Advice for flying with two trombones?

[cjtam]

Hey!

I've flown plenty of times with one horn as a carry-on with zero issues, but I'm going to have to fly with two horns soon and I'm looking for advice/suggestions on how to do it. I'm taking quite a bit in addition to the horns, including at least one checked suitcase and a backpack (personal item). I'm flying American and I figure that they would be against letting me have >1 carry-on. The only solution I've thought of is buying a second seat as I'd like to avoid checking either of the horns, but I'm interested to hear what you all think! Let me know if you all have any other ideas, or experience in similar situations.

Thanks!

[harrisonreed]

Buy a double "Tank" case.

http://the-tank.us/instrument-cases/trombone-cases/

Depending on where you are going, it's cheaper than a seat.

[WilliamLang]

You can always try to rent/borrow a nice horn for the double at the destination, depending on how wide your network is.

[Burgerbob]

What are the horns? What cases do you already have?

I'd feel comfortable enough checking a bass in a Bonna and boarding with my small bore, or perhaps the other way around.

[Doug Elliott]

If you would go as far as buying a second seat, go with a friend who carries the other horn on.

From what I've heard, buying a seat for an instrument does not guarantee that you'll be able to use it. If they are overbooked, passengers get priority even if you paid for the seat.

[OneTon]

AA destroyed a wooden banjo case on an overseas trip in 1986. Of course, AA’s only response was that it sucked to be me. Previously, I had always carried a wooden Conn trombone case on board. Alan King got sued by AA for saying that AA only hired monkeys for baggage handlers on national TV. AA lost the lawsuit because Alan King documented his experience. I would be reluctant to check anything less than a Tank Case, or purchase a second seat, especially on AA. Well over 50% of the flights i have taken in the last 5 years were fully or over booked. There might be better odds than that playing blackjack in Vegas, and their “return” is much higher.

[Doug Elliott]

Here's what I would do:
Make, or have made, a slim case or gig bag that holds two slides. Carry that on.
Modify a large suitcase with rigid foam to hold two bells with no tuning slides, which I'd put in my carry-on.

[OneTon]

Sounds like a good plan to mitigate risk. Thanks Doug.

[cjtam]

What are the horns? What cases do you already have?

I'd feel comfortable enough checking a bass in a Bonna and boarding with my small bore, or perhaps the other way around.

I’ve got a Shires bass in a DAC hard shall case, and a Bach 42 in a Protec Pro PAC case. I’ve had to valet check the DAC case at the gate on a small flight before, and it was fine, but I’m still unsure about it. If you were to check the case, would you check it as is, or stuff the bell with protective material?

[Burgerbob]

What are the horns? What cases do you already have?

I'd feel comfortable enough checking a bass in a Bonna and boarding with my small bore, or perhaps the other way around.

I’ve got a Shires bass in a DAC hard shall case, and a Bach 42 in a Protec Pro PAC case. I’ve had to valet check the DAC case at the gate on a small flight before, and it was fine, but I’m still unsure about it. If you were to check the case, would you check it as is, or stuff the bell with protective material?

If I knew I were checking a case, I would pack it like crazy. I've done that a couple times, packed a bunch of clothes and underwear so the horn can't move.

[cjtam]

Buy a double "Tank" case.

http://the-tank.us/instrument-cases/trombone-cases/

Depending on where you are going, it's cheaper than a seat.

That would be great! Unfortunately it’s well out of the budget. Sometime in the future though, this might be worth it.

[cjtam]

If you would go as far as buying a second seat, go with a friend who carries the other horn on.

From what I've heard, buying a seat for an instrument does not guarantee that you'll be able to use it. If they are overbooked, passengers get priority even if you paid for the seat.

That’s a good point. I might try calling the airline to see what they have to say, but if that seems to be the case, I might just have one shipped later. At a certain point it becomes just too much of a hassle.

Thanks!

[AtomicClock]

From what I've heard, buying a seat for an instrument does not guarantee that you'll be able to use it. If they are overbooked, passengers get priority even if you paid for the seat.

I'd imagine one could insist to travel with the horn, so you'd both be bumped to the next flight. Maybe with compen$ation. That could be attractive for the right traveller.

[Doug Elliott]

Or.... drive.

[BGuttman]

Not if you have to cross an ocean

[elmsandr]

Here's what I would do:
Make, or have made, a slim case or gig bag that holds two slides. Carry that on.
Modify a large suitcase with rigid foam to hold two bells with no tuning slides, which I'd put in my carry-on.

I’ve seen some decent “quiver” cases for arrows that look like they would hold two slides with some minor mods/foam.

Some would even be robust enough to check or ship easily.

Cheers,
Andy

[JohnL]

Not if you have to cross an ocean

You just need one of these:

[OneTon]

Actually, shipping on UPS might be the cheap ans/or safest solution. After AA destroyed one case, i would ship the instrument from one base to another or hotel to another, usually the day I flew out. I already knew the weight and had a destination address. I called UPS. Someone at the point of departure would hold it for pick up until UPS picked it up, that day. You might have to forward an empty box to your final gig location. Overseas might require prior coordination for customs. Schilke used UPS back in the bad old days and very rarely had a problem.