{"id":203,"date":"2022-07-15T11:22:05","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T18:22:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/harpistanneroos.com\/blog\/?p=203"},"modified":"2026-01-04T02:17:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T10:17:33","slug":"the-amazing-perils-of-traveling-with-a-harp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harpistanneroos.com\/blog\/the-amazing-perils-of-traveling-with-a-harp\/","title":{"rendered":"The Amazing Perils of Traveling with a Harp"},"content":{"rendered":"

My adventures of taking my harp to unusual locations are fodder for a comedy routine. <\/strong>I take pride in living by the adage, \u201cHave harp, will travel,\u201d even when getting to the location involves some creative logistics.<\/p>\n

Take, for example, flying with a harp. How does a harpist get that big thing on a plane?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>You can\u2019t just walk on a plane with a harp, any size harp, and expect the flight crew to welcome you with open arms and a smooth drink for all your troubles. In my happiest dreams, I\u2019d take a team of roadies with me and book a private jet where my harp and me could stretch out in luxurious comfort.<\/p>\n

\"Harpist
I\u2019m grateful for a team of roadies\u2014That\u2019s Peter with my harp, and the gang from the Nevada State Governor\u2019s Mansion (Photo credit: Anne Roos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here\u2019s the reality.<\/strong> Traveling by air with a harp takes a good sense of humor, a lot of patience, and the super hero ability to never need to visit a bathroom.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first time I flew with my\u00a0harp, a friend built a crate for it. I coughed up the oversized baggage fee and the baggage handlers took it from there. When I arrived at my destination, twang! My harp displayed its anger with me by breaking strings\u2014Not a good thing during performances. After the return flight home, the harp struggled to keep its tune.<\/p>\n

What goes on inside the underbelly baggage hold of a plane?<\/strong> I don\u2019t know, but it\u2019s not the place for my harp.<\/p>\n

The next time I flew, I bought an extra seat for the instrument.<\/strong> I figured that if I had to pay for oversized baggage, I might as well pay for an extra ticket instead, and the instrument could sit comfortably next to me. Doesn\u2019t that make sense? It didn\u2019t to the airport personnel and flight crews\u2026<\/p>\n

As I walked through the airport, every person in a uniform instructed me, \u201cYou need to check that thing into baggage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI bought\u00a0a seat for my harp,\u201d I explained, as I displayed my extra ticket in the name of \u201cHarp Roos\u201d. They reluctantly let me pass with facial expressions of, \u201cReally lady? You\u2019ve got to be kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the security check-in, the TSA officers insisted that I place my more than 3-foot-wide instrument onto the conveyor belt. Can you imagine my harp magically fitting through that little tunnel of an x-ray machine? Well, it wouldn\u2019t, although they were eager to try to squeeze it through! I asked\u00a0them to take the harp off to the side so that they could open up the outer case to examine it.<\/p>\n

I often thought the sound box would make for a great storage space for extra protein bars and snacks for the trip, but I know it would flunk\u00a0the inspection.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I placed my harp on my fold-up cart, rolled it to the gate, and entered the plane with the other pre-boarding passengers. This is the perfect way to send a flight crew into a tizzy: bring a harp on board. They didn\u2019t know what to do with my large, silent friend.<\/p>\n

\"Try
Try wedging a harp onto a plane….Not an easy feat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cPlease bring me a seatbelt extension,\u201d I asked, and then I buckled my harp in for the flight. There it stood, like a lone sentinel above the other seated passengers, attached to the window seat.<\/p>\n

My harp might have enjoyed the view, but it was doomed to be removed.<\/strong> The flight attendants told me and \u201cHarp Roos\u201d to leave the plane. This happened every time I flew (yes, on United). No reason given other than, \u201cThe captain needs you to exit the plane NOW.\u201d Did\u00a0I take\u00a0too long buckling in my harp for the journey? Or did someone else covet that window seat?<\/p>\n

The airline personnel promised I would be allowed\u00a0to board the next flight as I watched my original flight take off with my luggage. Then, the waiting began.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s worst part of this experience? My harp cannot fit into a bathroom stall.<\/strong> I am not allowed to leave it with airport personnel, so my bladder must be still for a very, very, very long time. Of course, someone always sits next to me, trying to make me laugh and make light of my situation. It\u2019s not fair.<\/p>\n

When I was finally in the air on the following flight, curious passengers urged me to play a tune. \u201cIt took way too long to attach it to the seat. My harp is sleeping now,\u201d I responded. And in case you are wondering, I never received an extra meal\u2014Airlines don\u2019t serve food to inanimate objects.<\/p>\n

After I arrived at my destination, I was\u00a0left to solve the, \u201cWhere is my luggage?\u201d mystery, since my baggage\u00a0flew in on the earlier flight. My airport transportation came and went hours ago, so I sat with the harp again, saddled with the inability to visit a toilet until my transportation arrived to collect us.<\/p>\n

My entire saga is true, and this happened to me prior to 911, repeatedly. Today, airport travel is ever so much more difficult, with or without musical instruments. Just watch\u00a0Dave Carroll\u2019s experience, chronicled for all to see in this music video:<\/strong><\/p>\n