How do I get my guitar on the plane?

[Globbits]

If you carry a guitar that you've bought overseas as hand luggage, do you have to pay VAT on it?

[oooo]

Good advice,
I've got a few things to ad... I've flown a bunch of times since 9-11 to gig and haven't had a problem...
First off, my main guitar is a EB/MM Petrucci so it's smaller than usual, the hard case fits well in an overhead. I refuse to check my guitar at the check in. I tell them that I'm going to hand check it at the gate. This gets me to the gate.
Next I always try to book myself in the back of the plane, as far back as possible- the reason? I'm one of the first people to board so 1) coat closet's not full and 2) overheads are empty.
Most of the time they want you to check it at the gate... but this is a million times better than turning it over as regular baggage.
I usually stand with the guitar long ways, have even hung my coat over it... if you can get past the ticket taker (don't know the real name) you're home free. I walk on the plane, and ask the flight attendent if they have a coat closet that I can stick this into.
Last weekend the flight attendent said "it should fit in the overhead".
Worst case scenerio, it goes on as hand checked. Basically you walk to the last turn b/f the door of the plane and leave it to be placed by hand on the plane (along with a mountain of baby strollers). When you get to your next stop it's waiting for you in the same place (well, a similar place in another airport) if you have a connecting flight, the game starts all over again.
Bottom line for me, I'd never fly with a gig bag. If it gets hand checked I feel better with the hard case, and if you are one of the first on the plane it fits in the overhead nicely.
Be prepared to open the case at security checks (if you get the chance check out the x-ray when it goes through the machine. Looks like a Gittler guitar on the screen when it does).
and ditch those wire cutters that you use to trem the string excess... learned that the hard way. Good luck
Oh and I never loosen string tension... been doing this for about 6 years and have never had any problems (knock knock)

[babahi]

I always travel overseas (at least once a month) and I always have my guitar with me. I've never had a problem, I just ask the cabin crew to put my instrument into the closet with the coats. There's always more than enough room.

As for check in, I mention that this is my work instrument and reason for my trip, so that puts a different angle on things. I've never been refused taking my instrument into the cabin with me. Also, I heard that there was some law passed in the US about this, that intruments are now allowed on board, due to them being tools of our trade. Anyone know more?

A friend of mine worked in baggage handling in Düsseldorf airport and told me that "Fragile" tags don't make a difference, since the handlers don't have time to care; everything has to be dealt with as quickly as possible and that means special attention to nothing. Everything is thrown equally.

Two months ago, I was in a dressing room with an act that had just arrived to perform the following night. One piece of their luggage had been lost, an acoustic guitar in a gigbag. The guy had actually checked it in! It was his first time flying, though. The item was delivered to the venue and he opened up the gigbag to find the neck split down, starting from the headstock to the fourth fret. He couldn't believe it.

Remember that when you give your luggage up, it's not just the fact taht it's being thrown around that can damage it, but also the fact that it may be at the bottom of a container with a couple of hundred pounds on it. There is the reason for flight cases!

On a side note, I've been taking my Steinberger with me since early this year and it's made life much, much easier. Smaller, easy to carry, easy to stow, and virtually indestructible...

[oooo]

I second the Steiny... I have one and have flown with it a few times. It's awesome to travel with. I just wish I could get used to the R trem I'd use it to fly every time.

[felipe82]

HELP ME PLEASE!!
I live in Chile and I just bought a rg3120tw from Rich a IbanezRules (very nice guy) and made him send it to Minneapolis to my brother who lives there. He´s gonna bring it home for the holidays. The thing is that my brother does not have an extra gigbag for the guitar and besides HE is the WORST packer in the world and he knows s**t about guitars, so I just want to leave the guitar on the case with the packaging that Rich made (I´m sure it must be great). Do you really recommend me that he should buy a gigbag for the guitar and have him take it as a hand bag? and also very important, do you think I should make him detune the guitar for the flight?
PLEASE ANSWER FAST, MY BROTHER IS TRAVELLING ON DEC 20TH!!

[Rich]

Answered email alos.

NEVER detune a floating bridge.

Leave it in the case just as it came and check it, carry on in case if they'll let you. Leave in box oprional [harder to handle at the airport]

[caprile]

Originally Posted by felipe82

HELP ME PLEASE!!
I live in Chile and I just bought a rg3120tw from Rich a IbanezRules (very nice guy) and made him send it to Minneapolis to my brother who lives there. He´s gonna bring it home for the holidays. The thing is that my brother does not have an extra gigbag for the guitar and besides HE is the WORST packer in the world and he knows s**t about guitars, so I just want to leave the guitar on the case with the packaging that Rich made (I´m sure it must be great). Do you really recommend me that he should buy a gigbag for the guitar and have him take it as a hand bag? and also very important, do you think I should make him detune the guitar for the flight?
PLEASE ANSWER FAST, MY BROTHER IS TRAVELLING ON DEC 20TH!!

my cousin brought me a guitar as regular lugagge just inside the case (with plastic foil over the entire case). No problems at all.
Just make sure you know the combo: when mine arrived, I was crazy figuring the number! it was 233...

cualquier duda mcaprile@cec

[DSGSpawn]

Taking your Guitar on the plane these days is really a pain since the events of 9/11. I travel form LA to the UK quite often with my guitar and I have never been able to take my guitar as carry on since then! Even if you do get the opportunity to bring your guitar on board with you, check how many planes and what type are used in your travel. For example, I have to change planes at Heathrow to a smaller plane, and this is usually way smaller thus not having the capacity for me to bring my guitar as carry on, even if I could.

Because of all these factors I had an ATA custom flight case made (check www.Barrys cases.com) which fits my guitar and hard-shell case in it. It’s like a tank. It has reinforced plywood panels with aluminium side strips and ball corners. It also has 2 recessed heavy duty twist locks. The inside of the case is lined with a 1 inch surround of shock absorbing foam. I’ve use the case many times to travel with 3 different guitars to and from different places. (NOTE) It has to be checked in as baggage though, however the case is so strong you could jump and stand on it and the guitar would be safe from damage. The only thing you have to worry about is the possibility of theft, however, this would usually happen at its destination so try and get to the baggage claim as early as possible. Also the case is very heavy (50Lbs plus) and would be cumbersome for some one to steal it quickly. Though nothing is ever a guarantee when thieves are in the equation! I would also try and get insurance from a 3rd party vendor or through your plane carrier if at all possible. My next piece of advice may sound obvious but always remember to label your guitar case with your name and address and any other contact info on it like your e-mail. Plaster the thing with it!

Fragile or not to Fragile, this is the question! In my experience putting a fragile notice on the case doesn’t make any difference. If you get a hard-shell case like what I’ve got, abuse it not much of an issue! I do know people who say never put a fragile sticker on your guitar case…this one I leave to you.

Contrary to what has been said in the other posts is that “you should always detune” your floating tremolo (what ever it is Floyd, Edge, LO Pro) by 1 whole (1 tone) step. i.e your bottom E should be tuned to a D so on and so forth with each string. I do this all the time (I have 3 guitars all with one of each of the above mentioned tremolo systems). I also put a bit of foam in the recessed cavity so the tremolo is still set to it correct position as it would be tuned to concert pitch (90 degree to the body). The reason why you need to detune the tremolo slightly is that the neck of your guitar and body will alter during a plane flight because of different atmospheric pressure. Detuning 1 whole step will allow mostly the neck freedom to move with out causing stress. Once you get to your destination let you guitar settle for a few hours (I usually leave it for 24 hours), then tune it to concert pitch.

I hope this helps

[Narface]

When I came to the US in August 2003, the people did not let me carry my guitar as hand luggage. I totally freaked out. All I had was a gig bag that had an inch of padding protecting my custom Strat. I prayed and put a pad lock on the bag and handed it over to the people. They stuck fragile stickers over the bag. Then I realised I forgot to detune my guitar! But it was too late. Once more, I freaked out. When I arrived, the customs took ages due to a computer failure. All the luggage had been loaded off the belt already. I thought, what if someone takes my guitar? I freaked out for the third time. In the end, I did find my guitar. But I was so afraid to see what it had become after the flight. It wasn't until a day or two before I opened that gig bag. To my relief, everything was just as it is! The neck didn't snap, nor did the body scratch or crack. That was probably the most stressful flight I've ever had...

[revsharp777]

I've had a problems a few times, but most are accomodating. I had one airline place my guitar inside the aircrew's closet (where there clothes & luggage are).

If all else fails, get yourself a Steinberger. They fit in the overhead compartment!

[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.

[Infinite]

I took on my guitar in a fat hard flight case, and i just put it in the overhead compartment... and no one said a thing

[AirGuitarHero]

Well, I've carried both HSC's and gigbags and never had a problem. Just take it with me and find a flight attendant who looks shy, give her a killer smile and say "Here, would you please tell me where I can put this, love?". Problem is, I'm travelling with my wife, so this approach may have undesirable consequences LOL

In a fortnight, I'm leaving from Beijing, where ground staff are particularly picky, so as a last resource I've thought of dismantling neck and body and checking them in, well wrapped in clothes (the neck will fit into a large rucksack, no prob). This should be pretty safe.

Failing that, I'll tell them the electronics in the cavity are actually a low-power nuclear bomb. I'm a mafia hitman and the guitar is my tool of the trade, you see

[pikapikapi]

hey rich, the link you posted doesn't work. got another link? thanks!

[Rich]

Nope, do an extended search and see if you can find one.