Can I take a banjo on flight from US to Europe?
 

I have a son in college in Spain. He really misses his banjo.
His brother will visit him in 2 weeks and is willing to take the instrument with him..
Does anyone know the regulations, cost for such an item?
Many thanks

You'll have to check with the airline.

Nothing however to stop it being checked luggage (in a hard case)

I know KLM will allow musical instruments on board, at no extra cost, provided it doesn't take up a seat, but as alan says you should check with the airline. If it has a proper flight case then it could be checked, but make sure they know it is a musical instrument. They may treat it like they do buggies and wheel chairs - ie you carry it through to the plane where it goes in the hold, and you collect it at the gate again upon arrival.

I tend to doubt that you'll be allowed to carry a banjo on board if that is indeed what you are asking. Most airlines require that whatever you carry must either fit under the seat in front of you or in the available overhead space. A banjo might be too large for either of these locations.

It may not really be a choice for the airline anyway as TSA often decides the suitability of what can be carried into an airport terminal. You might check with their website as well as calling the airline:

http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/

I understand there is an exception: he may carry the banjo on if he is from Alabama, and puts it on his knee.

Sorry.

Hilarious, laughingd2. I just snorted water that made me laugh so hard:)

Maybe in a hardcase? I've seen musical instruments in the plane cabin, a big bagpipe in fact. But in any case, loose the strings, I've heard the pressure differences can overtense them to break point.

My son lugged his guitar (in a hard case) with us on several different airlines last summer in the UK and Greece. We expected to have to check it several times but were always able to carry it on. Just got lucky, perhaps!

Sorry, banjos aren't allowed in Europe. You will be deported for bringing such an instrument into the area of Bach and Beetohoven :) (JK)

I've seen musicians travel with instruments several times - but they always bought them a seat - since they were too big (inside the protective case) to fit under a seat or squashed in an overhead bin. Don;t know how large a banjo is - but I would never contemplate taking any instrument without a sturdy case - so measure it and call the airlines.

A banjo can be disassembled for travel, if your son knows how to reassemble it (or knows of a luthier). There is a special travel case made for banjos -- the brand name escapes me, but it might be Calton -- and it's very expensive ($500+). A regular hardsided case might not survive being tossed around with the luggage, although if it's a good case, you might have it professionally packed and padded in a box.

I am not sure what a banjo costs, but would it be worth looking into buying him one and having it sent to him there. Save the packing and send it back to himself when he comes home. If you have to buy the banjo a seat, at 800 to 1200 dollars, buying one becomes an option to me. Also, have him find one there that he likes and send him the cash to buy it. He could sell it back to the store he bought it from when leaving or he can bring it home and have two.

Don't even think of checking it as regular baggage even if in a hard case. It should fit in the overhead. You can check by finding out the type of airplane you will be on and then calling the airline to find the overhead bin size. Measure the case in all dimensions to see if it will fit. Most airlines have special regulations for bringing instruments on board. If it will not fit in the overhead (unlikely for banjo) the FA will usually put it into one of the closets up front. If that happens, be sure that heavy items are not placed on top. I have flown within the US with a French Horn and DD has traveled with a Bassoon both within the US and to Europe and we have never experienced a problem.

I have been through this problem two times with my foreign exchange students. Two years ago my student from France had a guitar in a case and we went to the airport to inquire and the said that he may or may not depends on who he talks to the day of the flight. The day of the flight we went to the airport and he was allowed to take it as a carry on. The flight attendant kept it in a closet near the front of the plane during the flight.

Last year I had a Italian student and he had a bass guitar. We also went to the airport and they measured it and told him it was to big for a carry on and if he wanted to send it as luggage he would have to package it and there was a limit on the total of the outside measurements. When we got home we found a box to put it in and measured the box and it was to big. I then called UPS and the US postal system and they informed me that Italy is one of the worst countries to mail or ship things to because of their customs requirements. Italy will not allow shoes, clothes, musical instrument into the country. They are trying to protect their industries. My student found 4 screws on the back of the neck of the guitar and called the business where he purchased the guitar and asked if he took the guitar apart would it be a problem for the guitar. They said no. He took it apart and it fit into his suitcase nicely.

My suggestion: GO TO OR CALL THE AIRLINE AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. GET THE FACTS. YOU DON'T NEED A SURPRISE WHEN YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT FOR THE FLIGHT.

I have often seen guitars being carried on the plane. As mentionied above, the flight attendant put it into one of those coat-closet type storage lockers. You need to ask your particular airline.

Your son misses the banjo in Spain? Tell him to get a girlfriend instead.

Dutch, banjos are way cheaper and less maintenance.

If I had a roommate that started playing the banjo, he would have gotten the old heave-ho.

Banjos are allowed as long as you don't play music from <i>Deliverance</i>. Or Hee Haw.