Question Music Man JP6 as hand baggage on flight?

[gurtejsingh]

Hey Guys,

I have a black stealth JP6 with the factory Music Man case, and I've been trying to find out the specs (measurement) of the case online but could not find much. I wanted to check if I can carry the guitar with case as a hand baggage onto the flight, as I do not really trust the handling of these airlines these days for checked in baggage. Unfortunately, I do not have a measuring tape (too lazy to get one ), and was wondering if anyone of you have the measurements of the case handy with you? A link or numbers?

This is what the airline's website says: Please ensure that your carry-on bag (hand baggage) in the cabin does not exceed the dimensions of 55 cms (22 inches) x 40 cms (16 inches) x 20 cms (8 inches) and a total weight of 8 kgs.

Also, have any of you carried this as a hand baggage on-board an international flight? Faced any issues? Any help would be awesome!

Thanks much!

gT

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

I dont think they will let it go.

 

[gurtejsingh]

Just checked with the airline. They don't allow it Sucks that I have to check in this beauty. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Screamindv]

I fly with my JP6 all the time domestic and international without any problems. I use my hard shell case and usually do gate check by choice and have it put in the cargo hold. As long as your case can fit in the overhead bins, they have to let you carry it on board. If you must put it in the overhead, I suggest paying extra for a seat that gets you on the plane before most passengers. If you are in a zone that enters the plane last, the other passengers migh have taken up all of the available space. Then, you will have to gate check it. Below is the regulation from the TSA. Be sure to bring a truss rod wrench so you can make any neck adjustments due to temperature if you have to put your guitar in the cargo hold.

You may bring musical instruments as carry-on or as checked baggage. To help passengers who are traveling with instruments, we partnered with musical organizations around the country to understand the challenges of transporting musical instruments, and we recommend the following.

Check with your airline prior to your flight to ensure your instrument meets the size requirements for their aircraft.

Pack brass instruments in your checked baggage.

Bring string instruments, within carrier size limitations, as carry-on items.

Carrying Instruments Through Screening Checkpoints

Please check with your airline before you arrive at the airport. Read additional information from the Department of Transportation.

Security officers must X-ray or physically screen your instrument before it can be transported on an aircraft.

If security officers cannot clear the instrument through the security checkpoint as a carry-on item, you should transport the instrument as checked baggage instead.

Instruments as Checked Baggage

You may bring musical instruments as checked baggage as long as they fit within the size and weight limitations of the airline you are taking.

 

[DrKev]

This is what the airline's website says: Please ensure that your carry-on bag (hand baggage) in the cabin does not exceed the dimensions of 55 cms (22 inches) x 40 cms (16 inches) x 20 cms (8 inches) and a total weight of 8 kgs.

It's almost twice as long as that. Very quick and rough measurement of mine gives (107 x 43 x 20) cms.

If you have to put it in the hold, I would advise packing it as if you were shipping via FedEx/UPS. Look up their specifications online.

 

[Screamindv]

Your airline is wrong as of March 6th. I live in New Jersey too. I have never had a problem in any of the 3 airports (EWR< LGA or Kennedy as well as Philly)
Here’s the news.

The Bill.

Section 403 of the legislation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, provides:

“An air carrier providing air transportation shall permit a passenger to carry a violin, guitar, or other musical instrument in the aircraft cabin, without charging the passenger a fee in addition to any standard fee that carrier may require for comparable carry-on baggage ….”

But, there must be space in the overhead bins.
Update: January 1, 2015

On December 29, 2014, just in time for your 2015 world tour, the US department of Transportation promulgated the regulations that will, finally, put into effect the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. The regulations, and, thus, the act become effective 60 days after the regulations are published in the Federal Register, which occurred on January 5. So, as of March 6, you can happily carry on board any US-based aircraft “a violin, guitar, or other small musical instrument.”

Well, only if, as explained above, your instrument fits in the overhead compartments or under the seat and only if those who board before you don’t pack those compartments with duty-free booze, their carry-on luggage, jackets, diaper bags, or other parafrenelia. So, board early.

What if your instrument doesn’t fit in the designated spaces, you can purchase a seat for it. If it’s too large for a seat or your wallet is too small to enable you to make the purchase, you can check it as luggage, but only so long as “the instrument does not exceed 165 pounds or the applicable weight restrictions for the aircraft.” So, leave those Les Pauls at home.

The Department of Transportation has also posted a webpage providing “useful tips and information for consumers on how to prepare for air travel with musical instruments.” The site provides such tidbits as advising that you “mark the instrument case ‘Fragile’ — even when it’s shaped like a musical instrument. In my view, such a marking may only serve to taunt the baggage handlers, so slap those stickers on at your own risk.

Happy trails!.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Or you can take a train...... Lol!

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Boat maybe? Little cruise?

 

[DrKev]

So, as of March 6, you can happily carry on board any US-based aircraft “a violin, guitar, or other small musical instrument.”

May not apply at all to non-US carriers.

The site provides such tidbits as advising that you “mark the instrument case ‘Fragile’ — even when it’s shaped like a musical instrument. In my view, such a marking may only serve to taunt the baggage handlers, so slap those stickers on at your own risk.

If baggage handlers are anything like UPS personnel, or anyone who deals with this stuff day-in-day-out, after the first 25 fragile stickers you become completely blind to the rest. Fragile stickers are more useful as reminder to customers to check for damage before accepting packages, than they are at reminding anybody else to be careful. That's not to say we shouldn't put them on of course (any excuse for insurance not to pay out, eh?)

 

[Steve Nukather]

Just take the neck off and pack in a small suitcase.

 

[gurtejsingh]

Thanks guys for the awesome response. I've been banging my head against a wall with this airline, and apparently they do not allow any musical instruments as hand luggage. This is what they say: "Musical instruments will be permitted as part of checked-in baggage only. Such musical instruments may be pooled in the Free Baggage Allowance but if in excess of the Free Baggage allowance, it will be charged as per the applicable excess baggage charges. No musical instruments will be permitted to be carried as Cabin baggage"

Which is absolutely ridiculous because most of the airlines do offer this now. As DrKev rightly said this may not apply to all Non-US carriers as of now. Thanks DrKev for the measurements, so this would have not fit in surely. I'll have to put it into the checked in baggage only guys.

Thanks Screamindv for the bill readout, I've read it out and unfortunately does not apply in my airline's case.

I'm probably going to bubble wrap the case as neatly as possible and put fragile stickers on it. Everything should go fine

Thanks Eric for the fantastic suggestions of traveling via boat or train I'll be sure to consider them next time, when I have 2 months to reach back home

All in all, thank's everyone

Cheers!

 

[gurtejsingh]

And, fold the case into a suitcase too?

 

[BUC]

Thanks guys for the awesome response. I've been banging my head against a wall with this airline, and apparently they do not allow any musical instruments as hand luggage. This is what they say: "Musical instruments will be permitted as part of checked-in baggage only. Such musical instruments may be pooled in the Free Baggage Allowance but if in excess of the Free Baggage allowance, it will be charged as per the applicable excess baggage charges. No musical instruments will be permitted to be carried as Cabin baggage"

What company is this?

I work for Southwest and as long as there's space in the overheads (which there frequently isn't) we allow it.

I always advise people to use a good gig bag (vs a huge hard case that won't fit anywhere) and pay the extra money for early boarding to guarantee available overhead bin space. If the neck can be removed, have the tools handy to do so just in case.

Bottom line, don't travel with a guitar that you want to keep perfectly pristine!

 

[gurtejsingh]

Thanks for the advice BUC. I bought this guitar here, and since its not available at all in my home country, so I have no choice but to carry it back with me. I would have preferred a gig bag too, but there's got to be a way to transport the case! Its an awesome case!

The airline is Air India. I even mentioned about the aforementioned bill to them but they said it does not apply to them . Thanks again!

 

[Screamindv]

I would suggest that you try to gate check your guitar like I do. This way you hand them the guitar right before you enter the plane and when you get off, they hand it to you in the jetway. This way your guitar avoids the baggage system/carousel.

 

[Screamindv]

I will also say that I have flown cross counter and internationally with my Music Man it the plastic moulded case with no problems. Be sure your case is not damaged and that your seal is airtight. At 35000 feet, any opening in your case will cause condensation at those temperatures.

 

[gurtejsingh]

Thanks again guys! IMO, this forum is full of such genuine great folks, willing to help always!

I will try to gate check the case and see if they allow it. Thanks for the advice on the air tight case. Its pretty new, and I take care of it as much as I take care of myself , plus I will be getting it bubble wrapped to ensure that all goes well.

 

[DrKev]

Condensation is not an issue. My two cents...

Cent one - I don't know that any case is airtight (I sound like a lawyer saying that). Certainly most of them are not, I dont think any of them are designed to be.

Cent two - On passenger aircraft the entire aircraft is pressurised, including the baggage hold. The baggage hold (or a part of it) may not be directly heated but even unheated sections are insulated against the outside air and ventilated by the same air that the cabin uses. The temperature will never drop very low and won't do so very quickly. Even on the smaller passenger jets which may not have a heated baggage hold, the hold is indirectly heated through the floor of the warm cabin above it, so the temperature will never drop much colder than about 8°C/46°F. Your case will slow down the change of temperature so you don't need to expect any problems. If the case is obviously cold to the touch when you arrive, it might be preferable to let it warm up to room temperature before opening.

FWIW, Steve Vai used to fly with his guitar a gig bag, overhead bin or gate checked. He had the headstock broken once but not problems due to conditions in the baggage hold.

And you can keep it tuned to pitch. That's how many manufacturers ship their instruments and even recommended by Talyor for their acoustic guitars. No problems for electrics.

(FWIW, two brothers of mine are airline pilots, I've been through this with them).

 

[QuietSpike]

+1 on everything DrKev said...

And the air is dryer in a pressurized aircraft cabin, so condensation is extremely rare. The cabin is pressurized anywhere from airport elevation to 8,000 feet (depends on your cruising altitude), so just because the plane is at 35,000 feet, the cabin may only be at 5,000 feet.

I was an airline pilot for years, and am now the president of an aircraft management and charter company. Yes, you must now call me Mr President. I have my MM guitars in cargo and cabins of business jets all the time to varying climates with no problems.

 

[DrKev]

Thank you Mr. President! Cool to have another pilot concur.