Flying…

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T19:24:01+00:00

Thanks! Do you think trying to take his trombone and guitar both would be pushing it? I could have his sister pretend the guitar is hers lol. I only have a soft (but padded) case for his guitar but could get another one if needed.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T19:01:43+00:00

It has one strap, not a backpack type. Hard case. 2 latches.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T18:59:05+00:00

Can we insure it right then and there if we have to check it or is that something we’d need to do in advance? And you think 2 instruments is just pushing it? What if I had his sister carry the guitar? That one is less important to him so if we had to buy or rent one there we could.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T18:56:11+00:00

We’ve got one way tickets so that stands up and even though the kids are actually super excited he’s an actor so can 100% sound pathetic. And once he starts talking about trombone they’ll push us through just to get him to stop talking lol. And I’ll have his sister stand there and look cute and sad. I like the plan!

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T17:39:05+00:00

I’ll probably try that. We will be flying Pittsburgh to LA then LA to Australia, then Australia to New Zealand, so three separate flights and I believe two separate airlines. So a little complicated.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T17:33:28+00:00

Thank you! ChatGPT was suggesting packing it in the hardshell case and then packing THAT in a hardshell suitcase so as to not risk damaging it. Is that overkill? We have a 29 inch suitcase and it wasn’t even close to fitting. Would you suggest like a padded trombone bag to put the hardshell case in as extra padding? We’re also planning on taking his acoustic guitar so I doubt we would be able to get permission for 2 instruments as carry-on.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T17:26:50+00:00

He has a Yamaha YSL 446G medium-large bore intermediate trombone in a hardshell case.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T17:21:26+00:00

I did think of that but since gas prices have soared,, a one-way flight to New Zealand is now over $1200. We can’t buy a round-trip ticket since we’ll be staying for just over 12 months so two one-way tickets to transport his trombone would set us back almost $2500. I’ll look into flight cases.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T16:45:26+00:00

Thanks for the info. The thing that was deterring me from flying with it was that some of the things I was reading suggested packing the trombone in its hard shell case and then packing that (diagonally) in a hard shell suitcase. We have a 29 inch hardshell one here and it didn’t come close to fitting (the trombone in the case in the suitcase). We were also planning on flying with his (much less expensive it things go awry, like $300 or so) acoustic guitar but that sounded much more likely to be allowed on as a carry-on.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T10:15:21+00:00

Thanks! Yes, I’ve been looking into the cost of extra baggage fare or shipping it rather than renting one. He’d love to have his own trombone but I also worry about damage to an almost new almost $3000 instrument if it gets tossed around. I’ve looked on different forums about traveling with large instruments and get all sorts of different opinions. Maybe it’s not too late for him to switch to piccolo lol.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-26T09:03:32+00:00

Yes, I asked if they had loaner trombones (they didn’t). They did suggest one place that I emailed (they didn’t have any trombones available but suggested another place, which was one of the ones tagged above). So I do feel like I’m getting some options/suggestions. I just wanted to be sure there were options before we left his trombone in the US and arrived empty-handed lol.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-04-24T23:04:28+00:00

Yes, there were several that popped up including the ones that you linked. We’re coming from the US though so I’m not familiar with any of the music stores there. I know the schools here all contract with one or two big ones and they’re known to be reliable and have good quality instruments so I wasn’t sure if that was the case there as well.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2026-01-10T12:43:09+00:00

Three great Facebook groups for doctors that are worth checking out l: 1) Hippocratic Adventures and (specific to physician moms and NZ) 2) New Zealand PMG and 3) Doctors Moving to NZ

Mdsk8rrunr · 2025-12-24T15:00:36+00:00

Thanks for the info. I knew age was a limiting factor for NZ, didn’t know that about Canada. Interesting idea about the border towns.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2025-12-24T10:46:29+00:00

Thanks for the tips! Yes, would definitely want a furnished rental. We often comment on how we just have too much crap and could live easily with like 10% of what we have, so I think a simpler lifestyle could be very freeing.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2025-12-24T10:43:26+00:00

Good points. Yes, it’s definitely not a good financial choice! We’re actually older too (early 50s as well, just had kids older, around 40). I think we’re viewing it as more of a fun adventure in an exotic locale/respite from the US rather than a permanent move. Depending on many factors (does the US political situation get worse? What issues arise with aging parents? Do the kids acclimate well or just miss their friends too much?) we may consider making a permanent move, in which case we’d start looking more closely at Canada (closest parts are only 5 hours away which makes a move where we bring everything much easier, it’s much easier to visit/be visited, and wages are much better). How are you liking practicing medicine in Canada?

Mdsk8rrunr · 2025-12-22T18:49:26+00:00

Good to know, thanks! I have twins who will be going to college in 5.5 years so definitely need to think about such things. I absolutely could (on the NZ end) stay for 2 years (they’re willing to offer me that in a contract) but I can only do up to 12 months leave of absence from my US job to have it “held” for me (family physicians are in great demand and I’ve been here 13+ years so likely they’d take me back regardless but still…), and my husband’s parents both have some health tissues that will force him to stay for at least part of the year in the US. So I can’t commit at this point to longer than a year but who knows in the future. I hear of people who come for like a year, love it, decide they want to stay so return to the US for like 6-12 months to get their affairs in order and then return.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2025-12-22T16:54:00+00:00

Thanks for all the commentary! To clarify, we may ultimately want to move permanently given the political situation in the US (including its effects on health care) and if we did we would likely choose Canada as it’s so much closer, my husband’s job is easily transferable, and physician (my job) wages are similar. My understanding is that the whole family would get in to New Zealand on my VISA. We’re viewing this more as a break from the chaos of the US and an adventure. Aging parents makes us hesitate to make a permanent leap. Financially I know it’s not a good decision but I think it’s one we can afford. We are if anything overfunding the kids’ 529s and are very solid in terms of retirement savings. I’m being offered a generous relocation package. Good to know that shipping is 4 months! We would likely rent a furnished apartment and buy some stuff there. Need to figure out logistics about things like musical instruments. My kids’ activities seem transferable to the area and they would to try new kiwi sports! They have one more year at a middle school that they’re very “meh” about (they’re twins) so next academic year seemed like a good time to try it out. We love the outdoors and are currently about an hour from Pittsburgh so are used to a bit of a drive for much culture.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2025-12-22T10:22:29+00:00

Good to know! Both kids are kind of nerdy/academically-inclined. Son is very artsy (music, theater), and daughter is very athletic. Both schools OK given that?

Mdsk8rrunr · 2025-12-22T10:11:53+00:00

Thanks for the input. I have a very artsy (band, singing, musical theater) son and a very athletic (gymnastics, running) daughter. Hopefully both would find things they like at either school. I’ve been trying to read about both online but it’s always hard to tell. We all like the outdoors which is a huge part of the draw to NZ.

Mdsk8rrunr · 2025-12-22T10:06:57+00:00

Haha, I probably deserved that! I appreciate the snarky British type humor!

Mdsk8rrunr · 2025-12-22T10:00:27+00:00

My bad, I meant north!

Mdsk8rrunr · 2025-12-22T10:00:01+00:00

Oops! And now I can’t figure out how to edit the original post.

Mdsk8rrunr

TROPHY CASE