| Author |
Comment |
CelloGirl14
Registered
User
Posts: 17
(5/27/01 3:41:01
pm)
Reply
|
Traveling with a
cello
Hello everyone! Heres my problem
This summer in June I am
traveling with my cello to Minnesota to the St.Olaf music camp. I
live in Arizona. I have read articles that I should tune my cello
down. I have decided to take the advice and do that. My problem is
what other steps should I take with my cello. Its brand new (like 2
months) & im scared to death to travel with it. Some people take
the bridge off but is that necessary? I don't think it is I have
also heard of someone taking out the sound post. I find that
weird.Also for all the people that have travled do you buy a seat
for your cello? Im starting to think I need to. If any one can give
me any info on traveling it will be deeply appreciated. Also if
anyone has any keys to over come the fear of flying that would be
cool too. The more info the better.
Thanks!!!!
|
zambocello
Registered
User
Posts: 602
(5/28/01 12:53:08
am)
Reply
|
Re: Traveling
with a cello
If you really want to have a cello with no major damage you buy a
seat for it. If you're willing to take chances you put it in a
Kolstein case or other shipping case and gate check it. If you're
ready to buy a new cello you just check it with luggage in its
regular case.
|
etn69
Registered
User
Posts: 9
(5/28/01 10:33:26
am)
Reply
|
Re: Traveling
with a cello
Hello,
I've read somewhere that some airplane companies
accept
a cello as "hand luggage" at no extra cost
(i'll try to
find that document again for you)
Ask some representative of
the company you plan to travel
and try to arrange things with
him.
I just went back 2 week ago from a tour with my
orchestra,
and if you are interested, here is how we achieved
the transport of the instruments:
Every big instrument
(cellos, basses, percussions etc.)
travelled as freight in the
airplane, provided:
- each cello was in its own (obviously hard)
case
- every hard case was put individually into
another
metallic box
- all these boxes were then placed into a special
container
with regulated temperature & pressure.
(and
probably humidity as well.)
- a special insurance has been
subscribed by the
orchestra, to cover only travelling
risks
With all these precautions I obviously experienced
no trouble at all, except that I had to wait a
few days to
get my cello back after the trip.
I would not give my cello as
freight if less than
these precautions are to be
taken.
IMHO it is indeed a good solution if many
instruments
have to be transported (in our case, 15 cellos +
8 basses + others) but might cost a lot for a single
cello
!
Success,
Etienne
|
CelloGirl14
Registered
User
Posts: 18
(5/29/01 3:01:45
pm)
Reply
|
Traveling with a
cello/ent69 a question for you.
Hello, Thank you for all your help with my predicament. In response
to your suggestion I called the airline I am thinking about flying.
I wanted to fly Delta but it was too short of notice and now the
tickets are $820. Too expensive for me at this point in time. I am
debating on flying Sun Country or American West. I dont think im
going to fly AW because they have a history of losing luggage. I got
in contact with Sun Country. They DO NOT insure your cello, and if
you put it in the cargo hold under the plane it is at your own risk.
That doesnt settle well with me. So what airline did you fly ent69?
The people at Sun Country arent very supportive of bringing someting
that fragile on one of there planes. I wish I had the kind of
equipment you have but all I have is a simple hard case
Bobelock/sp?or I can borrow my teachers travel case I dont know the
brand that is. But thank you for your help on this matter. It is
deeply appreciated. I will also keep an eye out for a document of
the sort.but if you know what airline you are talking about that
would help a great deal. Thanks!
|
Paul
Tseng ICS Staff 
Administrator
Posts: 1338
(5/31/01 2:32:12 pm)
Reply
 |
Re: Traveling
with a cello
I agree with Zambo that the best thing is to buy a ticket for your
cello. But I've used a Kolstein case extensively and can tell you
that despite it's incredibly clumsy design and almost unmanageable
weight, it's fabulous protection. I've seen it go through incredible
stuff and my cello has never even gone out of tune while transported
in it via plane.
Does anyone know of a lighter travel case
that is just as sturdy and reliable as a Kolstein?
Paul Tseng
My Website
Alexander's Photo
Albums
Free Cello
Music!
|
SW
Registered User
Posts: 48
(5/31/01 3:21:56 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Traveling
with a cello
I know some Canadian cellists and a British cellist who swear by
their Stevensen cases. I wouldn't recommend something unless I have
had personal experience with it, so maybe someone else reading this
has used one.
|
NoGut
Registered
User
Posts: 5
(5/31/01 7:18:11
pm)
Reply
|
Re: Traveling
with a cello
I use the David Gage case (http://www.davidgage.com)/
and it's hasn't let me down....(knock on wood.)
I don't tune
down, remove bridge, etc. You risk losing your sound post placement
(and your sound post!). Then you have to find and pay a luthier to
set your sound post. I also prefer the cello to maintain the
structural integrity it was built to have; pressure down from the
strings, up from the arch in the top and support from the soundpost.
Bringing the cello onboard is very safe but can be an
amazing headache--especially on American carriers. First you
absolutely need to book it a bulkhead window seat. Some planes only
have bulkheads in firstclass. I did have a stewardess tell me that
i'd have to upgrade in order to fly!
Second, most airplane
staff aren't really ready for a cello on board and there always some
level of panic or discomfort which is definitely possible to
overcome but a hassle. As everyone has said it's the safest way to
travel with your instrument but not always the most stress
free.
For more info on travel: www.erikfriedlander.com/travel.htm
Good
luck.
|
etn69
Registered
User
Posts: 15
(6/1/01 2:27:28
am)
Reply
|
airline
We have been travelling with China Airlines
(Amsterdam to
Bangkok).
If the plane is not completely full, you might
have
a chance to be allowed to take your cello with you
as
hand luggage at no extra cost.
The soloist who played with us
was allowed to
take his cello with him - but there were plenty
of
unoccupied seats.
If the planes are overbooked (i
remember having been in
that condition during my holidays in the
US) then the
most "secure" solution would be indeed to buy a
second
ticket. Well, if your cello is relatively new,
you
might even get a child fare ticket for it ! ;-)
imho,
NEVER put your instrument in the cargo since there
is no
pressurisation - and i don't even know if there
is heating. At
30.000 feet, pressure is 1/4 of
"standard" atmospheric pressure
at ground level and
temperature is -60 Farenheit (not to speak
about
relative humidity which is also very low - but i
don't
know the figures).
I jus't can not imagine a cello
surviving in these
conditions !
Etienne
|
Duane
Nevins 
Registered User
Posts: 18
(6/1/01 5:53:24 am)
Reply
|
Traveling with a
cello
I agree that you should avoid checking your cello in as baggage if
at all possible. I just want to clarify one concern that was
addressed. I am a pilot and fly small single engine airplanes. I'm
reasonably sure that the cargo space on commercial jet aircraft is
pressurized and temperature controlled. The concern still remains
about the rough cargo handling.
Duane
|
etn69
Registered
User
Posts: 16
(6/1/01 8:33:32
am)
Reply
|
What a nice
hobby !
I'm not sure if every cargo bay of a plane is pressured -
maybe
it depends on the kind of plane ?!?
BTW congratulations for
flying ! Personnaly I'm an amateur
pilot as well, and i'm fond of
gliding.
I just moved to the Netherlands last year, but
weather
conditions over there are not very good to glide.
And
motorflying is just too damn expensive in this country !
As a
compensation, I enjoy the fact that there are
*plenty* of very
nice (and good) amateur orchestras here !
As a result, i practice
more music and less flying here.
Etienne
|
NoGut
Registered
User
Posts: 7
(6/1/01 9:28:16
am)
Reply
|
Re: Traveling
with a cello
Rough treatment is the main issue. Pressurizing and temperature
have never been a problem. Pets fly in that compartment
too....
It's been my experience that international carriers
flying anywhere but the United States are often much more relaxed
with the cello in the cabin. Singapore Air, Malaysian
airlines...also flying into Macedonia, I could practically put the
cello anywhere. In the States however they will actually break out
the manual..which, by the way, is BIG and very detailed about where
a cello has to be.
After 10+ years of touring with my cello I
find the airlines in the States to be much more problematic even
when I check the cello which is what I do most often (99%). They
will check it but sometimes will charge for oversize. Of course, it
is oversize! But, most International carriers (Lufthansa, AlItalia,
etc.) let me slide....
erik
http://www.erikfriedlander.com/
|
Ellen
G 
Registered User
Posts: 754
(6/1/01 10:04:41 am)
Reply
|
Re: Traveling
with a cello
I love a definitive answer, but I don't think there is one to any
cello-related question. Having followed posts like this for a number
of years now, I think the best you can do is look at all the
experiences people have actually had and plan for the worst case
scenario.
I know people who have had a ticket for their
cello and not been allowed to take it on the plane in its seat,
despite wig and hat. Even violinists have not been allowed to put
their oblong cases in the overhead compartments on occasion. Times,
they are a changing....
Airline personnel for one airline
told me they do have different cargo compartments, one which is
pressured and heated in which they put animals. This is what they
recommend for instruments also. This implies, therefore, that there
are unheated and unpressurized compartments.
Also, despite
the fact people have been told, or are carrying written
documentation as to airline policy, ultimately it is up to the burly
guy at the gate whether your cello boards with you or not.
This is a readers digest version of many, many posts written
over the course of time. Many folks travel without incident. May you
be one of them. E
|
Internet Cello Society
Forums
Email
This To a Friend
Topic Commands (Moderator only)