carry on problems

[bongo man]

A few days ago we were talking about traveling with your bass.
Check this out:
My buddy Domenic Genova told me that Taylor Dayne's bass player Dan---- forgot his last name----was attempting to get on a Delta flight and they refused to let him on with his bass. They eventually had to book him on another airline for the flight out and had to rent a hard case for the flight back. At this point it had cost the management an extra $1,000.00. and they would rather keep him on the same flight home and rent the case.

It just happened a few days ago to my friend Carl Verheyen. He was on his way to Italy for some clinics, etc. and he was told he couldn't carry on. He goes to Europe two or three times a year and had never had a problem ----(I keep basses over there-- but if I do take one I always check it in a flight case).
Any way 45 minutes later they pieced together some kind of box for his guitar.
Yuck!!!

Dave Marrota gave me a good tip. If you have to check a bass in a soft case, take the neck off. Haven't had to do that but I think I would if i had to.;-)

 

[shamus63]

When I get the extra cash together, I'm hoping to find a flight case for my Bongo (internal molding would be a plus!).

Any ideas where to score one/have one built?

 

[bongo man]

A&S in L.A. is very good---R&R in Chicago is fantastic--I think they're still in business.;-)
Maybe something in your area. I assume you are close to San Francisco. I'm sure there are many good companies around.
Good luck --it's worth every pennie!

 

[shamus63]

--it's worth every pennie!

I agree! Thanks B-Man!

 

[Big Poppa]

The airlines absolutely SUCK when it comes to treating musicians. Steve Morse has proven that they fit the size guidlines and they still give him trouble. For 18 years he had no problem. He had to take the neck off I dont know who had a screwdriver and put the neck and body togeether in the gig bag and the flight attendant still refused him There were businessmen with oversized rolling suitcases with another one on tpop and a giant briefcase and they get " WOULD YOU LIKE A COCKTAIL"

 

[JB1]

I hear you big man, I've seen this BS myself.

The crap those corporate fellas carry on is reedicculus.

These days I guess the best way is a checked flight case.

 

[Disquieter]

solution: where a suit, and get a special official looking briefcase with foam in it, and put your body and neck in there, tada! fabulous...

you'll look so smooth that you'll undoubtedly get the whole stewardess treatment (think airplane [the movie]).

yup.

 

[shamus63]

solution: where a suit, and get a special official looking briefcase with foam in it, and put your body and neck in there, tada! fabulous...

you'll look so smooth that you'll undoubtedly get the whole stewardess treatment (think airplane [the movie]).

yup.

Sign me up for the "Mile High Club"!

 

[Aussie Mark]

We've discussed this, what .... 5000 times on the forum, and the consensus was "buy a flight case or an SKB bass safe, or take the neck off and pack it in a hard shell suitcase". So, there's no point acting surprised about your buddy not being allowed to carry his bass into the cabin.

 

[shamus63]

I'm going this route: http://www.skbcases.com/product/musical_instrument/guitars/skb-r44.html

NOTE: Normally, you can NOT lock your case (despite what the ad says), as I've mentioned in the Joe Nerve thread. Security has to be able to inspect the contents, and that's usually *after* you've checked in your luggage, and headed to the walk-through security area.

 

[Psycho Ward]

Flight case all the way, it's the only way to go... really do you want to remove the neck? I've got flight cases for all my keyboard gear, and I'm going to go ahead and have a couple built for my EBMM basses, just in case I ever have a fly date on bass.

 

[bovinehost]

I would freak out and bite my tongue off if one of my basses had to ride in the cargo hold without a flight case.

I like Cliff's concept - leave Bongos all over like bread crumbs!

 

[Aussie Mark]

Flight case all the way, it's the only way to go... really do you want to remove the neck?

I agree 100%, but for people who don't have the cash for a flight case, but do own a hard shell suitcase, taking the neck off and packing it with their underwear and socks is a safe option.

 

[tiffles]

excuse my naivety but is the ebmm hard shell case a 'flight case' or is it another breed entirely? havent flown with one of my basses yet but it looks like its in the pipeline to happen soon.

 

[Aussie Mark]

excuse my naivety but is the ebmm hard shell case a 'flight case' or is it another breed entirely? havent flown with one of my basses yet but it looks like its in the pipeline to happen soon.

By flight case we mean a heavy duty aluminium and plywood case, designed to take the rigors of heavy handling. Here's one of mine, it's a double case, but you should get the idea ....

I've also got one of the SKB Bass Safes referred to elsewhere in the thread, which is a great "one size fits most" option, since your bass goes into the case in it's gig bag, together with anything else you can fit in the case for padding (t shirts, socks, Reg Grundies). Not as strong as an aluminium flight case, but a better option than most factory hard shell cases ....

 

[Psycho Ward]

Very nice double case Mark!

 

[JB1]

We've discussed this, what .... 5000 times on the forum, and the consensus was "buy a flight case or an SKB bass safe, or take the neck off and pack it in a hard shell suitcase". So, there's no point acting surprised about your buddy not being allowed to carry his bass into the cabin.

Bad day at the orifice, Markie?

PS - Love the Reg Grundy Aussie Rhyming slang!

 

[LeftyLB]

PS - Love the Reg Grundy Aussie Rhyming slang!

+1

 

[bongo man]

We've discussed this, what .... 5000 times on the forum, and the consensus was "buy a flight case or an SKB bass safe, or take the neck off and pack it in a hard shell suitcase". So, there's no point acting surprised about your buddy not being allowed to carry his bass into the cabin.

You're right-----I wasn't that surprised at all---
I'm just trying to pass on some info to those who don't know -

 

[LeftyLB]

I dare someone in the UK to try to take their bass on to a Ryan Air flight out of Stanstead.

"No sir, it has to go in the hold and therefore I am going to have to charge you £4 million in excess luggage fares."

Apparently, Ryan Air are also toying with the idea of putting coin slots in the overhead bulkhead and connecting the coin slots to the emergency breathing masks -

" In the event of sudden loss of cabin pressure, please put 2 pound coins into the slot above your head. A breathing mask will then drop........."