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Double Bass US Air?
- Thread starter superica
- Start date
They have specific rules about cellos and basses (or "bass violas" as they call them). This is quoted from their website:
Link Removed
Musical instruments
Musical instruments are considered a fragile item. Fragile items will be accepted as checked baggage if they are appropriately packaged in a container/case designed for shipping such items. Fragile items without appropriate packaging will be accepted upon the execution of a release furnished by US Airways relieving US Airways of liability for loss/damage of checked baggage.
Musical instruments are permitted as carry-on baggage as long as they can be safely stowed and have dimensions no greater than 75 in/190 cm (length + width + height).
US Airways allows customers to carry their musical instrument in the cabin with them if the instrument exceeds the size restrictions for carry-on baggage and/or the customer believes that the instrument is too fragile to be handled as checked baggage. To do this:
The customer must purchase an extra seat for the instrument. Cost of the seat is the applicable adult fare for the portions of the flight that the extra seat is requested plus sales tax.
The musical instrument must be secured in or against a window seat (not in an Emergency Exit Row).
The customer must be seated in the seat directly next to the instrument.
Seat baggage must not weigh more than 170 lbs/77 kg and must meet the size restrictions based on aircraft type.
Cellos and bass violas will only be accepted as seat baggage.
Link Removed
Musical instruments
Musical instruments are considered a fragile item. Fragile items will be accepted as checked baggage if they are appropriately packaged in a container/case designed for shipping such items. Fragile items without appropriate packaging will be accepted upon the execution of a release furnished by US Airways relieving US Airways of liability for loss/damage of checked baggage.
Musical instruments are permitted as carry-on baggage as long as they can be safely stowed and have dimensions no greater than 75 in/190 cm (length + width + height).
US Airways allows customers to carry their musical instrument in the cabin with them if the instrument exceeds the size restrictions for carry-on baggage and/or the customer believes that the instrument is too fragile to be handled as checked baggage. To do this:
The customer must purchase an extra seat for the instrument. Cost of the seat is the applicable adult fare for the portions of the flight that the extra seat is requested plus sales tax.
The musical instrument must be secured in or against a window seat (not in an Emergency Exit Row).
The customer must be seated in the seat directly next to the instrument.
Seat baggage must not weigh more than 170 lbs/77 kg and must meet the size restrictions based on aircraft type.
Cellos and bass violas will only be accepted as seat baggage.
US Airways has just about the worst track record in the industry for lost luggage and delayed flights. I, unfortunately, fly US Airways about 4x a year, no because I really want to, but because of circumstances beyond my control. I even posted a thread a while ago called something like. What Is Wrong With US Airways?
For the best updated info on flying a bass, go to the ISB website and click on the section pertaining to flying a bass.
For the best updated info on flying a bass, go to the ISB website and click on the section pertaining to flying a bass.
I recently tried to travel on an flight with US AIR. They checked my bass after the normal fees, and then proceeded to pull me off the flight at the gate, and told me that under no circumstances would they fly my bass. They gave a range of excuses ( too big, too valuable), and finally transferred me to United Airlines. As a parting gift, they also cancelled the international leg of my trip by accident. United was much more helpful, but no US airline is a guarantee.
Under no circumstances should you ever fly US Airways. They are a joke of an airline company and I hope they go bankrupt.
I just flew US Airways back from Italy with a new bass I had made. They were fine and only charged me $100 overweight charge. In this instance I was lucky. I travel extensively with a bass. I will not bring a double bass in a trunk with me unless it's the last, last resort. I have had basses in a Gage trunk damaged regularly. I only travel with an electric upright now.
I have had really bad experiences with all airlines. Truthfully, all airlines have caveats in their rules to exclude double basses in trunks. Most will still allow them as checked baggage. It's really a crap shoot. For fifteen years, I'd never really know until I got to the airport. Then I'd beg and plead to allow it, and then to try to minimize excess fees. It's gotten worse as far as weight and size limitations.
Never call ahead of time and tell them you're bringing a bass. They will tell you that at it's size and weight it will have to go air cargo. You are always better off just showing up.
Big problem now is what they call "regional jets ". These are smaller jets for travel within a country or short jaunts. Major airlines are switching to them even on big city routes. A double bass in a trunk will literally NOT fit. I was flying from Boston to Montreal to play the jazz fest on Delta.I'm used to them telling me that the bass won't fit. I then usually ask which plane they're flying and tell them that I'd flown the bass in that particular plane and it fits fine. In the new regional jets it won't fit. We had to rent a van at the airport and drive to Montreal.
Alitalia literally won't allow double basses in trunks. Maybe a nice agent might allow it, but it is specifically written that double basses ( or a contrabasso ) won't be allowed.
If you absolutely have to fly with your bass, good luck. The best investment I've made in the past few years is a very good electric upright called Volante.
I have had really bad experiences with all airlines. Truthfully, all airlines have caveats in their rules to exclude double basses in trunks. Most will still allow them as checked baggage. It's really a crap shoot. For fifteen years, I'd never really know until I got to the airport. Then I'd beg and plead to allow it, and then to try to minimize excess fees. It's gotten worse as far as weight and size limitations.
Never call ahead of time and tell them you're bringing a bass. They will tell you that at it's size and weight it will have to go air cargo. You are always better off just showing up.
Big problem now is what they call "regional jets ". These are smaller jets for travel within a country or short jaunts. Major airlines are switching to them even on big city routes. A double bass in a trunk will literally NOT fit. I was flying from Boston to Montreal to play the jazz fest on Delta.I'm used to them telling me that the bass won't fit. I then usually ask which plane they're flying and tell them that I'd flown the bass in that particular plane and it fits fine. In the new regional jets it won't fit. We had to rent a van at the airport and drive to Montreal.
Alitalia literally won't allow double basses in trunks. Maybe a nice agent might allow it, but it is specifically written that double basses ( or a contrabasso ) won't be allowed.
If you absolutely have to fly with your bass, good luck. The best investment I've made in the past few years is a very good electric upright called Volante.
Basses do fit in the smaller regional jets. I flew with my bass in a Kolstein trunk from the 1970's from Boston to Philly then Philly to New York on US Air. They had no problem with it. Although, when I was flying home to Boston, they refused to honor my flight and redirected me to Delta who redirected me back to US Air who then told me under no circumstances they would fly me home, even though I flew on the smallest commercial airline in the market and after they flew me through two legs of my trip. They are the single most evil airline company ever. I eventually ended up spending $350 on a one way ticket to Boston from NYC to get home. Thus is why I hate US Air.
I have flow USAir twice. In February 2004, they left my bass in Boston because of "weight and balance restrictions," but let me get to Pittsburgh and waited for me to yell at them a lot before telling me. In May 2005, I flew USAir from Pittsburgh down to Miami. They got the bass there and back, but charged me $265 each way to do it. I thought this was excessive until I flew Delta from Miami to Indianapolis in June this year, and had to fork over $475 one way... but they charged me only $160 on the way there.
