30,000 odd foot of flying gripes
Jim O'Rourke
December 12, 2010

PROFESSIONAL musicians are fighting with Qantas over being stopped from taking their instruments on board with them.

Musicians complain they now have to buy an extra seat for instruments such as saxophones and trumpets, with only violins and violas being allowed as hand luggage.

More than 5100 people have signed an online petition calling on Qantas to withdraw its ''no musical instruments on board'' policy.

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Sydney trumpeter Stewart Kirwan, who was a member of Russell Crowe's band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts and has played with the likes of Elvis Costello, Midnight Oil and Michael Buble, said an increasing number of his colleagues were being told they could not take their instruments on to domestic Qantas flights.

''I've been stopped at the X-ray machine when they see a trumpet in my case and been sent back to the desk to get it put down as checked-in luggage,'' he said.

''I felt like a criminal. They shouted, 'Stop, he's got a trumpet,' when I was going through the X-ray in Perth. The staff showed me the directive from Qantas, saying they don't want these instruments turning up in the departure lounge.''

Jazz saxophone player Jamie Oehlers, who started the petition, said that last month in Adelaide he was made - for the first time in more than 20 years' travel with Qantas - to check in his tenor saxophone. He said it was damaged during the flight and needed a $1200 repair.

Oehlers said that after receiving no adequate explanation about why the instrument policy had changed, he decided to start a Facebook cause in protest.

A Qantas spokeswoman said the only change to the musical instruments baggage policy was to allow violins and violas to be taken on as hand luggage because they were delicate. ''People are trying to board the aircraft with more and more hand luggage and the planes are full. There are literally no spare seats,'' she said.

Instruments that exceed allowable dimensions are considered bulky items and musicians need to buy an extra seat to take them in the cabin.

Kirwan said he had measured his trumpet case and it met all the carry-on baggage requirements listed on the Qantas website.

''We turn up with our tools of trade, like we've done for years, and the next thing you know we're having a screaming match with someone telling us we have to check it in.''

The protest comes as Qantas introduces a new rule this month allowing domestic passengers to check in only one bag instead of spreading the load across multiple bags.

From June 1, economy passengers will be able to check in only one bag weighing up to 23 kilograms.

The musicians' union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, has written to Qantas's customer care department seeking clarification of the baggage rules.

The musicians' complaints come as budget airlines introduce more ''add-on'' charges to their basic ticket prices.

As well as fees for booking tickets over the phone and using credit cards, passengers flying Tiger Airways, Virgin Blue and Jetstar can pay for extra leg room; to have an aisle or window seat; to have priority boarding; and to check in luggage.

Tiger Airways has been lambasted for charging $30 for passengers to carry a baby in their lap. Tiger said it drew 20 per cent of its revenue from ancillary costs.

A $27.40 discount Tiger fare from Sydney to Melbourne could end up costing more than $248 after booking and baggage fees and if the passenger chose to pay add-on costs.