Musicians Union urges players to boycott Delta

In frustration over an ongoing problem with Delta Airlines not allowing musicians to carry their priceless Strads onboard, the president of the American Federation of Musicians is exhorting members of the union to boycott the airline.

In the June issue of "International Musicians," president Thomas F. Lee said that union officials had met with the TSA, which agreed to write a letter that musicians could present to security people when checking in, to allow them to place their instruments in the overhead. But, he writes in an editorial, although many airlines have cooperated with musicians who have the need to stow expensive, fragile instruments, complaints about Delta preventing musicians from carrying musical instruments on board continue.

This is nothing new. I first wrote about the situation for the Enquirer in June, 1997, when Delta stopped the entire Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at the gate. After a "heated exchange" with symphony management, a few Strads and Guadagninis were allowed in the overhead. Many other local musicians have been stopped at the gate here, including CCM profs, prominent string quartets arriving to perform in Cincinnati and the entire Walnut Hills High School Orchestra.

After 9-11 stepped-up security even more, the problem escalated for musicians. I wrote about it again in this story:

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/12/20/tem_deltaviolins20.html

I continue to hear from musicians, including jazz players (yes, clarinets and saxophones can be valuable, too) and others.

Let me know if you've been stopped trying to carry on your violin, viola, banjo, or other small instrument. (We're not talking about cellos here.)