US baggage concession strikes a chord

VERILY I say unto you: if you want to take a guitar on a plane, it is worthy of note (C7 chord) to see that in the place that is known as the States that are United, this will now be less of an unholy hassle than in many other lands, including this one.

For when this New Zealand musician went to take his songs overseas to other audiences, there was much grumbling and ballyhoo from the national airline. Though it plays New Zealand music on its flights, there appears to be a reluctance to assist with the export of musicians and the instruments that actually play the songs.

For yeah, thou the musician did request to take his precious guitar on as hand luggage, and the word was given and the word was "Bring it to the airport in a soft case and maybe we will allow it into the overhead locker but if not then it must travel in cargo with the suitcases".

And, verily, this did present a problem.

If it be refused as hand luggage, it must go in cargo - no musician of sound mind would commit a valuable guitar to travel in cargo in a soft case. It may be labelled "Fragile" to soothe the stressed musician but the effect of watching a fragile instrument emerge at the airport on a conveyor belt with a stampeding herd of heavy suitcases does nothing to inspire confidence (this has happened to me - twice).

The ritual laying of a complaint is ineffective - the response is always noncommittal.

When challenged with the experience of being able to travel with a major overseas airline all the way to Europe and back with the guitar in an overhead locker, there is no recognition that this is more supportive and understanding of the practical implications of being a touring Kiwi musician than we get locally.

The difficulty lies with the wildly varying response to boarding a New Zealand airline with a guitar in hand. Sometimes it is allowed and other times it is not - possibly linked to the fact that they can then charge you for the privilege of entrusting a valuable instrument to the tender embrace of the cargo hold. If it goes on as hand luggage, there is no money in that.

Pointing to the person in front of you in the queue who just got allowed on with numerous bulky pieces of hand luggage and saying that a guitar is lighter, occasionally prompts a reasoned, practical response but that is not a method you can rely on.

We need to look to the United States where, in 2012, the FAA modernisation and reform act was passed into law. This allows passengers to carry on "a violin, guitar or other musical instrument in the aircraft cabin, without charging the passenger a fee in addition to any standard fee that carrier may require for comparable carry-on luggage".

This carries a proviso about safe stowage in an overhead locker or under a seat but, nevertheless, is a great leap forward for all musicians who need to fly with a guitar in order to work. Hopefully, New Zealand will take note.

It may be that an infamous incident of a guitar being damaged by an airline that refused to acknowledge responsibility which became a song and accompanying video did make a difference. It certainly embarrassed the airline who eventually agreed to pay for the instrument to be repaired.

Check out Dave Carroll's United Breaks Guitars - it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will change your life. If you are a guitar player.

Terry Sarten is a Wanganui-based writer, musician, social worker and opinionator - feedback: tgs@inspire.net.nz