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Originally posted by eagleisland

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Originally posted by ReverendTed

This post by @eagleisland is so friggin' good that it got me to join Banjo Hangout.

I'm flying Delta/KLM to Switzerland next week and staying for a month. This post gave me the confidence to take my banjo with me.

I absolutely LOVE when someone takes the time to be so helpful. Your passionate, articulate, and thorough write up is immensely helpful!

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Very glad it helped! Let us know how the trip goes.

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Trip complete, there and back again. Delta and KLM were a breeze. KLM’s website makes it sounds like there’s no way you’re going to get a banjo on their flights. The reality is, once you’re through security there’s not really any problem. I have priority boarding, so I’m sure that was a big help.

It’s also amazing how many people you see carrying guitars and other instruments in simple soft gig bags. The horror!

Pro tip: when walking through the airport and somebody conversationally asks you “is that a banjo?” tell them, “No, it’s a priceless Steinway grand piano. I just carry it in a banjo case to keep it from getting stolen.” lots of fun conversations fallout from that.

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Originally posted by ReverendTed

Pro tip: when walking through the airport and somebody conversationally asks you “is that a banjo?” tell them, “No, it’s a priceless Steinway grand piano. I just carry it in a banjo case to keep it from getting stolen.” lots of fun conversations fallout from that.

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I'm going to use that! Glad your trip went well.

Southwest has always allowed me to put my banjo in the overhead. I also carry it in a Price case.

Twice to Scotland and twice to Ireland...Price case. .checked baggage.. no problem whatsoever..

Thanks for writing this definitive handbook. It was very valuable for me. Here’s my experience traveling from Portland, Oregon to Maryland and on to Spain.

Banjo case.
My SS Stewart had no case and I was short on time to find one. Calling around town, I found a hard shell case on consignment in our local folklore store (Artichoke Music). The banjo did not fit in the case exactly but it was close enough. With some store supplied stuffing and clothing padding, it was fine.
After reading your article, I made sure to get some strapping to tie around the case. This was to prevent the case from popping open if it was mishandled.

The planes.
Some tips:
- Give yourself extra time.
- Choose non-rush hour times if you can.
- Check the airline web site. Some have special rules.
- Loosen the strings.
I flew United to Newark airport then boarded Amtrak to Maryland. My wife boarded our United flight before me, so we took advantage of her going first. She took the banjo. Upon boarding, a crew member offered to place the banjo in a closet near the door. Perfect. We picked it up on the way out. No problem.
Traveling Amtrak to Maryland from Newark was no problem because we were not on a rush hour train. Plenty of overhead bin space.

Flying TAP Portugal to Spain.
I was required to call TAP Portugal in advance to let them know I was taking an instrument on-board as my carry-on. The 1 hour on-hold getting to an agent was worth it. I had purchased the cheapest tickets possible when booking; I had not planned on taking a banjo at the time. After explaining what a banjo was to the agent, the agent modified my ticket: he changed my boarding sequence to board first assuring me banjo space in the overhead bins.
On the connecting Turboprop flight from Lisbon, a flight attendant also offered place the banjo in a closet.

All agents and flight attendants for United and TAP Portugal were helpful.

All good. I plan to tune my banjo up this afternoon.

Thanks again for your post. It helped me understand all possible issues in advance.

As an aside, one flight attendant thought it was a viola!? Another thought it might be a Portuguese guitar who thought it has a similar shape.

On my way to Croatia right now , bringing my Stelling with me as checked in baggage… crossing my fingers it arrives in one piece .. I'll update this post with condition of the Stelling once I get home , and open the case ... btw. it's my 2016 mint Staghorn , so you know I'm  little worried ...

It made it , I can relax now hehe

Here's a great video from a traveling musician.

A 27” scale five string that fits comfortably into a baritone ukulele gig bag, and a 23" scale tenor that’s the same length as a tenor uke. Of course the pot is too big to fit into a tenor uke gig bag so it fits into a mandola gig bag. They weigh about 7lbs, are made from bamboo (including tone ring) which has a higher tensile strength than steel. These are professional grade instruments.

Does anyone have a recent experience they could share flying Aer Lingus from the US to Ireland with a carry-on banjo?

1.When you carry the banjo case onto the plane hold it resonater forward, neck to the back. Your arm will hide the neck from the airline employees looking for trouble, and the whole thing will look smaller. 2. Put it quickly into the first empty overhead compartment you see, Then proceed to your seat. If you have a vision of them busting up your banjo.. and are freaked out. Take the banjo apart, leave the neck in the case and fill the 1/2 empty case with all the heavy things in your regular travel stuff... shoes, toiletries, bluejeans etc ..put the banjo body in the middle of your largest suitcase and pack all your soft clothes around it so it won't move around. It works for me.