And we're off!

[Urwordsbreakmed]

Ok. I'm flying to california in 6 hours. Does anybody know the Rules of bring your instrument on to the airplane? Do you have to pay extra or anything. And if they don't let me take it on. Don't I have to detune it or something so the pressure doesnt break the neck.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Unless you pay for a seat for your bass it will have to travel in the luggage compartment as checked baggage. If you don't have a good quality ATA flight case, I hope you are a spiritual person. Other than an ATA standard flight case, the only other case I would brave with airline baggage handlers is the SKB Bass Safe, which is a generic hardshell case that will fit most basses. Your bass, in a gig bag, goes into the Bass Safe. The Bass Safe does a better job than most factory hard cases of protecting a bass, but a full spec ATA case is best for piece of mind.

 

[Tattooed]

What part of Cali?

 

[MingusBASS]

I've travelled several times with my bass in a gig bag...and never, ever had to check it. One of my bass profs gave me a copy of a FAA rule/exception for musicians. It says that if you are a musician who makes a living playing music(such as me) they can not stop you from bringing your bass on board. I've carried it in my wallet just incase I get trouble, but have never had to use it. They usually have room somewhere on the jet, just ask politely.

Andrew

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

I've travelled several times with my bass in a gig bag...and never, ever had to check it. One of my bass profs gave me a copy of a FAA rule/exception for musicians. It says that if you are a musician who makes a living playing music(such as me) they can not stop you from bringing your bass on board. I've carried it in my wallet just incase I get trouble, but have never had to use it. They usually have room somewhere on the jet, just ask politely.

Andrew

Do you know the like code or whateva so if they say you cant bring it on i can say read it here under rule number blah blah blah

Im going to Los Angelos/ Inglewood like I do every year. I may be back later and venture up to the bay and visit my cuz and my gay uncle and his bf

 

[roballanson]

Does this mean you are going to be off line for a while then?

 

[MingusBASS]

Nah, I'm sure his gay Uncle has a computer...

I don't know the "code" but just throw your bass in a gig bag, you should be fine...

Or if it isn't that long a trip, just don't bring the bass with(Holy cow, after just a few years up here I finished the sentence "with" not "with you.")

Andrew

 

[roballanson]

Nah, I'm sure his gay Uncle has a computer...

Well we live in hope........or should that be without???

 

[bovinehost]

Okay, let's be nice to each other this morning.

It's a beautiful day in Dall-Ass....almost 100 degrees already.

 

[MingusBASS]

I've enjoyed Dallas everytime I've been there but whoooo that heat is killer! I'm sweating it out bad enough up here by all these nice lakes.

Andrew

 

[Psycho Ward]

I used to fly my gear all the time, (pre-bass days) I was always able to carry my sax and wind controller on board with no problem. My racks and keys of course was another story. This much I learned, there is a big difference between “ATA approved” and “ATA certified”. A plastic trash bag is ATA approved; the manufacturer of any flight case must be certified by the ATA and only then is your gear ATA insurable.

Standard SKB cases are only ATA approved, they do not meet ATA certification, due mainly to the exposed latches, (that was the deal back when I was touring anyway.)


Psycho

 

[roballanson]

Okay, let's be nice to each other this morning.

It's a beautiful day in Dall-Ass....almost 100 degrees already.

Sorry - its not so beautiful out here in Norfolk today. Thunder and rain unfortunately....

 

[tkarter]

I have heard recently that some airlines are not allowing gig bags as carry on. Might check with the airline before you show up to fly with a gig bag since there would be no way you would want to hand them a bass in one for baggage.


tk

 

[MingusBASS]

That's a good idea too, if you are just bringing the bass to fiddle around when you are bored in California then it might be best if you just leave it at home. I could see if you were playing a gig but it can kinda be a pain having to worry about your bass.

Andrew

 

[bassmonkeee]

You should just follow John Entwistle's example and buy a new bass while you are on vacation. You can just leave it at your uncle's place for when you visit.

 

[LarryNJ]

Gentlemen:
Here are some facts about basses-on-planes.....
I've made 4 trips airborne in the last 3 months-

If you have the $$, an ATA is the answer, they run anywhere from $200+, usually closer to 4 or 5 hun.

The Bass Safe mentioned is a pretty good option as well. I looked into that, pretty sweet, and when you check in at the Hilton (or the Roach Motel....) you've got your gig bag- Cool. But
If your money tree is a little short, like mine, and you gotta get to the gig, like I did....and your "Boss" says "Sorry, no advance for YOU!"...... here's the deal-

A gig bag is allowed, but- It is up to the discretion of the flight crew as to whether there is enough room on that flight, since it doesn't fit in the overhead. They have to stow it, usually in the forward section where the garment bags hang. The only way you are GUARANTEED this space is if you fly 1st class. Let's see, a bassist, going to a gig, flying 1st class--- Ha hahahahahahahahah! Oh, Man! Unless you're a Rolling Stone, or a Green Day or sumthin'--- You're killin' me!!!
(Can you say "driving to the gig in a broken-down van?") Anyway.....

SOMETIMES, there is room- If not tho, you would be schrewed. Never heard of a rule that says you MUST be allowed- not true- I have questioned staff extensivelyl, and it's always the same answer- IF THERE IS ROOM ON THAT FLIGHT,
then OK.....If they say there's not--- lotsa luck. You will have a bass in a gigbag, and it cannot go as baggage! Hard shell cases are REQUIRED for instruments as luggage.

So then-
Here's what I did, worked fine for me-
First, detune low due to air pressure-
All airline policies state the instruments as checked baggage MUST be in an appropriate Hard shell case-

I had my Tobias in a nice, new fitted SKB case. I didn't want the new case marred, plus I had a real cool graphic w/my name on an it that an artist friend MAC'd out for me, so I had the UPS store make a heavy cardboard box to fit the case, with an opening for the handle of course. Cost $25- good job, well worth it.

When checking in, have them mark it as special handling and slap "FRAGILE"
stickers all over it- Despite jokes about baggage gorillas, the crew did give a damn, and they do take notice. I even had conversations about basses and music in general with them-
You also will first have to take the box over to the TSA for X-ray, and they too are way cool- Tell them it is your instrument within a hard-shell case, they do respect.

On another trip, I had the scuffed up, banged up Tolex Fender case to my P-Bass-
simply taped over the latches with good 2-inch packing tape. Since this case was so bruised to begin with, I checked it as is- No problem whatsoever, those Fender
or G&G cases like MM uses for the good stuff are Tough as nails. Your only concern is cosmetic if it's in pristine condition. If so, get the cardboard box made. Again- Have them mark it as "Special Handling"- There are people who care to do a good job, and the baggage crews can be among them.

In every case, I found my only worry to be seeing the instrument come down the baggage claim, just like everyone else worries about their rollaboard. But it always did, even after 3 plane changes on some itineraries!
In my home 'port of LAX, it even came to a seperate "oversized" section, making it easier and the wait shorter.

There's no substitute for the ATA case- It is do-able safely though. I have re-used the UPS box twice, I just re-tape the opening. No problem at all.
Again, warning about the gig-bag- It would be nice, but it's not a sure thing-
Checked baggage is- Just do it right, and remember to ASK for Special Handling and FRAGILE! markings. It will help.

Happy Landings.
Now go practice!

 

[MingusBASS]

Never heard of a rule that says you MUST be allowed- not true- I have questioned staff extensivelyl, and it's always the same answer...

I'm just going off of what my Bass Proffs in college would tell me. Like I said , I've never had to use it but I trust their word.

Andrew

 

[bovinehost]

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

 

[LarryNJ]

....and I'm just repeating what I heard from the baggage personnel at 3 different airlines!
Who knows? There may be some kind of obscure code that exists or did exist-
They sure didn't know about it- So I doubt if it would "fly" in the field so to speak!
But I'll say this-

In these post 9/11 days, when the staff tells you "Sorry, you may NOT carry that aboard this flight, there is no room- It HAS to be checked",(and you can't check it without a case.....) There is VERY little room for argument or discussion-About anything, for that matter....

I've actually seen that happen to some dude once with his acoustic guitar in a gig bag, really. He argued, she told him he can either try another flight, or she was gonna call security! They do not fool around with passengers these days, Bro!!!!!

I really don't think you would make much headway quoting a regulation like this, even with your Bass Prof's say-so! Sorry!

I made it a point to call and speak with the Airlines' Baggage Specialists before I split, because I LOVES my basses, and could not afford an ATA case-
Every single one told me the exact same thing about a gig-bag/carry-on:
Up to the flight crew; on that flight, on that day. Period. If they say there's no room- It ain't gonna fly- literally. These days, most flights are pretty full up too.
I personally could not afford to take a chance-

Don't play around!! DO WHAT I SAY! .... Wow! I've become my Father!!!

 

[Big Poppa]

Steve Morse has traveled the world with his number 1 in a gig bag. Post 9/11 has been a nightmare. On a recent flight he actually got off the airplane and somehow found a phillips head screw driver and took the neck off and then reboarded and the fflight crew still gave him trouble. The airlines are as a rule non musician friendly from my experiences and tales of other frequent flier players. They say nothing to the business man that rolls six bags aboard that hog the overhead compartment and that are clearly bigger than allowed and exceed the two piece max.....