I can SO relate to this, Josh. I have taken my travel harp on a number of flights - and every time it was stressful. My instrument is slightly larger than a carry-on case. I stopped a few years ago, though. This was after I held up an Air France flight, because they wanted to take my 27 string harp off me and put it into the hold. I almost cried and said with the humblest voice: 'But it will break!' I know that most planes have a 'cupboard'. I also noticed that it often depends entirely on the willingness of the cabin staff what they allow passengers to take into the cabin. So, I asked to be allowed to put it into the cupboard and she let me do it. She then explained to me that next time I had to book a seat for my instrument. That's why I stopped trying to take my 27 string harp on flights. (Meantime I found out that there are size restrictions for musical instruments on extra seats.) Early this year I moved from the UK to an African country to do some mission work. My organisation recommended I take my harp with me - for my wellbeing. So I did EXTENSIVE research, even enlisting a travel agent. Sadly he was unable to gain any more information than myself. Travelling with more than one airline adds to the complicated rules. So, the 3 options were: buy another seat, put it into the hold as luggage, or take the risk and try to put it in the overhead locker. I even read up on taking musical equipment. But then you cannot put anything else into the box and the airlines want to see confirmation about concerts and whatnot. (I do not perform.) So I went for putting it into the hold. I used the original packaging (Salvi had sent it from Italy to the UK). It fitted the measurement for oversized luggage and I made sure the weight was under 23 kg. I had to take it to the special luggage section. There were a lot of conflicting messages about how many times I would have to pay for this (3rd )piece of luggage and whether it could be checked all the way through. I can't remember exactly how much I paid at my departure airport, but it was under £80. In Heathrow I had to pick up my luggage and change terminals. When I had chatted with the airline a few days before, I had mentioned that I am in my late 50s and cannot manage two suitcases, a large box and my hand luggage on my own. So they suggested I ask for wheelchair assistance! I initially laughed out loud, but then I agreed, knowing I then would get help with my luggage. In Heathrow the assistance never materialised. But by this time I was only travelling with one suitcase. The first suitcase and the large box containing my harp were actually checked all the way through to my destination. At the check-in desk in Heathrow I was asked to pay another £60 for the transport of my extra piece of luggage. I used the conflicting messages I had received over the duration of my extensive research and confidently said: I was told I only need to pay once and I did so at my departure airport. The woman at the desk just agreed! My friends, my church and I said many prayers and lo and behold it arrived safely at my destination along with me and my other two cases. The box was slightly damaged. It caused a bit of an upheaval at my final destination, with me having to go to a separate room, with my box and about 6 officials. I kept shouting: 'Don't break the box! I need it again for going home.' Many questions were asked what it was and the uniformed soldiers did not know what a harp was. Before they saw it they insisted it was a keyboard. I opened the bag and offered to play a tune which they declined. They asked if I had a receipt and if I wanted to sell it. 'No it is mine, I play it, it makes me happy!' Someone mentioned 'church', so I agreed. They then called it 'a guitar' and let me go. My home leave is coming up and I do not want the stress of travelling with my instrument. However, my neighbours recently had termites destroying a wooden book case. So, I decided to invest into a custom made metal case. I went to the metal craftsmen at one of our markets, along with my harp, a little sketch and its dimensions. My friend who knows the local language better accompanied me. I knew I was taking a risk, but I thought it is worth a try. It took a couple of days and the metal box was made to measure. It came out a little smaller than expected, because the young man mistook the harp's measurements for the outer dimensions of the case, but with a little manipulation I can get the instrument into the box. It weighs around 22 kg altogether. The box cost me $70 plus a little extra for delivery (by boda!). This is a lot cheaper than the quote I received from a harp case maker in Ireland, however, mine is not made of carbon fibre! I do not intend to fly with the harp in the aluminium box as yet, but possibly in early 2025. So, watch this spot! (The metal case has an interesting shape. I'll have to stick a photo on, so it won't be mistaken for a small ...⚰)
I bought my first harp (19 strings) while on holiday in the US (I'm from NZ), so there was no way of getting it home other than flying with me. It was stressful - I made many phone calls, and had to check it as oversized luggage, but it survived the journey home (United, and Air NZ). After that, the next time I was in the US, I bought a 19 string travel harp from Argent Fox specifically because it would be fine as carry-on. Getting it back home was interesting - the airport security staff were curious but once they knew what the strange triangular bag was, were very accommodating. I have since traded that one in for a double-strung version (so 38 strings all up!) so that my right hand can keep a better position. Both travel harps fit comfortably in check-in size suitcases, padded by my clothes etc, and weigh very little. I have since bought a 34 string harp that stays home - the only time it has left my house after I bought it was to go back to get regulated and have a lever replaced, and to sit an exam! I did try to fly with it once, but after a long phone call with the airline, we decided I'd have to buy a seat for the harp...and the cost of the tickets meant that it would be easier/cheaper to take it by car on the ferry instead!
Interesting experiences! I looked into buying a ticket for a musical instrument and concluded that my 34 string harp would be too large. I did extensive research in the UK about finding a harp that fits into a carry-on case, but did not find single one! I even spoke to a well known harp seller who told me that a harp needs a certain size of sound body to sound good. I have always wanted to travel with a little harp in my hand luggage and would have bought one. Well done, you!
This one time on Delta I flew with a pedal harp from Chicago to Atlanta . It was wrapped in bubble wrapped and covered in cardboard. It went in the cargo hold and was waiting for me in baggage claim. The harp-e is much easier to get on a plane and into a coat closet. That's been my Delta Airlines experience.
This has got to be the most stressful thing about being a working musician. I'm grateful that I play harp, piano, and flute -- two instruments I wouldn't dream of taking on a plane, and one that I can take on tucked invisibly in a carry-on. Gotta admit though, as a knitter, I spent half this video trying to work out the collar and cables on your sweater. 🙂
I agree with you that flying with a harp is a stressful experience. Some years ago I wanted to fly from Lisbon to Barcelona with my new Gaelic harp built there by a Portuguese luthier. I bought a protective bag and an extra seat for my new harp, but the air company didn’t give me the security I wanted that I could come back to Spain with my expensive instrument. At the end, I preferred to be sure and tranquil and I booked an hotel for my parents, who drove from Madrid for picking up my harp. They earned a some days’ trip in Lisbon and I took my harp home in Christmas time when I went to visit them in Madrid. If it is possible, I would recommend anyone to avoid this experience. Years ago I signed a campaign in Facebook held by a musicians group promoting that the flight companies let the instruments in, but I don’t know if there’s any change in their policies
I have only ever flown within BC with my cello. Watching it sit (in a hardshell case) on the tarmac at VYR was a really nasty 90 minutes. Picking it up at Special Baggage was also stress inducing.
Wow! Unless I had to perform, I would have to go through harp withdrawals. When you go your in tour, from one country to another or city to city. You would have to book your harp like a motel or rely on a friendly harpist in each location. I did have to buy seats for my dogs to keep them out of cargo and prepare all destinations for 2 yorkies. On the train from Lyon France to Sicily (an over night trip) the attendant wanted to buy our 1kg dog. When your traveling with a harp do you get people asking about it or anyone wanting to buy your harp.
Haha thanks eh🤠I live in Ontario and bought a Ravenna 26 to go cut an album in London so my L&H never meets a taxi…cannot afford the Maalox. Love your channel❤❤❤
I've successfully flown a 27 string in outsize luggage on British Airways (in its case and then in bubble wrap inside a strong cardboard box) and it arrived absolutely fine, but now I'm wanting to swap out the 27 string for a 34 at my place... that's proving more tricky! It's not possible to book a seat for a 34 string on British Airways, even though some of the people I spoke to on the phone mistakenly thought I could. I tried to book it into the hold, but the dimensions (in a double walled cardboard box) were just bigger than their limits allowed. It would have been within limits if it was just in its bag... but who would fling a 34 string into the hold just in a padded bag? Not me! 😅 If I want to fly BA, I'd have to ship it out separately as freight. I'm going to try again with a different airlines and will update if I'm ever successful! The flight cases look amazing, but as I can leave a harp where I'm taking it, the cost of a case wouldn't be worth it... I just have to find a way to get it there once!
I can SO relate to this, Josh. I have taken my travel harp on a number of flights - and every time it was stressful. My instrument is slightly larger than a carry-on case. I stopped a few years ago, though. This was after I held up an Air France flight, because they wanted to take my 27 string harp off me and put it into the hold. I almost cried and said with the humblest voice: 'But it will break!' I know that most planes have a 'cupboard'. I also noticed that it often depends entirely on the willingness of the cabin staff what they allow passengers to take into the cabin. So, I asked to be allowed to put it into the cupboard and she let me do it. She then explained to me that next time I had to book a seat for my instrument. That's why I stopped trying to take my 27 string harp on flights. (Meantime I found out that there are size restrictions for musical instruments on extra seats.)
Early this year I moved from the UK to an African country to do some mission work. My organisation recommended I take my harp with me - for my wellbeing. So I did EXTENSIVE research, even enlisting a travel agent. Sadly he was unable to gain any more information than myself. Travelling with more than one airline adds to the complicated rules. So, the 3 options were: buy another seat, put it into the hold as luggage, or take the risk and try to put it in the overhead locker. I even read up on taking musical equipment. But then you cannot put anything else into the box and the airlines want to see confirmation about concerts and whatnot. (I do not perform.) So I went for putting it into the hold. I used the original packaging (Salvi had sent it from Italy to the UK). It fitted the measurement for oversized luggage and I made sure the weight was under 23 kg. I had to take it to the special luggage section. There were a lot of conflicting messages about how many times I would have to pay for this (3rd )piece of luggage and whether it could be checked all the way through. I can't remember exactly how much I paid at my departure airport, but it was under £80.
In Heathrow I had to pick up my luggage and change terminals. When I had chatted with the airline a few days before, I had mentioned that I am in my late 50s and cannot manage two suitcases, a large box and my hand luggage on my own. So they suggested I ask for wheelchair assistance! I initially laughed out loud, but then I agreed, knowing I then would get help with my luggage. In Heathrow the assistance never materialised. But by this time I was only travelling with one suitcase. The first suitcase and the large box containing my harp were actually checked all the way through to my destination. At the check-in desk in Heathrow I was asked to pay another £60 for the transport of my extra piece of luggage. I used the conflicting messages I had received over the duration of my extensive research and confidently said: I was told I only need to pay once and I did so at my departure airport. The woman at the desk just agreed!
My friends, my church and I said many prayers and lo and behold it arrived safely at my destination along with me and my other two cases. The box was slightly damaged. It caused a bit of an upheaval at my final destination, with me having to go to a separate room, with my box and about 6 officials. I kept shouting: 'Don't break the box! I need it again for going home.' Many questions were asked what it was and the uniformed soldiers did not know what a harp was. Before they saw it they insisted it was a keyboard. I opened the bag and offered to play a tune which they declined. They asked if I had a receipt and if I wanted to sell it. 'No it is mine, I play it, it makes me happy!' Someone mentioned 'church', so I agreed. They then called it 'a guitar' and let me go.
My home leave is coming up and I do not want the stress of travelling with my instrument. However, my neighbours recently had termites destroying a wooden book case. So, I decided to invest into a custom made metal case. I went to the metal craftsmen at one of our markets, along with my harp, a little sketch and its dimensions. My friend who knows the local language better accompanied me. I knew I was taking a risk, but I thought it is worth a try. It took a couple of days and the metal box was made to measure. It came out a little smaller than expected, because the young man mistook the harp's measurements for the outer dimensions of the case, but with a little manipulation I can get the instrument into the box. It weighs around 22 kg altogether. The box cost me $70 plus a little extra for delivery (by boda!). This is a lot cheaper than the quote I received from a harp case maker in Ireland, however, mine is not made of carbon fibre!
I do not intend to fly with the harp in the aluminium box as yet, but possibly in early 2025. So, watch this spot! (The metal case has an interesting shape. I'll have to stick a photo on, so it won't be mistaken for a small ...⚰)
I bought my first harp (19 strings) while on holiday in the US (I'm from NZ), so there was no way of getting it home other than flying with me. It was stressful - I made many phone calls, and had to check it as oversized luggage, but it survived the journey home (United, and Air NZ). After that, the next time I was in the US, I bought a 19 string travel harp from Argent Fox specifically because it would be fine as carry-on. Getting it back home was interesting - the airport security staff were curious but once they knew what the strange triangular bag was, were very accommodating. I have since traded that one in for a double-strung version (so 38 strings all up!) so that my right hand can keep a better position. Both travel harps fit comfortably in check-in size suitcases, padded by my clothes etc, and weigh very little.
I have since bought a 34 string harp that stays home - the only time it has left my house after I bought it was to go back to get regulated and have a lever replaced, and to sit an exam! I did try to fly with it once, but after a long phone call with the airline, we decided I'd have to buy a seat for the harp...and the cost of the tickets meant that it would be easier/cheaper to take it by car on the ferry instead!
Interesting experiences! I looked into buying a ticket for a musical instrument and concluded that my 34 string harp would be too large. I did extensive research in the UK about finding a harp that fits into a carry-on case, but did not find single one! I even spoke to a well known harp seller who told me that a harp needs a certain size of sound body to sound good. I have always wanted to travel with a little harp in my hand luggage and would have bought one. Well done, you!
This one time on Delta I flew with a pedal harp from Chicago to Atlanta . It was wrapped in bubble wrapped and covered in cardboard. It went in the cargo hold and was waiting for me in baggage claim. The harp-e is much easier to get on a plane and into a coat closet. That's been my Delta Airlines experience.
This has got to be the most stressful thing about being a working musician. I'm grateful that I play harp, piano, and flute -- two instruments I wouldn't dream of taking on a plane, and one that I can take on tucked invisibly in a carry-on.
Gotta admit though, as a knitter, I spent half this video trying to work out the collar and cables on your sweater. 🙂
Maybe put an AirTag with the Harp-E next time in case you have to gate-check again for some peace of mind. 😬
This has come at the right time.
I agree with you that flying with a harp is a stressful experience. Some years ago I wanted to fly from Lisbon to Barcelona with my new Gaelic harp built there by a Portuguese luthier. I bought a protective bag and an extra seat for my new harp, but the air company didn’t give me the security I wanted that I could come back to Spain with my expensive instrument. At the end, I preferred to be sure and tranquil and I booked an hotel for my parents, who drove from Madrid for picking up my harp. They earned a some days’ trip in Lisbon and I took my harp home in Christmas time when I went to visit them in Madrid. If it is possible, I would recommend anyone to avoid this experience.
Years ago I signed a campaign in Facebook held by a musicians group promoting that the flight companies let the instruments in, but I don’t know if there’s any change in their policies
I have only ever flown within BC with my cello. Watching it sit (in a hardshell case) on the tarmac at VYR was a really nasty 90 minutes. Picking it up at Special Baggage was also stress inducing.
Wow! Unless I had to perform, I would have to go through harp withdrawals. When you go your in tour, from one country to another or city to city. You would have to book your harp like a motel or rely on a friendly harpist in each location. I did have to buy seats for my dogs to keep them out of cargo and prepare all destinations for 2 yorkies. On the train from Lyon France to Sicily (an over night trip) the attendant wanted to buy our 1kg dog. When your traveling with a harp do you get people asking about it or anyone wanting to buy your harp.
Haha thanks eh🤠I live in Ontario and bought a Ravenna 26 to go cut an album in London so my L&H never meets a taxi…cannot afford the Maalox. Love your channel❤❤❤
Phew…Don’t know, if I would have the nerves…Anyway, thanks for your insights, very interesting!
I've successfully flown a 27 string in outsize luggage on British Airways (in its case and then in bubble wrap inside a strong cardboard box) and it arrived absolutely fine, but now I'm wanting to swap out the 27 string for a 34 at my place... that's proving more tricky! It's not possible to book a seat for a 34 string on British Airways, even though some of the people I spoke to on the phone mistakenly thought I could. I tried to book it into the hold, but the dimensions (in a double walled cardboard box) were just bigger than their limits allowed. It would have been within limits if it was just in its bag... but who would fling a 34 string into the hold just in a padded bag? Not me! 😅 If I want to fly BA, I'd have to ship it out separately as freight. I'm going to try again with a different airlines and will update if I'm ever successful! The flight cases look amazing, but as I can leave a harp where I'm taking it, the cost of a case wouldn't be worth it... I just have to find a way to get it there once!
I’m going to fly my salvi mia on a separate seat next year… wish me luck
I would check if there are any size restrictions! I saw at least one airline has ...
So your harp is a Mister! 😅