Question Guitar Travel question for everyone

[PugNinjas]

Hey Now,

In a few months I am going back to NY for a friend's wedding and will be getting back together with my old band for a good old jam session. I want to use my Morse but here is my question

Should I fly with the guitar or should I just ship it?

I have never flown with a guitar and the only familiarity I have with airline policies involves what I have read online.


Thanks

 

[threeminutesboy]

I think that if you keep in a gig bag it's ok to keep it with you.

Once on board ask the purser to put it in a safe place

You can always do what Steve Lukather did with his gibson when he purchased it : he bought her a sit next to him ahahahaha

 

[peterd79]

i've traveled with an acoustic in a OHSC and it was a nightmare... and then i've traveled with an electric with a gig bag and it was a much smoother transaction.

 

[njhammer]

You should be able to carry it on if it's in a gig bag, but it probably depends on how busy the flight is and who you get at check-in!

I've flown back to the UK twice with a Luke - one time in the leather bound hardcase (which they allowed me to carry on and stowed for me in the back of the plane), the second time in the standard hard plastic MM case (which was checked). Either way - no problems. Both times with BA too.....

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Before deciding what to do, you might want to check how your airline will handle it and what you're flying on. With a puddle jumper, it'll definately get stowed below, but likely as you're getting on the plane. With a hard case checked, some airlines are charging baggage fees. If it costs you $50 for baggage fee, you might as well ship it ahead of time.

I'm in a quandry myself as I'm going for a week of training in Dallas and so far have no guitar options. It would be a 10 mile walk to the closest Guitar Center. I still don't know what I'm going to do......

 

[banjoplayer]

Please read this: stevemorse.com: notes from the road

Steve Morse, guitarist and aviator, is someone who always takes his geetar on board and writes here about his experiences about flying with guitar.

In several other articles from his "notes from the road"-section, this is also an issue. If you have some time, go here: s t e v e m o r s e . c o m click on "Got it in writing" and read!

from here

 

[beej]

I've never had a problem with a gig bag.

 

[guitfiddle]

I fly with guitars a lot (at least once a month). A lot of it comes down to the people you deal with. They have a lot of discretion in deciding what gets in the cabin or not.
For that reason, I've always been scared to show up with a guitar in a gig bag or soft case. You never know who you'll be dealing with, what kind of day they are having, how jammed the flight is etc. What happens if you get to the airport and they say "no way, that has to be checked as baggage"? I'd hate to have my guitar thrown around and piled in between boxes and hardshell suitcases without having at least a hardshell case around it. I bought an ATA style case for flying them. So far, no broken guitars (knock on wood).

 

[jrpalomo]

is it safe to check in a guitar with hardcase as long as you have a fragile sticker on it?

 

[PugNinjas]

I am basically being told "You can pay for an extra seat and have the instrument in the cabin next to you or have it as checked baggage." Looks like a little UPS visit will be in order.

 

[ThatsAgood1jay]

I flew to Boston with a guitar once. It was in a heavy duty case so i checked it. Did not have a problem.

Though on the return trip, i had a lock on the latch and had a bunch of stuff inside the case. When i got it from the baggage claim the lock had been cut with a note saying "For security reasons......etc etc." So take that into account.

next time i am taking it in a soft case and checking it onboard the plane.

 

[RacerS]

You need to print and bring this...

AFM Carry On Letter

This letter states that you are to be allowed to carry on your electric guitar in a gig bag.

If an airline employee is giving you a hard time, take this out. They can still refuse you but I've had to use this twice and both times I got to carry it on after showing the letter.

We do a lot of fly dates so I fly with an electric for gigs all the time (more than 20 times a year) and have never needed to check my instrument.

Steve

 

[PugNinjas]

You need to print and bring this...

AFM Carry On Letter

This letter states that it you are to be allowed to carry on your electric guitar in a gig bag.

If an airline employee is giving you a hard time, take this out. They can still refuse you but I've had to use this twice and both times I got to carry it on after showing the letter.

We do a lot of fly dates so I fly with an electric for gigs all the time (more than 20 times a year) and have never needed to check my instrument.

Steve

Steve,

Thanks, I really appreciate it !!

Rich

 

[RacerS]

Steve,

Thanks, I really appreciate it !!

Rich

You're welcome. I also show up as early as possible and I always try to pre-board when so I can carefully place my guitar in an empty overhead compartment. Then I give the evil eye to anyone who puts things in the same one... not to stop them but to let them know to be careful.

Have a great trip!

Steve

 

[tommyindelaware]

steve & i both carry-on a morse guitar everywhere we go in a gigbag. the only place we have had issues w/ is australia.

Hey Now,

In a few months I am going back to NY for a friend's wedding and will be getting back together with my old band for a good old jam session. I want to use my Morse but here is my question

Should I fly with the guitar or should I just ship it?

I have never flown with a guitar and the only familiarity I have with airline policies involves what I have read online.


Thanks

 

[kneeoh]

This last week I flew with one of my JP's in a gig bag - first time I ever attempted it. I stuck it in the overhead compartment, though the flight attendant had offered to stick it in a closet. It went off without a hitch on both flights.

 

[PugNinjas]

I'm glad to hear this because it would be a heck of a lot easier to travel with a gig bag, speaking of which is the Music Man Guitar Bag ok since that is what I was planning on using?

 

[Tomcat84]

a few months back I took a Morse across the Atlantic on two Delta flights. I put it in a gig bag and had no problems, First flight the flight attendants put it in a locker with their personal clothing and luggage after I asked nicely, second flight I didnt even have to ask, flight attendant reached out right away and put it up front somewhere.

So perfect experience for me there. Mind you I did not have any other carry on luggage.

Here's the thread I made beforehand to decide how to do it:

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/40935-how-good-hardshell-case.html

 

[kneeoh]

I'm glad to hear this because it would be a heck of a lot easier to travel with a gig bag, speaking of which is the Music Man Guitar Bag ok since that is what I was planning on using?

Yup... Music Man gig bag FTW!

 

[andynpeters]

My experiences
London to Spain with EasyJet & my SS in case....guitar fine but they broke one lock

Houston to Vegas with American and a 335 in case....they let me take it on the plane, no problems apart from dark muttering from all the suits with their trundle bags that it took up too much room

Vegas to London with British Airways and the 335....the crew put it in a locker for me as it was too big for the overheads

London to Saudi Arabia with BA & the 335 ....they wouldn't let me take it in the cabin ("security reasons".....like I would have played bad blues riffs until they took me to Cuba????) Checked in, arrived fine

Saudi Arabia to Madrid via London with BA & the 335....checked in again, I got to Madrid, the guitar stayed in London!! It showed up at my house 5 days later.

In the words of Clint.....do you feel lucky??

Haven't tried since 2007, I think the security thing has got even more paranoid since then