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I lugged my cello through the city of Montreal by bus, metro and train all through my CEGEP and University years. With my instrument in a soft case, it was comparable to the size of a school age child (with a lot less bendiness or flexibility). My city commutes consisted of a lot of jostling and tedious standing space only. When I had to travel farther, airplane travel was a logistical and emotional nightmare. Not being able to afford an extra seat for my instrument, I had to prepare and pack my instrument up in a hard case and entrust it’s care to baggage handlers and airline personnel. I was very fortunate and never had any serious issues, but so many professional musicians have had horrific experiences.
Thankfully airtravel with a ukulele is so much easier! Being small has its advantages, but in general, the structure of the instrument and accessories you have in your ukulele case all contribute to a scenario of stress-free travel.
Because most ukuleles (from soprano to baritone) are generally quite compact, most airlines qualify them as carry-on. Of course, it is always a good idea to check with airline guidelines. Overhead compartments come in many dimensions, as do ukulele cases. In general, it’s a pretty safe bet that you will be able to rely on taking your instrument into the cabin of the airplane. This means no preparation for your ukulele such as loosening strings (recommended for many string instruments due to cabin pressure changes) or packing of accessories in checked luggage (cello endpins are notoriously frowned upon as carry-on).
For maximum protection, a hard case is the way to go. These offer excellent protection and most importantly you will not worry as much about your instrument being squished, dropped, or being damaged by impact. Hard cases generally have good space for accessories and extras such as your tuner, strap and capo. The only downside I have encountered with a hard case is that many do not have shoulder straps to sling on your back or over your shoulder.
A good soft case is a must-have accessory. They are lite weight, compact and make transporting them in all scenarios, from a hike to a flight, pretty easy. Unfortunately this often does not mean the case your ukulele came with when you purchased it. Soft cases come in many different qualities measured by the thickness of the foam padding that surrounds the instrument. A suggested minimum thickness of padding to adequately protect your instrument would be 10mm. The thicker the padding, the better protected your instrument will be. I usually look for a soft case that has minimum 20mm thickness in the pads.
Music brings so much joy to ourselves and the people who surround us everyday. So, why not bring your ukulele with you to share the love, laughter and gift of music?
I have never regretted bringing my uke along!
