GHWelles
Well-known member
For Dallas: What do you think will happen when I check my effects through on the flight and try and carry the guitar on, will I have a problem?
Taking Guitar on Airplane
- Thread starter GHWelles
- Start date
DaveB
Well-known member
In my transatlantic flight experience I have always managed to get on the plane with a guitar in a gig-bag on my back.
HTH
Dave
HTH
Dave
You could always call your airline and see what they advise... i'd think they'd want you to check in your pedals... becuase of the wiring and such... but not matter what the airlines say... TSA has the ultimate say in weather or not you get on the plane...
robguitar
Well-known member
I flew with my effects rack in a flight case.
While sitting on the plane and looking out the window, I watched the luggage hanlder chuck my case on the conveyor belt bringing luggage into the cargo hold.
If your guitar is in gig bag, I'd place it in the coat closet by first class.
While sitting on the plane and looking out the window, I watched the luggage hanlder chuck my case on the conveyor belt bringing luggage into the cargo hold.
If your guitar is in gig bag, I'd place it in the coat closet by first class.
The current carry on regulations can make it more difficult to get a guitar on board these days. It's down to individual airlines and a bit of luck, as far as I can tell.
I'd definitely check with the airline first and get something in writing from them. If you google this subject you'll find that some people get on planes regularly with their guitars in a gig bag, others don't.
I spent a lot of time researching this just last week, I was in Texas having bought yet another EBMM while I was there. I didn't want to risk turning up at the gate with my new axe in a gig bag only to get it refused on board, and placed in the hold like that
so I took the plunge and checked it, case, box and all with some added bubble-wrap. Luckily it made it back with me OK, absolutely perfect.
PS I'll post pics and details of my new aquisition when I get a chance to take some
I'd definitely check with the airline first and get something in writing from them. If you google this subject you'll find that some people get on planes regularly with their guitars in a gig bag, others don't.
I spent a lot of time researching this just last week, I was in Texas having bought yet another EBMM while I was there. I didn't want to risk turning up at the gate with my new axe in a gig bag only to get it refused on board, and placed in the hold like that
so I took the plunge and checked it, case, box and all with some added bubble-wrap. Luckily it made it back with me OK, absolutely perfect.PS I'll post pics and details of my new aquisition when I get a chance to take some
silverburst
Well-known member
AF of M issued a letter to the airlines regarding carrying instruments onboard airplanes. See the steinbergerworld.com forums for details.
I've had really good luck carrying guitars on, although I'd rather not put it in the first class closet because I can't keep an eye on people stacking other crap on and around it. Plus when they hit the brakes on landing everything shifts over pretty badly. If you put it in the overhead you can put it on top of the coats, backpacks, etc...
I've had really good luck carrying guitars on, although I'd rather not put it in the first class closet because I can't keep an eye on people stacking other crap on and around it. Plus when they hit the brakes on landing everything shifts over pretty badly. If you put it in the overhead you can put it on top of the coats, backpacks, etc...
Axis Sport
Well-known member
I have heard of Tele players that take the neck off and carry the body in a computer or brief case and the neck wrapped in some type of material. You would have to set the guitar back up, but if you are not afraid of that sort of thing it might be the way to go.
Axis Sport
Well-known member
You might think about sending the pedals ahead via FedEx.
GHWelles
Well-known member
So I could put the guitar in the case and put in in a cardboard box with bubble pack and check it, and put the pedals in a bag and check it.
Should be OK, right?
Should be OK, right?
TonyEVH5150
Well-known member
I would do that only if it's a single connection flight.
I've read about several people that had to separate the neck from the body in order to stow it as a carry-on. (I think Delta made Steve Morse do that). Second what Axis Sport said.
I've read about several people that had to separate the neck from the body in order to stow it as a carry-on. (I think Delta made Steve Morse do that). Second what Axis Sport said.
TonyEVH5150
Well-known member
Here's a couple of online guides I've found.
http://www.win.net/mainstring/carryon.html
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/10229/comments
http://www.indie-music.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2088
Also, here's a letter from the American Federation of Musicians regarding travelling with your instrument.
http://www.indie-music.com/downloads/AFM_carryon.pdf
http://www.win.net/mainstring/carryon.html
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/10229/comments
http://www.indie-music.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2088
Also, here's a letter from the American Federation of Musicians regarding travelling with your instrument.
http://www.indie-music.com/downloads/AFM_carryon.pdf
jaxadam
Well-known member
Good luck. I had a very bad experience flying with a guitar.
OrangeChannel
Well-known member
If you're on Delta, you're f@#ked. They will 100% NOT LET YOU FLY WITH A GUITAR AS CARRYON. Due to the stringency of new flight rules, it really pays to go and get a superheavy duty ATA case. Your standard hardshell will get torn apart. Because everybody knows Los terroristos love to carry out acts while dropping the hot rock on a six string.
Astrofreq
Well-known member
The answer is just use whatever guitar and amp is already there.
or Drive.
or Drive.
RitchieDarling
Well-known member
I once went through Heathrow with a Steinberger XL-2 in a gig bag.....
That set off a few buzzers!
Ritchie
That set off a few buzzers!
Ritchie
Tim O'Sullivan
Well-known member
Having done three Trans-Atlantic flights this year, its getting harder to take anything as a carry on item. Make sure its properly insured and check it. Expect the worst case!
check out what those bastards have done with my case:
Not even mentioning that it was lost and I only received it 2 days after my own arrival on the edge of nervous breakdown.
Thanks to Caca de Kick for swapping the original LE 30th case for the standard MM plastic case. It was a good idea. I couldn't even imagine what would happen to that weak tolex case in the hands of those vandals.
I'm very suspicious that the case was damaged on purpose during inspection, because the very top plastic layer is not damaged. It looks like someone took a scewdriver and a hammer and did a hole in the corner to have a look and confirm that inside is just a foam and not some explosive materials.
Instead of spamming about opening new flights to Somalia, it would be much more usefull to receive the update from the airline about changes in luggage carry on rules. Last time I flew from the States with bass in November 2006. And this time I wasn't allowed to take the case with me. I was thinking to take the neck apart and still take it on board, but there's another change in the rule - you can only have 2 carry on items on board. I had laptop with me and some more bags and I had very short time to carefully uncrew the neck, so the only option for me was to check in the bass, and my heart was broken even before they put "Fragile" stickers on both sides of the case.
Not even mentioning that it was lost and I only received it 2 days after my own arrival on the edge of nervous breakdown.
Thanks to Caca de Kick for swapping the original LE 30th case for the standard MM plastic case. It was a good idea. I couldn't even imagine what would happen to that weak tolex case in the hands of those vandals.
I'm very suspicious that the case was damaged on purpose during inspection, because the very top plastic layer is not damaged. It looks like someone took a scewdriver and a hammer and did a hole in the corner to have a look and confirm that inside is just a foam and not some explosive materials.
Instead of spamming about opening new flights to Somalia, it would be much more usefull to receive the update from the airline about changes in luggage carry on rules. Last time I flew from the States with bass in November 2006. And this time I wasn't allowed to take the case with me. I was thinking to take the neck apart and still take it on board, but there's another change in the rule - you can only have 2 carry on items on board. I had laptop with me and some more bags and I had very short time to carefully uncrew the neck, so the only option for me was to check in the bass, and my heart was broken even before they put "Fragile" stickers on both sides of the case.
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candid_x
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2006
- Messages
- 3,272
What a hassle.
I used to travel with an acoustic all the time, and it was never a problem to carry on, store either in overhead or in first class closet. Now, if I had to fly with a guitar, I'd case and box it and check it in. Being refused at the gate is nightmarish. Better yet, the hardcore flight travel case is a spendy but great option.
Orange, your post cracked me up!
I used to travel with an acoustic all the time, and it was never a problem to carry on, store either in overhead or in first class closet. Now, if I had to fly with a guitar, I'd case and box it and check it in. Being refused at the gate is nightmarish. Better yet, the hardcore flight travel case is a spendy but great option.
Orange, your post cracked me up!
Luckily my Anny Ray arrived safe and without a scratch, but I don't even want to think what she had gone through.
When I was on the plane before take off, I watched 2 bastards from the window playing football with all the bags they were unloading from another plane. Too bad I didn't have my camera with me. That airline would be really glad to watch the vid on youtube.
Even ATA case is not an option, in December 2006 I had Mesa Boogie head with me to check in (Dual Rectifier head with no tubes and all possible parts taken out - exactly 23 kg). It took me a week to pack it in bubblewrap, but when I received it in the end and opened the case it was all messed up and all the bubblewrap was tucked to the side.
The only way to travel with bass these days is to uncrew the neck. Not an option for neck-through basses, though another advantage for EBMM promotion
Get a nice gig bag, unscrew the neck put the body in the folded bag and put the bubblewraped neck to the side.
Latest TSA rules are all messed up:
TSA: Transporting Musical Instruments
No certainty at all, everywhere it says that you have to check everything with the airline.
Size and weight of carry-on baggage:
http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/us/info_and_services/baggage?l=en&nodeid=1769620
Each piece of hand baggage may not be larger than 55 x 40 x 20 cm and may not weigh more than 8 kg. An exception are foldable garment bags. They count as hand baggage up to a size of 57 x 54 x 15 cm.
Pieces of baggage exceeding these limits have to be checked in. As the stowage space in the cabin is limited we will transport them in the cargo hold. This is in the interests of your own and other passengers' safety and comfort.
Same from United's site:
United Airlines - Carry-on baggage
For travel worldwide on United, you may carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase, or laptop computer.
A carry-on bag must fit under your seat or in the overhead bin.
Carry-on bag dimensions should not be more than 9" x 14" x 22" (length + width + height) or 45 linear inches (the length, height and width added together).
United may require that a carry-on item travel as checked baggage if the item cannot be safely stowed on a particular flight.
United exempts the following personal items from the one piece limit:
Child safety seats for ticketed children
Assistive devices (e.g. canes, crutches, etc.)
Outer garments (e.g. coats, hats, etc.)
I don't beleive that most musicians are that rich to buy a separate ticket for the instrument. Introducing new rules every single month is sick. What if someone kills 5 passengers with his bare hands this week - would they introduce new rule to cut off everybody's hands during check in? Or would we travel handcuffed since then?
When I was on the plane before take off, I watched 2 bastards from the window playing football with all the bags they were unloading from another plane. Too bad I didn't have my camera with me. That airline would be really glad to watch the vid on youtube.
Even ATA case is not an option, in December 2006 I had Mesa Boogie head with me to check in (Dual Rectifier head with no tubes and all possible parts taken out - exactly 23 kg). It took me a week to pack it in bubblewrap, but when I received it in the end and opened the case it was all messed up and all the bubblewrap was tucked to the side.
The only way to travel with bass these days is to uncrew the neck. Not an option for neck-through basses, though another advantage for EBMM promotion
Get a nice gig bag, unscrew the neck put the body in the folded bag and put the bubblewraped neck to the side.
Latest TSA rules are all messed up:
TSA: Transporting Musical Instruments
No certainty at all, everywhere it says that you have to check everything with the airline.
Size and weight of carry-on baggage:
http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/us/info_and_services/baggage?l=en&nodeid=1769620
Each piece of hand baggage may not be larger than 55 x 40 x 20 cm and may not weigh more than 8 kg. An exception are foldable garment bags. They count as hand baggage up to a size of 57 x 54 x 15 cm.
Pieces of baggage exceeding these limits have to be checked in. As the stowage space in the cabin is limited we will transport them in the cargo hold. This is in the interests of your own and other passengers' safety and comfort.
Same from United's site:
United Airlines - Carry-on baggage
For travel worldwide on United, you may carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase, or laptop computer.
A carry-on bag must fit under your seat or in the overhead bin.
Carry-on bag dimensions should not be more than 9" x 14" x 22" (length + width + height) or 45 linear inches (the length, height and width added together).
United may require that a carry-on item travel as checked baggage if the item cannot be safely stowed on a particular flight.
United exempts the following personal items from the one piece limit:
Child safety seats for ticketed children
Assistive devices (e.g. canes, crutches, etc.)
Outer garments (e.g. coats, hats, etc.)
I don't beleive that most musicians are that rich to buy a separate ticket for the instrument. Introducing new rules every single month is sick. What if someone kills 5 passengers with his bare hands this week - would they introduce new rule to cut off everybody's hands during check in? Or would we travel handcuffed since then?
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