I have a simple question: what do the airlines generally charge for carrying a sitar in hard case domestically? In other words, if I wanted to buy a sitar from someone in a different part of the US, but wanted to actually see it and hear it, so I fly to whereever the store is; how much would it cost to bring such an oversized object on an airline (in its hard case, inside a well packed box or crate), or would I be better off having it shipped by common carrier?
When a professional sitar player, or lets say semi-professional player, travels via air to a gig, how does he/she get the sitar there? On the plane? Is it specially packed for the flight?
The reason I ask this is, because of the software I develop, I am allowed to fly in a standby status for almost free on a very large airline. So I probably would take advantage of that to go hear a sitar before buying it; but I doubt the airline would let the sitar travel for free, so I was wondering about the costs and viability of going to see the sitar, and actually bringing it back with me, or have the seller ship it.
It probably won't be until next year before I might do this, so I'm just trying to plan ahead.
I'm not sure of the Price, But I'd like to tell you about what I've seen.I was at a friends house, a person who repairs Sitars. He was Gluing together a Sitar. I said "What happened to that"? He replyed "thats what happens on an Airplane when the Handlers Crush a case under a bunch of stuff" He the said that one played Monterey pop, and Bangladash" I said "thats Ravi's? just let me Touch it, maybe some greatness would rub off. I said all that to say, have it professionally shipped, or time allowing drive to the place. . . . . .Peace
Like I said, I would have the case well packed inside another box. However, its a moot point; becasue I just checked the airline I would fly with, and the oversized baggage such as this would cost $80 domestically, or you could buy an airplane seat for it. Whatever the case, I think having the seller ship it via common carrier with insurance probably wouldn't be that much or at least, not much more! So if I go visit my sitar before buying it, it will have to follow me home.
Namaste',
Billy Enigmar Godfrey
Billy, Lars has his sitars air-shipped. Says its the best way to go. Like you say, case within a shipping crate should still work, even if the airport guys like to play bumper cars with your precious cargo!
Russ (Jul 17, 2003 01:52 p.m.):
Billy, Lars has his sitars air-shipped. Says its the best way to go. Like you say, case within a shipping crate should still work, even if the airport guys like to play bumper cars with your precious cargo!
Yep, I'll probably fly up to Washington when it comes time to get the new axe. I think in the long run I'd rather Lars took care of it than me; I'd rather blame him than me!! :-)
Hmm, fly to WA? Ok, let me tidy up the place then. . .
I haven't had any problems air shipping from India as far as crushing. The cases get a little scratched but that's it, that's what they're made for. Heat is the only enemy, all the players I know just put the instrument in the baggage and for the most part don't have any problems, I think Indrajit had his broken in half years ago by a Middle Eastern airline. . .
Lars
