I’m writing this blog-post in response to student questions about flying with a cello.
It has been decades since I last took a cello on an airline flight, and I hope the process has become more streamlined. However, I’ll recount my experiences and the lessons I learned along the way.
Options for Flying with a Cello
There are a few ways to transport a cello on a flight, and I’ve tried them all:
Checking it as luggage – The riskiest option, even with a flight case. The only exception is when traveling with an orchestra, where cellos are carefully handled. Otherwise, I would avoid this at all costs.
Gate-checking – This involves bringing the cello to an airline representative, who then places it in the luggage compartment. I would also avoid this option.
Buying a seat for the cello – By far the safest choice, though expensive and not without potential hassles. Flight crews are often unfamiliar with the rules for in-cabin cello travel, meaning cellists usually have to educate them, sometimes leading to frustrating discussions.
Storing it in an overhead bin – Only possible with a soft case, and even then, there’s no guarantee the cello will fit or be allowed in the overhead compartment. Best to avoid this option.
Placing it in a cabin closet – On one flight, the crew offered to store my cello in a closet in exchange for reimbursing me for the extra seat I had purchased. A full flight allowed a human passenger to use my cello’s seat instead.
Unforgettable Flying Experiences
I’ve had my fair share of unusual experiences flying with a cello.
On one occasion, the flight crew insisted the cello had to fly in first class, even though my ticket was in coach. They planned to leave me in coach until I requested to sit with my instrument.
Another time, I was on tour in Spain with the great ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. The Spanish-speaking flight crew insisted that the cello take the middle seat while I sat by the window. I informed them they had it backward, but they refused to listen. Then, just as the plane was accelerating for takeoff, they suddenly realized their mistake and demanded that I switch seats with the cello, immediately.
I can still hear the Mission Impossible theme playing in my head as I scrambled to unbuckle, swap places with my cello, and secure us both just in time for liftoff. Meanwhile, Baryshnikov and his dancers, seated behind me, watched the scene unfold like a movie.
Lessons Learned
Eventually, I started borrowing or renting cellos instead of flying with my own. Of course, that’s not always an option, especially if you’re moving to a new location or don’t want to risk playing an unknown cello.
That said, several of my students have flown with their cellos in recent years without incident. Hopefully, airline confusion about traveling with cellos is less common now.