Bought an extra airline ticket...

[BRS]

.... For coming home from the Army workshop. You know, just in case I find a tuba I like. If I don't see anything I like by Saturday, I can cancel the ticket for a credit

Looking mainly at the hagen 494, and the Norwegian star. Winner gets a flight back to Dallas and a new home. I'd love to try a MW 2011FA, but I'm not expecting there to be one there

[York-aholic]

Good, positive thinking! I like it!

[Mary Ann]

I don't know how recently you've flown with a tuba -- but -- from what I've read it can be tricky and at the whim of personnel who are on power trips. I figure you already know all that, and I hope you DO have that second seat filled!

[bloke]

I hope you find what you like, and that this - relying on others to keep their promises and respect your property - works out better than some report that it does.

I realize that it would have been a 20-hr. drive each way but (you know me, as well as the same mindset regarding a neighbor to my south) I would have driven, rather than involving any commercial airline with any of my prized, fragile, and expensive possessions.

bloke "even with the uncertainty involved, and even with the ticket cancellation option"

[LeMark]

I hope you find what you like, and that this - relying on others to keep their promises and respect your property - works out better than some report that it does.

I realize that it would have been a 20-hr. drive each way but (you know me, as well as the same mindset regarding a neighbor to my south) I would have driven, rather than involving any commercial airline with any of my prized, fragile, and expensive possessions.

bloke "even with the uncertainty involved, and even with the ticket cancellation option"

Well the nice thing is the airline doesn't get the opportunity to handle it at all. It stays with me

[LeMark]

I don't know how recently you've flown with a tuba -- but -- from what I've read it can be tricky and at the whim of personnel who are on power trips. I figure you already know all that, and I hope you DO have that second seat filled!

I did it in November, but I feel better about it now because I have a long paper trail thet shows exactly what their policy is. Including the long text string where their customer service Rep booked the ticket for me for this exact purpose

[bloke]

yeah...and Mary Ann's remarks (which refer to situations reported to all of us over-and-over)...


airline:
"We've got you, bub.
How else are you gonna get home, without doing what we (right this minute) are telling you to do?"

again:
I'm hoping for the VERY BEST for you, Mark.

[Diego A. Stine]

I hope you find something you like at the conference!

I travel several times a year with a horn in the window seat next to me (auditions+school), and I think the biggest thing that's avoided trouble for me is a a friendly attitude and acknowledging the rarity of the situation in a half-joking manner. Flight attendants and TSA have usually been understanding of the situation once you explain that you bought an extra seat for the tuba. Just ask for a hand check when you're in the security line and ask nicely to be careful. I've never gotten bumped off of a flight, but worst case scenario you can get compensated for inconvenience if you know your rights.

For future reference, JetBlue makes it extremely easy to book an extra seat for your instrument online. Southwest will give you extra perks like pre-boarding, but you do have to call the airline to book your ticket as a "passenger of size", since you're using two seats under one name.

[BRS]

At the airport. The gate agents could not have been nicer about the tuba. Sounds like it won't be a problem, I'll post a tuba selfie in about 30 minutes

[prairieboy1]

Here we go!

I need to fly with a tuba more often. I get to stretch out my long legs

[Mary Ann]

If I had been on that plane and had no idea who you were, I would still have clogged the aisle to talk to you, after seeing that Mphone gig bag in the seat next to you!!!

[C J]

congrats on the horn, congrats on getting it safely on the plane

[TNID]

Congrats! Which horn did you go for? Matt told me they sold one of their two 494s pretty quickly. I didn't notice if the Norwegian Star was still there on Saturday afternoon.