Members Toniola Posted January 3, 2005 Members Posted January 3, 2005 I've been able, in the past, to sneak on my "beater" acoustic. It's just about as large as my Hummingbird, but appears small....have it in this vinyl, snug fitting, bag and hold it behind me as I walk through, BUT I've gotta have a better sounding, and playing, model for a month long trip to NZ. I've got a couple inexpensive possibilities, but wanna know if anyone else has a tried and true method for getting a full size guitar on a flight.
Members nylon rock Posted January 3, 2005 Members Posted January 3, 2005 Search on the internet for musical instruments and airline travel. The US government realizes musicians need help in this regard. Arrive early and have the check in flight crew (or whomever can help you) realize your delemma, and assist you. There is usually room somewhere that is not in the cargo hold, unless of course ten other guitarists are in your same predicament. I've stored mine in the coat closet and also in the front (first class) closet of a 747. But the consigliores get nervous if you aren't in first class too, and want no part of it. Be as polite as possible, and exercise patience and consideration for the orderly routines that are part and parcel of operating a plane, and you will be taken care of.
Members fingerstyleman Posted January 3, 2005 Members Posted January 3, 2005 Check with the airline before booking your seat, and where possible get their committment to carry the guitar as hand luggage in writing. You can always book an additional seat for your instrument, common practise for concert musicians I believe, or invest in a Flight Case for the guitar. Though I believe there is a tacit agreement between the musicians guild and airlines in America to allow instruments as hand luggage on all internal flights without incident. Somebody posted a Pdf of a letter to this effect a couple of months ago.
Members 54merk Posted January 3, 2005 Members Posted January 3, 2005 Originally posted by fingerstyleman Though I believe there is a tacit agreement between the musicians guild and airlines in America to allow instruments as hand luggage on all internal flights without incident. Somebody posted a Pdf of a letter to this effect a couple of months ago. The subject of this letter has come up before. Supposedly if you show it the gate personnel they'll gladly let you carry your guitar on board. LOL! It reminds me of the great movie "The Treasure of Sierra Leone" when the Bogie asks the phony Mexican "Police" to show him their badges. "Badges, what badges? We don't need to stinkin' badges!!!".IMHO it's just like any other carry-on baggage. If there's room, and they let you carry it on, you're in luck. If it does not fit in the overhead bin, and they don't want to put it in the 1st class coat closet, they may not let it ride with the passengers. In that case, it must be gate checked, which means that it will be hand carried along with the rest of the last minute suitcases which do not fit. Ask where it's going, and make sure that it will be hand carried off the plane since the baggage carousels and handlers will treat it like any old suitcase. Also make sure that it is put in a heated baggage area, along with the caged pets.
Members guitarcapo Posted January 4, 2005 Members Posted January 4, 2005 Personally I'd get one of those cast iron cases and be done with it. They have ones nowdays that will keep a six pack of beer cold for 24 hours so they are pretty temperature resistant.
Members Oldghm Posted January 6, 2005 Members Posted January 6, 2005 Over the years I have traveled many, many times by plane with my guitar, domestic and international. Only on one occasion was I not able to board with it, and on that occasion it was checked as I entered the plane and returned to me plane side when I arrived at my destination. Most airlines have deminsional limits on musical instruments that include a D size guitar in a normal size hard case. A Mark Leaf (spl) flight case will not work for carry on, but if you have one you don't need to carry on. Oldghm
Members Toniola Posted January 6, 2005 Author Members Posted January 6, 2005 originally posted by OLDGHM: Over the years I have traveled many, many times by plane with my guitar, domestic and international. Only on one occasion was I not able to board with it --------------------------------- Can you tell me if you carried on your guitar in a gig bag? Is it a dreadnought size? I'm not familiar with what a D size is. thanks
Members Master of You Posted January 7, 2005 Members Posted January 7, 2005 I've never had a problem, I always carry-on my acoustic and put it in the uptop storage bins. I don't see why you would have any problem, and I've done it several times since the secuirity has been stepped up.
Members Oldghm Posted January 7, 2005 Members Posted January 7, 2005 Yes Dreadnought and "D size" are the same. No I did not carry in a gig bag, I have always been concerned that what happened once might happen again. If you are traveling with a 000 size instrument, a gig bag might be OK because they are small enough you should never be refused, even on a small plane that is full. There are some commuter planes that do not have overhead storage large enough for a guitar. I have flown on some that are fairly large planes but the wings are on top of the plane and those bins in that area will not hold a guitar. When buying tickets ask questions about plane size, especially if you have connector flights of less than 90 min. many times those are small planes. I always go the checkin expecting to fly with my guitar and you should too. Oldghm
Members Toniola Posted January 7, 2005 Author Members Posted January 7, 2005 I called Air Tahiti Nui and they gave me the standard answer that any instrument must be checked as baggage, but I can see now that it's going to depend on each individual circumstance. Some post here that they always can bring it onto the plane and other say it's gotta be checked. My trip could be the latter since it's an international flight from LAX to New Zealand. I'm thinking it might be easier to buy a guitar there when I arrive. I just heard from a friend that customs asked whether he had any wood in his baggage and they fined him $200. for something that had to be quaranteened till they departed. It's all getting a bit confusing to me now. If I go with my old "beater" guitar in a gig bag and they don't let it aboard, then it might not make it in one piece through baggage, but I wouldn't miss it too much, except that I'd then need to find a replacement there. Then I'd also have to go through the entire ordeal on the way back. Option 2 is to get a flight case and just check it, however, I then will have another issue with the bulk of a hard case taking up storage room in the small campervan that we're renting. Oh well....somehow it will all sort out.
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