Flying: Will my BAM case fit in the overhead compartment?

[drakesaxprof]

As I've been playing bari with the Oasis Quartet (www.oasisquartet.com) for the past couple of years, I'm doing more traveling with the horn. I have the BAM case, but am still very wary of checking or even of gate-checking. So, I've begun compiling a list of planes that the case will fit in the overhead. I want your help collecting further data, which is where this thread comes in.

Please provide:

1. Airline
2. Manufacturer of plane (Boeing, etc.)
3. Model of plane (737-200, etc.)
4. ***Did it fit in the overhead or not?***
5. If you remember, configuration of seats (2x2, 3x2, etc.)
6. Notes: i.e. "They nicely let me strap it to an empty seat next to me" (which was the case on recent Delta and Midwest flights for me.) Also, if you have another type of case, please make a note of it here. As I said, my own experience is only with the BAM case.

You can post the info in this thread, PM me, or email me. I'll be continually updating the data. For now, it's a pdf, but the searchable Excel spreadsheet can also be obtained directly from me.

Thank you for your help, and I hope that this will become a useful resource for all bari players!
FlyingBari.pdf

[drakesaxprof]

Chirp - chirp

[ozjazz]

Been "gatechecking" with the BAM bari case for many years now. Have had a BAM case since just after they came out - at least 5-6 years? My routine - "gatechecking"- which means when I get to the door of the plane, I ask if I can put it in a closet. Mostly they say yes or say "That should fit in the overhead" (which we both know to be true.) Only times it hasn't fit is on tiny planes - then it is gatechecked. But on the tiny planes (1 seat one side, 2 seats on the other) there isn't a lot of luggage to go underneath and you get it back on the tarmac or the door of the gateway. Sorry, I don't keep a record of the plane models.
Yours truly,
Happy BAM bari case "gatechecker"

[hgrail]

Anybody else with experiences? This bari BaM owner is curious also...

[toneman]

I used to have a Selmer flight bari case made by BAM. I flew just about every airline with it while on the road. It fit in almost every plane, except in the small ones as mentioned above. I ended up switching horns and started using a walt johnson, which also fit. I flew for some time with a protec case which fit as well. It all depends on how early you can board the flight, the tsa, and flight attendants. I'm sorry I don't know the exact model plane, but every airline worked.

[saxtek]

An extensive study on this question was published in the International Musician, the journal of the musicians union.

To make a long study short, it doesn't matter what the federal carry-on rules are, it doesn't matter what the airline's rules are, and it doesn't matter how big the compartments are on various airliners. The guy at the gate can keep you from carrying on your horn if he wants to, and he often will.