surgevw Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 Flying cross country next week for work, want to practice when I am in L.A. Have a USA Strat in a hardshell case. Opinions on how to take it? Isn't there some legislation on being able to take it in the cabin? Otherwise, if I have to check it, what should I do? P.S. Is there anything fun to do in L.A. ? still a noob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_dup3 Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 Haven't travelled with guitar for a while so I'm sure someone has up-to-date advice but once upon a time one had to by a ticket since the guitar wouldn't fit in the overhead bin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 A Stratocaster in the stratosphere, how nice.... yeah, you may have to buy the guitar a ticket. Particularly if the flight is sold-out. I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesWithoutBlame Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 I've done some research into this. The conclusion for me is, always try to not check in the guitar, bring it on the plane. Worst case, the attendant will refuse and they will "hand check" it on the plane...this will mean it gets better treatment, and they will hand it to you as you get off. About a year or so ago, I belive it was Acoustic Guitar, or maybe Guitar World Acoustic had an article about this that had a link to a letter from the president of the TSA, I made a copy of the letter, and it was sent to me by "American Federation of Musicians". Try searching on the net if you are interested in finding it...in the letter it states (I'm not typing all of it, just some of the relevant parts) it is from Thomas R. Blank, Assistant Administrator for Security Regulation and Policy, letter is dated Jan 17th, 2003. He states in the letter (which was addressed to Mr. Thomas Lee, American fed of musicians) "Dear Mr. Lee, as a followup to our earlier meeting..." (regarding the screening and carriage of musical instruments) "on December 20, 2002 TSA instructed aircraft operators that effective immidiately, they are to allow musical instruments as carry-on baggage in addition to the limit of one bag and one personal item per person as carry-on baggage on aircraft" point 2 was "Additionally, these revised procedures were communicated to our TSA screeners at teh passenger screening checkpoints throughout the country. Should your membership experience problems at the security screening checkpoints, please advise them to request to speak to a screening supervisor for resolution" I keep my copy as the first page in my songbook. You don't want to be in a position to be beligerent of course, but politely mentioning this decision on policy by the TSA might help if they balk. You ought to try and find this letter yourself, it is on the net...start at the fed of musicians maybe. It's good to have, and good to know. Again, sometimes they simply do not have room in the plane, but hnd checking is much better on the guitar. Good luck! ==================================================== Check out my original music at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/jacker "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but not in practice." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesWithoutBlame Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 Just to add.. you do NOT have to buy a ticket for the instrument. I have travelled a lot of times (but used to travel with a "beater guitar" and didn't mind checking it in) and when I started bringing a good guitar, have always been able to bring it on the plane. Maybe I've been lucky, but I've gotten to walk on AFTER another person is told they have to hand-check their baby-carriage stuff. They have always been nice, and this is in the US and in europe. ==================================================== Check out my original music at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/jacker "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but not in practice." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strangerbytheminute Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 I know a little about this. About 6 years ago I lost a 30 year old Acoustic on a plane and then fought for a year to get them to re-emburse me. First off never let them make you check your guitar. Unless you have a very expensive flight case for it and then I still wouldn't do it. If they try to make you check it, first give them this letter....http://www.indie-music.com/downloads/AFM_carryon.pdf If that doesn't work very nicely INSIST that it be hand checked. Cry if you have to but don't let them throw your guitar in with all the suitcases, it could get damamged or if someone likes it enough, stolen. The domestic liability is $2500 for lost or damaged luggage, but...They do not accept responsiblity for fragile items. So if your beloved axe is damamged you will have to fight to get anything. I think the key is to be very nice but very assertive when checking. Don't ask if you can carry it on just take it. The closer you get to the gate the safer your guitar will be. Good luck........ www.strangerbytheminute.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesWithoutBlame Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 These links are a help also... http://www.ocsm-omosc.ca/ssd-en/SSD_Newsletter_May_2003.pdf The letter is here (REALLY hard to navigate this site) but it is downloadable for members only: http://www.afm.org/public/departments/leg_issues_01.php But you CAN access this one which has the policies of each airline by name: http://www.afm.org/public/departments/airline_links.php Here is a "template" (i.e. not a photostatic copy, but a text copy) http://www.folk.org/Advocacy/carryonRegs.htm There are more restults (I found a photostat but missing the signtature...) I got just by searching on [ "American Federation of Musicians" TSA letter] ==================================================== Check out my original music at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/jacker "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but not in practice." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strangerbytheminute Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 Wow...Great links.. www.strangerbytheminute.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesWithoutBlame Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 COOL strangerbytheminute ! THAT'S the one! Excellent advice, that was what I was trying to get across too, but you actually speak from the experience of why! I've been lucky...I feel for you, that must be so frustrating, and especially when they try and weasel out of ponying up. And to think they get our tax dollars to keep running in the red... ==================================================== Check out my original music at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/jacker "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but not in practice." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar Geezer Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 I brought up the same topic back in July, and got some good replies.. Flying with your guitar Hope it helps Lynn G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strangerbytheminute Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Great thread Geezer, but there are somethings I'd like to point out. I would NEVER take a guitar to the airport in a gig bag. You never know... they may make you check it. It depends on the situation. And then your axe is kindling. My friend worked as a baggage handler and said it was brutal. And a regular hardshell case won't always do the job. A 60 lb. suitcase corner square in the soundhole part of the case will ruin your day. The other thing that alot of people don't know is that on international flights you only get re-embersed $9 a kilo for your loss which is not much. And again they deny payment on fragile instruments. My flight attendant friend said that sometimes you can get a locker on the plane for intruments that are oversized, but I fly with 2 guitars sometimes (An acoustic and a resonator) and I've been able to carry them both on. Hand checking isn't as bad because then you axe goes on top of the luggage rather than under it. Again...it's all in your attitude, don't ask if you can, just act like you do it every day and get it close to the gate.... www.strangerbytheminute.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyBlues Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Hey Surge, have no idea what your idea of "fun" is, but if I was in LA I'd make tracks to the Peterson museum and the Nethercutt museum, 2 of the finest antique auto museums anywhere. If you don't care for antique cars then this reply is a waste of your time! By the way, for you younguns out there, a '57 Chevy is NOT an antique. Nice car, though... I was born at night but I wasn't born last night... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Originally posted by Strangerbytheminute: Great thread Geezer, but there are somethings I'd like to point out. I would NEVER take a guitar to the airport in a gig bag. You never know... they may make you check it. It depends on the situation. And then your axe is kindling...Actually, you may only get the instrument onboard, unchecked, in a gig bag. I didn't look back at the other thread, but I've contributed to several flying-your-instrument threads here. We took a Flying V, A Hamer Les Paul DC copy, a Precision bass, and a strap-on keyboard controller on flights from Nashville to Charlotte to Washington to London to Kuwait, then Qatar, then Oman, then Bahrain, and returned to the states via Frankfurt and Cincinnati to Nashville. All were in gig bags and all survived intact. You can't use overhead compartments in Boeing 777's because they are deep but narrow. Too small for any standard guitar, acoustic or electric. Most other jumbo jets can handle standard guitars in the overhead compartment. You can request space in the business class hanging bag storage, regardless of whether you're in business class, but space is limited there. They will absolutely disallow two hard shell cases, but we managed to get 3 gig-bagged instruments in one without hogging the lion's share of the space. If it comes down to you vs. some business class passenger's bag, you'll probably lose. The best advice is to check with the airline in question prior to buying tickets, as this will give you a leg to stand on when negotiating safe passage for your instruments. Use their policies and rules to your own advantage. But you have to know exactly what those policies are. Whatever you do, I suggest you bring only instruments you can live without. You never know what may happen to them, even in the best circumstances. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strangerbytheminute Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 "They will absolutely disallow two hard shell cases," I've flown many times where I was able to carry on 2 hard cases, acoustic guitars, and they fit in the overhead racks. It wasn't a 777, and I got some very dirty looks, especially after the attendant anounced that they were out of room and the remaining carry on's would have to be checked. I get your point on gig bags, But I can just see one getting checked under certain circumstances... www.strangerbytheminute.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesWithoutBlame Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Fantasticsound's post reminded me of yet another reason to not check it in. There is much less likelihood they will lose the thing. Even if it is hand-checked, it will be there when you get off the plane. I have never lost a guitar, though I know it can happen. So far lately a run of bad luck with luggage a couple of times (both times took three days to get the luggage) both times my guitar was the only thing that made it. Long as I had the guitar the other stuff is bagatuelle... ==================================================== Check out my original music at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/jacker "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but not in practice." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 How many of you have tried to get a guitar in a gig bag as a carry-on post 9/11? "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_dup3 Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Interesting point, Ted. Have you? Personally I've not been on a plane in years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeVW Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Originally posted by Tedster: How many of you have tried to get a guitar in a gig bag as a carry-on post 9/11? Do it all the time. Post 9/11/01 I stopped carrying my Steinberger as carry on, though. The gig bag looks just too much like a rifle case. Frankly, in a hard case, you're far more likely that they'll tell you to check it (in my experience), whereas I've never had anybody question my having a guitar in a gig bag as carry on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strangerbytheminute Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 Frankly, in a hard case, you're far more likely that they'll tell you to check it (in my experience), whereas I've never had anybody question my having a guitar in a gig bag as carry on. You may be right but the one time they make you check it will be a bitch. www.strangerbytheminute.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njrocker Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 If you absolutely have to check it, make sure you follow these steps: 1. De-tune the guitar or remove the strings. 2. If the guitar moves around in the case when you shake it, stick some dish towels or something in there to keep it from bouncing around. 3. Do NOT lock the case. The airport may want to look inside and they won't mind breaking the lock. Instead, if you desire, put masking tape around the case to keep it shut. 4. Don't be an asshole. People tend to drop asshole's babies on their heads, but never good peoples'. 5. If when you go to claim your guitar at the "Oversized Baggage" section, there is an Indian guy in a suit yelling "lugg-aye-dee, lugg-aye-dee" give him your ticket/receipt/whatever that tells who you are. I followed these simple steps when flying with my acoustic, and she made home without a scratch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surgevw Posted February 21, 2005 Author Share Posted February 21, 2005 Well, thanks everyone for their suggestions. I think I am going to buy a cheap used Telecaster as I don't own one. I will disassemble it at the neck and check it in a suitcase. Worst case is I am out a $100-$150 guitar if they beat it up. Best case is that I find a jewel of a used Tele. What will probably happen is it will be ok and I resell it later and hopefully not make out too badly on everything. And I keep practicing. Learning new stuff isn't as easy as when I was young! Thanks for all the help everyone!!! Seth still a noob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Originally posted by Tedster: How many of you have tried to get a guitar in a gig bag as a carry-on post 9/11? LOL! That was our Middle East tour. March of 2002, 6 months after the attacks. That was part of the reason I felt it was especially pertinent. The other band I travelled with, for the week of July 4th, 2002, checked their instruments. But we were on one flight to Jacksonville, then a quasi-military flight from a Navy base to Guantanamao Bay, Cuba. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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