Cabin baggage ban hits musicians
For a musician, this is pretty scary news. I want to prevent terrorist attacks as much as anyone, but baggage handlers as a whole do not know how to handle valuable and fragile items. I traveled to my cousin’s wedding one month after 9/11, but they still allowed my violin as a carry-on. I just had to open it up for inspection and explain some of the items in the case (like bow rosin). It was a minor inconvenience compared to the thought of spending several hours wondering if my violin was going to be there waiting for me in one piece at my arrival.
On my way back, the national guardsmen at the Bentonville, AR airport were actually joking with me about weapons hidden in violin cases. I just smiled and said nothing; it seemed like the best response.