Guitars on a flight - taking on an airplane

[SalemB]

Congrats on your 10 Julio!

Great to hear the flight went ok too.

Enjoy!

[7 Dying Trees]

I used to check in a BCRich I had (and still do) into the baggage handling in the case. It was OK every single time untill I decided to actually lock it. Customs must have wanted to see what was inseide and chwed the lock of. The case was totalled, but miraculously the guitar was still alive and undamaged. If you are going to put your guitar through, get it insured and DON'T LOCK THE CASE. Other than that I'd bubble wrap the entire guitar within the case, lots of packaging and let the case handle any abuse that gets thrown at it. It's what it's there for ultimately. If things really do go wrong kick up a stink with the airline you've carried it on. Also put it through the special/fragile vbaggage handling path. Stick fragile all over it or really make a point over it's value when you check it in, then someone will come and hand carry it past all ther conveyor belt crap. You could try all that... But good luck on getting them home if you get them!

[7 Dying Trees]

not awake...just noticed that you got them already... D'OH! Congratulations man, hope they were worth all the effort

[jemsite]

[Camelman]

You lucky one!
Whenever I fly from/to Europe from Africa, the plane is always overbooked, and every passenger (including me) tries to take as much as carry-on as possible. That means stuffing eveyrthing in the overhead compartments.

Last time (2 years ago) it went:

Me: "Hey! Stop squeezing your harcase into that compartment! There is a guitar already inside!"
Him: "Allah akhbar! In sch'allah nothing shall break"

A string broke, and 2 of the four case-locks are now broken.

I'll get a flight case for my next flight with guitars.

Camelman

[cerealk]

In flights from Orlando Jemfest to London and to and from London to Australia I carried my guitar to the plane and asked for it to be put in the first or business class cloak room.
No problems and the flight crew looked after it with no problems. I just picked it up and carried off the plane. The guitars were in M100 or UV1000 cases.
Airlines were Virgin to Orlando and British Airways to Australia.

Cheers

Simon
ps I didnt alter the guitar in anyway before flying

[VanWyck]

Same here. I've asked the crew if I could store the guitar in the coat closet - usually located to the right just as you enter the plane. DO NOT let anyone talk you into checking your guitar with the luggage, you may never see it again and their reimbursement will fall far short of the value of most guitars. If you are having trouble be firm but respectful - tell them how much the guitar is worth and why it is irreplaceable.

[amt7565]

I am travelling from chicago to asutralia. Both AA and Qantas have refused to allow me carry it with me. So I am not taking it with me

[Rich]

The United States Department Of Transportation - Transportation Security Administration has finally approved guitars for carry on baggage on US flights.

http://www.local802afm.org/images/about/TSALetter.pdf



Thanks to Eric Sands for the link.