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02-22-2007, 09:53 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York City | | | $$$ bass on a plane $$$
hey so how many people think that $1,247.38 is a bit excessive of a charge to put a bass in a kolstein hard case under the plane to go to Tokyo, Japan from New York City on Japan Airlines. Anyway at least I do not have to pay with my own money, but come on now... its more expensive than the ticket!
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Artist Member - Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Ctr
Faculty at: Stony Brook, Mercer, NJ City University
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02-22-2007, 11:20 PM
|  | Official Forum Flunkee | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA | | | Wow, that's ridiculous. You might as well get it shipped freight or something. Wouldn't that come out to less $$$? |
02-24-2007, 09:58 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: IGiG Cases | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Europe | | | Its crazy. You can hire 5 basses in tokyo for that price.
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Mike Lull M5V/Moog Little Phatty SII/Avalon U5/Glockenklang Heart-Rock II/Bergantino AE410/iGiG/Mainstage
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02-26-2007, 10:10 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tokyo, Japan | | | Yes, I agree it's a little excessive. But if that covers you round trip, it's just a little. My strategy is when I fly, I don't make arrangements in advance for the bass, just show up in a suit, try to find a youngish female counter agent, lay the bass on it's side and not standing up, and try to be charming, without being obvious. I generally have to pay about 24000 yen going, and coming back they often ask me how much I paid on my flight there, and then use the same (equivalent) category. I think I paid 180 Cdn last time, Toronto-Tokyo. The other thing is I avoid airlines that are known for gouging, and Japan airlines is certainly one of those. But still, if your fee is one way, it's a record to my knowledge, 850 bucks being the highest I know of personally until now.
On the up side, once you get out of the US, you can be assured that JAL will handle your instrument with the utmost care. They're great for that here in Japan.
When are you coming to visit our fair city? Maybe I could take you to lunch or something?
Brent |
02-26-2007, 12:01 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Upstate, SC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by kurt muroki  hey so how many people think that $1,247.38 is a bit excessive of a charge to put a bass in a kolstein hard case under the plane to go to Tokyo, Japan from New York City on Japan Airlines. Anyway at least I do not have to pay with my own money, but come on now... its more expensive than the ticket! |  In my best Samuel L. Jackson voice, "I'm gettin' tired of the bass on this G.D. plane!"
That'll teach you for trying to fly with one of those things! 
Wow.
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Brian Gencarelli
Double Bassist
Instructor/Performer |
02-26-2007, 06:25 PM
| | | | Do the Rufus Reed thing. Buy and extra ticket and put the bass in the seat next to you. Hint, you fit it in, upside down.
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"The good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it." - Neil DeGrasse Tyson 2011
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02-27-2007, 08:30 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: IGiG Cases | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Europe | | | No can do anymore.
Theese days a bass string (or any instrument string) is consider a possible hijack weapon.
Crazy.
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Mike Lull M5V/Moog Little Phatty SII/Avalon U5/Glockenklang Heart-Rock II/Bergantino AE410/iGiG/Mainstage
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02-27-2007, 09:59 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York City | | | I'm sitting in the airport checked in...
1) I asked to rent a bass in japan but it was more expensive than flying with mine (I'm in japan for 1 month)
2) I feel safer not putting my bass upside down in a seat... hmmm maybe 1st class...
3) JAL did take great care and even did not charge me the fee on this side.
4) The bass transportation is covered by the orchestra in tokyo so I really do not have to worry about it, just worried about the future of bass travel as if it isnt bad enough.
5) Thought about shipping it freight, but I would have to ship it ahead of time and I needed my bass for gigs prior to my flight... anyway they r paying for it (yay)
hey thanks for the comments... good to think about.
kurt
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Artist Member - Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Ctr
Faculty at: Stony Brook, Mercer, NJ City University
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03-26-2007, 03:43 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York City | | | well got off without paying a penny. They took greak care of the instrument... They even transported the bass to the plane in a special van by itself! Anyway I just missed the big earthquake. What a horrible quake. I hope my friends are all ok there.
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Faculty at: Stony Brook, Mercer, NJ City University
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03-26-2007, 04:11 PM
| | | | are you auditioning for the opening in tokyo symphony?
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03-27-2007, 04:08 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York City | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Chilcote are you auditioning for the opening in tokyo symphony? | hey! nah, no audition for me. actually I was there to do Tannhauser with the Tokyo Opera Nomori... it was very enjoyable. It's like a giant pick up orchestra... the concertmaster was the former concertmaster of the met opera, and the timpanist is principal timp of the berlin phil. and the conductor was Ozawa. Anyway last year we did the Verdi Requiem with Muti which was really fantastic.
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Artist Member - Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Ctr
Faculty at: Stony Brook, Mercer, NJ City University
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