Flying with your guitar

[Guitar Geezer]

...No

....Seriously

...I mean on a Commercial Airline

 

What with everyone talking about getting together, traveling etc....

I've never done it, but have heard HORROR stories etc.

 

Any stories, recommendations etc. I suppose a really GOOD case is the first prerequisite (aside from buying your pet it's own ticket )

[Lee Flier]

Well... IMO the only way to go is to put it in a gig bag and carry it on. Make sure you board with the first group of people after first class has boarded, so there will be plenty of room left. The airlines are used to dealing with people carrying instruments on so they'll know what's up. You can store it in a coat closet at the front of the plane, or else in your overhead compartment (it will fit if you don't put it in a large case).

 

Checking a guitar as luggage is something I would never do!

[Billster]

Fly puddle jumpers!

 

When I was in college, I got a bunch of spew from the counter help about carrying on when I was boarding a jet, but later, I was taking commuter flights which fly little turbo-prop planes where there is no such thing as checked luggage. You carry it out onto the tarmac, hand it to the guy who puts it in the hold, and walk up the steps. When you get off, you wait there on the ground while the guy pulls out the luggage and hands it out. It's more like taking a bus. Hey, why not just...

 

Seriously, get a gig bag and keep it in the passenger compartment at all costs.

 

Also, check your homeowners' insurance policy. (your guitars are listed by serial number on a policy rider, right? RIGHT?) In the unfortunate event of theft while traveling, you may be covered on your homeowner's policy, or you may need another rider.

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

Why bother? Rent.

 

The next safest thing is to buy a ticket for the guitar, and strap it into the seat beside you. None of my guitars will fit in the overhead compartments.

 

The next safest is to invest in a serious ATA flight case. I'd get one that was huge, held three guitars in their original cases and had some storage and wheels. Even then, it's really chancy and you have to get a van to get to and from the hotel.

 

Next down is an ATA flight case that holds a single guitar. I've had them broken. (I've got all sorts of horror stories involving transporting gear.)

 

The least safe is to send it in it's original case.

 

By the way, there are all sorts of custom cases for instruments, none capable of protecting them from the riggors of airline baggage handling systems.

 

You might be able to make special arrangements for an oversized carry-on. I've heard it has been done, but I have never done it myself.

 

Bill

[Funk Jazz]

i find that a cape and some straplocks come in handy for rescuing lois when she's in distress, but for reversing the rotation of the earth to turn back time, you should just leave your guitar home.

 

[BiC]

Lee hit the nail on the head. I've been all over this world with my guitar, and you NEVER EVER want to check your guitar in. Your best bet is to get a soft gig bag. You do not want a hard-shell case, or they may very well make you check it in. PLUS, a soft gig bag makes it easier for you to carry it throughout the airport because you can simply sling it over your shoulder.

 

ALWAYS hand-carry it onto the plane. If the plane is large enough- meaning NOT a turbo prop- it can be stored in the coat closet on board.

If it's a turbo prop, it will have to go in the belly. But even if you know it's a turbo prop, DO NOT check it in at the counter. Wait until you board, then you can hand it over to them to store in the belly. They will have a cart outside the plane for you to place it on as you board. This is much better than checking it in right away, since it would go through the hands of many baggage handlers. The less hands it goes through, the better!

 

God Bless

[Guitar Geezer]

Good answers guys and gals....just was thinking that this topic hasn't come up during my tenure here....not that Im flying anywhere soon !

 

(unless I can talk the guys into flying me into Atlanta HQ around....shall we say ...Jan 8th )

[fantasticsound]

Hey, geezer!

 

Use the search function in this and the SSS forae. There have been several previous threads that pre-date you.

 

I put up some pretty lengthy posts, if IIRC, about our Mid East tour. The guitars: Gibson Flying V, Hamer LPDC copy, Fender Jazz bass and another soft case with a keyboard controller. (Straps on like a guitar.) We flew 12 commercial flights and 5 military (on C130's and a COD which was caught on an aircraft carrier). The only problems we encountered were:

 

• Boeing 777's. They have deep, relatively narrow overhead compartments. We had to stow in business class hanging bag closets and behind the last row of seats. (Not always an option. We were in the last row, so hiding them their was easy. ) Everywhere else we used overhead compartments.)
  
• Two flights we received some flack from one flight attendant. Other flight attendants solved our problems instead of complaining. (Important lesson! Be extra nice to the flight attendants!)
  
• Military flights. We had very little control of our baggage on the military flights. Unless you're doing an AFE tour, that probably won't apply to you.
  

[Dennyf]

I've seen lots of people carry-on, so that's what I'll do next time I travel.

 

I went to Newfoundland not too long after 9/11, and figgered there was no way they'd let me carry-on, so I got a box that my hard case would fit in. Then I packed the guitar in the case in the following manner:

 

1. Detuned the guitar somewhat (like down two whole steps).

 

2. Packed with newspaper behind and on top of the headstock.

 

3. Packed any spaces that allowed the guitar to move in the case with newspaper.

 

4. Put the case in the box and packed that with newspaper as well.

 

5. Cut a little "C" shaped handle in the box at the center of gravity to make it easier to carry.

 

6. Put it in as checked baggage.

 

Came through both ways without difficulty.

 

I saw this method on the frets.com site, I think.

[BiC]

Originally posted by fantasticsound:

 

Military flights. We had very little control of our baggage on the military flights. Unless you're doing an AFE tour, that probably won't apply to you.

_________________________________

 

One aspect of my job in the Air Force is Passenger Service. This basically entails the same job description as working at an airport.

 

Anyways, Neil is right, you don't have much control. You basically have to check in the guitar, depending upon the aircraft.

 

Just pray that the folks building up the baggage pallets are in good moods!

 

Peace

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

Well, it is more than just the people in a modern system. All the mechanics involved... a lot of baggage travels a great distance on belts that push, slide, and dump to other belts... or to the floor.

 

I've been fimnding that the tubo prop is a thing of the past as all the airlines are jumping to regional jets. Way smaller. All of my trips to NYC, Nashville, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Boston, Tampa, Washington DC, and near points west etc in the last two years have all been on regional jets.

 

Bill

[coyote]

If it's a Flying V, the problem solves itself.

[BiC]

Originally posted by coyote:

If it's a Flying V, the problem solves itself.

[pauldil]

A few months ago I flew from Chicago to Winston-Salem on a small United Express flight. I had my guitar hand-carried to the plane and saw it placed into the plane's cargo bay. On the return flight, however, after getting off the plane, I saw the baggage guy grab my guitar and throw it about 6 feet onto another cart. I lost it and ran over and screamed at him about which part of the big red f***ing FRAGILE stickes all over the case did he not understand, but he just gave me a blank stare and walked away. I'll take it on board with me from now on.

 

Paul

[BiC]

Originally posted by pauldil:

A few months ago I flew from Chicago to Winston-Salem on a small United Express flight. I had my guitar hand-carried to the plane and saw it placed into the plane's cargo bay. On the return flight, however, after getting off the plane, I saw the baggage guy grab my guitar and throw it about 6 feet onto another cart. I lost it and ran over and screamed at him about which part of the big red f***ing FRAGILE stickes all over the case did he not understand, but he just gave me a blank stare and walked away. I'll take it on board with me from now on.

 

Paul

Man, that would have TICKED ME OFF!!!

 

But you're right, most baggage handlers are ruthless. They'd rather toss the bags then walk the distance.

 

In my military career, I've downloaded MANY wide-body bellies FULL of bags and have paid particular attention to guitars since I owned one myself. You know that... do to others as you would want them to do to you... sort of thing.

[mdog114]

I put threaded inserts in the screw-holes for my neck screws and I just take the neck off and put the whole guitar in a carry-on and bring it with me on the plane.

 

You get some weird looks from those highly trained HomeLand Security experts when you run the bag through the x-ray machine, but they usually love to bullshit with musicians.

 

Obviously you need a bolt-on neck guitar for this option, so you Gibson guys are SOL.

[NMcGuitar]

Originally posted by coyote:

If it's a Flying V, the problem solves itself.

You know, I spent all day yesterday trying not to make this same post. The thread seemed pretty serious, and I didn't want to seem like I was belittling it, but it was killing me that this joke wasn't getting made. Thank you for doing it, Coyote! I feel much better now.

[skipclone 1]

I`ve had very good luck with getting space in the coat closets, and gig bags make me paranoid-I`ve been walking with them and have one of the straps suddenly come unhooked. That`s one thing if you have a hand free to catch it but two hands full of bags and suitcases? no thanx. U.S. airlines tend to get more sweaty about carryons than some, in fact I`m going to be finding out how sweaty next month, gonna bring my newest addition to the family back stateside. One way or another it`s going in a hard case.

[PeeMonkey]

My dad was able to carry on a whole golf bag set, with a full set of irons in it, im pretty sure a guitar is kind of the same size, and these werent just cheap golf clubs they were Callaways, No idea how but ill ask him how he did it since im leaving the country in a month to travel to Thailand (home country) with my guitar in hand on the plane haha Need to find me one of those mini amps Also I have a laptop, do those Line 6 Guitar Ports work well? About 100$ now at GC.

[hard truth]

On several occassions airline have refused to allow me to carry on my guitar with a hard case. But I would be scared to use a gig bag, because if they still refused to allow it as carry-on the guitar would be doomed. How have you frequent flyers with gig bags dealt with refusals?

 

The last time I flew I begged and offered bribes to carry on my guitar but they were adament. Fortunately I was prepared and added extra foam padding to the interior of my case and had a couple of bungees around the exterior. The guitar survived the trip fine.

[fantasticsound]

Originally posted by BiC:

But you're right, most baggage handlers are ruthless. They'd rather toss the bags then walk the distance.

 

In my military career, I've downloaded MANY wide-body bellies FULL of bags and have paid particular attention to guitars since I owned one myself. You know that... do to others as you would want them to do to you... sort of thing.

I can't remember which flight, but one of our Mid-east flights we arrived on a connection just in time to get our 2000lbs. of overweight luggage checked. (We were supplying and moving our own PA.) As we sat down in our seats at the rear of the plane, I could see out the window as the baggage handlers threw rack cases and speaker cabs into the belly. Seeing it wasn't near the worst of it, though. Feeling the shock as each piece landed directly below me made my stomach turn. I was surprised to find everything survived, although I had to open up my sub cabs to reattach some wires.

 

I really like the idea of adding threaded inserts! I would still keep the guitar intact in a gig bag, but in the event I couldn't use the business class stand up closet, etc. in a 777, I would love to be able to quickly disassemble the instrument for easly storage. I bet you could keep the strings attached for quick assembly! (Of course, to make this a reality, you'd need knurled knobs instead of regular screws. You can't have a screwdriver in your carry on luggage.

 

Still, an interesting idea.