Imagine being forced to cradle a priceless, centuries-old violin in your arms for an entire transatlantic flight, terrified that even the slightest bump could spell disaster. That's exactly what happened to world-renowned violinist Carolin Widmann, and it highlights a growing crisis for musicians traveling with their instruments.
Widmann, a frequent flyer with Lufthansa and a Senator frequent flyer status holder, recently faced an unbelievable ordeal on a flight from Helsinki to Frankfurt. After performing with the Tapiloa Sinfonietta in Espoo, Finland, she arrived at Helsinki Vantaa airport, ready to return home to Leipzig with her 1782 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin. But here's where it gets controversial... A Lufthansa representative at the check-in counter declared that her standard violin case exceeded the airline's cabin baggage size restrictions.
Despite her loyalty to Lufthansa, Widmann was informed by a supervisor from Airpro, the handling company, that she would need to purchase an additional seat for her instrument. Understandably desperate, she agreed. However, her connecting flight from Frankfurt to Leipzig was fully booked. No seat was available to purchase for her violin. Widmann proposed buying a ticket for the violin case only for the Helsinki to Frankfurt leg, explaining she'd flown the Frankfurt-Leipzig route countless times without incident or needing a separate seat for her instrument. And this is the part most people miss... She was told this wasn't possible. The ticket for the violin case had to match her entire itinerary. The alternative? Check the violin as regular luggage in the cargo hold.
'Of course, this wasn't even an option for me,' Widmann stated emphatically. Can you imagine entrusting a priceless instrument to the rough handling of airport baggage services?
Left with no other choice, Widmann was 'forced to do the unthinkable.' She checked her empty violin case as extra baggage and carried her unprotected Guadagnini violin throughout her journey from Helsinki to Leipzig, via Frankfurt. She clutched the vulnerable instrument, acting as its sole protector, for the duration of the trip. She also alerted the instrument's owner, a charitable trust in London, who she said were 'very supportive'.
Interestingly, once onboard, Widmann found the Lufthansa crew to be 'extremely friendly' and helpful. This stark contrast between her experience at the check-in counter and in the air raises serious questions. As Widmann pointed out, 'This shows that the “Lufthansa rule” seemed to be completely differently implemented at the check-in counter of Lufthansa and later on board of the plane!' This discrepancy highlights a potential lack of communication and consistency within the airline's policies.
Widmann passionately argues that musicians 'depend on our instruments being treated securely and with respect - namely travelling in a safe violin case from A to B.' She acknowledges the need to follow rules but insists that these rules 'urgently need to be updated, amended, and applied globally - so that we can travel with our valuable instruments for our profession without fear of harassment of of being denied boarding.' She emphasized that a standard violin case (80cm x 27cm x 16cm) actually occupies less volume than a typical carry-on trolley bag (55cm x 40cm x 25cm) that is routinely permitted onboard.
Her hope is that her ordeal will 'contribute to an improvement of the insecure situation for travelling violinists worldwide.' Her social media post resonated deeply with other musicians. Violist Jennifer Stumm reported that 'This seems to be happening regularly now in Helsinki with Lufthansa. All violinists/violists should be very concerned!' Violist Nils Mönkemeyer shared his own frustrating experiences with Eurowings and Lufthansa in Helsinki, describing the hired airport staff as 'extremely harsh and rigid.' Violinist Alena Baeva expressed her disappointment, stating, 'What a shame @lufthansa, I also fly almost exclusively LH and their status gave me peace of mind… such a devastating trip!'
This incident begs the question: Are current airline policies adequately addressing the needs of musicians who rely on their instruments for their livelihoods? Should airlines re-evaluate their baggage restrictions, considering the unique needs and dimensions of musical instruments? And perhaps most importantly, how can we ensure consistent and respectful treatment of musicians and their invaluable instruments across all stages of air travel? What are your thoughts on this situation? Do you believe airlines should make exceptions for musical instruments, or should musicians bear the responsibility of ensuring their instruments comply with existing regulations? Share your opinions in the comments below!
