very challenging to fly with a viola.
Tell them it’s a violin next time.