Flying with your bass

[dmarotta]

For those of you that take your bass on planes ,I thought I would share the following .
Recently I flew to Hawaii for a gig on United and as I usually do I brought my Bongo in a EB gig bag and stored it in the overhead compartment.
On the way back United put into service a brand new 777 aircraft. When I got to my seat
I found the overhead compartments were too small for the bass. The flight attendants said the closets were full and I would have to check the bass as baggage. After much arguing I went to the front of the plane , took out my multibit screwdriver I carry and began to remove the neck.They were very confused so I told them there was no way I would check the bass and it would fit the overhead compartment in two peices. At this point the captain appeared to see what the fuss what about.He quickly scolded the attendant and put my bass in the first class closet which was empty.Happy ending!
Point of this story: The new aircraft are all configured differently and it is difficult to determine whether a bass will fit in the overhead compartments.If you take your bass in a gig back , always pack a screwdriver in case this happens . The alternative would most likely be a destroyed bass .
This is obviously a situation where you would have experience removing and reinstalling the neck.
I have since invested in an SKB case with wheels that is very light. The bass in a gig
bag goes into the case and I have had no issues .
I have also been renting Musicman basses when I am in a major city. Most of the back line suppliers have them and they are very consistent.I just bring strings and adjustment tools.

 

[silverburst]

How did you get a screwdriver through security?

 

[RitchieDarling]

Recently I flew to Hawaii for a gig on United and as I usually do I brought my Bongo in a EB gig bag and stored it in the overhead compartment.
On the way back United put into service a brand new 777 aircraft. When I got to my seat
I found the overhead compartments were too small for the bass.....

This is why I started using Steinberger and Status basses for traveling.

How did you get a screwdriver through security?

Yeah, really!

Ritchie

 

[dmarotta]

I bring a multi driver that you see at the checkout stands at OSH or Home depot.I disassemble it and leave it in the gig bag. Security never questions it.

 

[andynpeters]

I bring a multi driver that you see at the checkout stands at OSH or Home depot.I disassemble it and leave it in the gig bag. Security never questions it.

Not yet maybe, but I wouldn't count on it.
Getting very difficult to take an instrument on a plane at all these days.....maybe they're scared you'll threaten to play "Stairway" at the pilot??

 

[Jimmyb]

I bring a multi driver that you see at the checkout stands at OSH or Home depot.I disassemble it and leave it in the gig bag. Security never questions it.

Now there's a man who doesn't fly from the UK!!

 

[Aussie Mark]

I've never taken the chance on flying with a gig bag. It's either an ATA case or SKB bass safe for me. It's not worth the risk, worry, hassle or time to try and carry on. Your story proves that 100%.

 

[thunder]

same thing happened to me in germany in 95;. i bought one of the funky green (sherwood green they call it) basses. the airline told me to check it under the plane. i express my concerns to the staff (fear of damage to my insturment). a nice stewartess put it in the rear closet. she told me i was lucky. that the new (at that time) 737 had closet space.

 

[Big Poppa]

The airlines are generally not very nice to musicians.

 

[steve21]

depends how much acid you take.

 

[bassplayer22]

The airlines are generally not very nice to musicians.

BP,

About 2 months ago I flew with my SR5 with the MM case on a Delta flight from Frankfurt to Florida. When I got to Florida, the case was cracked on both ends but the bass was fine. I tried to make a claim against the airlines for the case and they fed me some BS about it would take 6 weeks and they would have to send it out for repair, etc... I told them I wasn't willing to do that because I needed a case for the next 2 weeks and will need it for the return flight. After going back and forth for the 15 minutes, the airline claim rep recommended me call EB and tell them that the case didn't hold up and have you guys replace it. LOL, I asked him what kind of drugs he was smoking because his request was pretty absurd.

Long story short for all travelling musicians, buy a flight case for your instruments. Regardless of what happens to your instrument (or its case) on a flight, the airlines will do any and everything not to cover it for a claim or repair.

Learned my lesson!

Tim

 

[syciprider]

Troot. Get one of those heavy duty flight cases. Still reasonably light, my SR and the case only weighed 40 pounds. I scored one cheap from the classifieds in the big bass forum.

 

[Kirby]

I usually fly Northwest and ship it in a flight case below. I have had times when the exact situation played out above happened to me. I now only trust a flight case. As for tools getting confiscated. I recently was leaving Cabo San Lucas and had my Dunlop tool confiscated by Mexican authorities who I had previously seen with their head down ignoring the previous 4 carry on bags before me. I explained that it was under the 6 inch tool limit with no knives and that I have flown a hundred times in the US with it, but they would not let me pass with it.

Bottom line, tools may get confiscated too. That is why Showcase Cases in Nashville builds my gear. Never a damaged bass yet, but the cases look like they have been through the war.

 

[silverburst]

I had Jan-Al in Los Angeles build me a few. They are awfully heavy (almost 30 pounds empty), but I guess that is why they rent those little carts at the airport...

 

[Aussie Mark]

Speaking of tools, when I flew last week security confiscated a bike lock from the guy in front of me (he had checked his bicycle so was carrying the lock in his backpack) because it could be used as a "restraining device", but my carry on containing a laptop power cable, network cable, USB cables for my mp3 player and Blackberry, mouse with spring loaded retractable cable, plus half a dozen pointy objects (pens) were considered not a security risk, despite the fact my bag contained enough cables to tie up the entire crew.

Then of course, when they served me lunch on the plane they gave me a plastic knife and a very nice steel fork. I'll back my fork against your Leatherman tool in a street fight any day. Airline security is quite a joke really.

 

[tkarter]

Do they allow fingers on an airplane now days? I can poke both your eyes out and what are ya going to do about it?


Last time i flew I was glad I didn't have much to go into the overhead. Some people are just nuts how much of that they think they should be allowed to use.

I like flights where a pretty girl sits in the seat next to me.

There are no friendly skies any longer.

I guess basses don't get sent air mail any more either.

tk

 

[bigvissch]

Speaking of tools, when I flew last week security confiscated a bike lock from the guy in front of me (he had checked his bicycle so was carrying the lock in his backpack) because it could be used as a "restraining device".....

The security guy was obviously after a new lock for his kid's bike.

As for travelling, I would only ever travel with a proper flight case. A custom made Aerolyte case (aluminium encased plywood with high density foam interior) is extremely robust and can survive even the harshest of treatment. I have taken that gear into the backblocks of North India for three weeks on the road on multiple occasions and sure the case gets knocked around (partcularly on the road legs) but the bass is absolutly safe. Even then I was so paranoid I ended up leaving the Stingray 5 at home and just taking the old four string.

P.S. bring your own roadies if you plan to go to India!

 

[A.J.]

Rex, is that Chuck on your computer screen in the first picture?

 

[John Denner]

Flying with you Musicman

If you ask to speak with the Pilot and tell him your willing to keep the guitar case
with you in your seat he may just ok it...

This has worked for me on 2 flights already.

Good Luck

 

[silverburst]

Rex, is that Chuck on your computer screen in the first picture?

Why yes it it! I got alot of crap about it last time I posted that photo...