HELP!!! Taking my JEM on a plane.

amt7565 · #1 03-08-2003, 09:13 PM

I am flying to australia tomorrow and I am taking 2 flights, American and Qantas. They both wont let me carry my JEM handcarry(in a soft gig bag) since it exceeds 45 inches. The JEM (any electric guitar)is 39 by 12 by 2 = 53 inches.

I am afraid to check it in since it might get stolen. The liability for a lost bag is only $650 for international flights.

There is the possiblility that they might let me carry it in hand carry, but I am going by myslef, chicago to LA, LA to Sydney and just incase they refuse I wont be able to even give it back to someone to take back. So I cant take the risk.
Anyone here taken insurance for your guitar before? Any advise? I am away for almost a month and I will miss my JEM so much

pawel · #2 03-08-2003, 09:36 PM

There is another very good thread about this somewhere, so you might want to search for it...I recently took two flights, got stuck in Paris and all my luggage only came 4 days after my arrival but my guitar was perfectly fine...But then if i got $650 for it i would consider it pure profit...

caprile · #3 03-08-2003, 09:40 PM

wow man....I've had nightmares with this issue since I may be moving to California...

Why don't you take the guitar apart? if you remove the trem with the strings on (and wrap everything really well) you could use a gigbag as a carry on, folded.

I guess if you don't keep it like that for too long, it shouldn't be a problem, right?

sniperfrommars1 · #4 03-08-2003, 09:54 PM

I agree. Just pop the kneck off and carry the thing onboard. No one separates me willingly from my guitars.

amt7565 · #5 03-08-2003, 10:49 PM

That is a good idea to pop the neck off, but I am not good at setting the guitar back in shape. Thanks anyway

If i checked in the guitar and if it got stolen I would only get $650.00
And I am actually taking 3 flights: chicago--LA--Sydney--melbourne. Too risky

caprile · #6 03-08-2003, 10:58 PM

If you take the trem off with the strings on, there should be no problems. Check Rich's tech section to see how to do it (Swirly banner)

amt7565 · #7 03-08-2003, 11:08 PM

OK I will read it. Thanks! What if I simply remove the neck without loosening the strings or taking the bridge off? Will that be OK? Anyone?

Rich · #8 03-08-2003, 11:28 PM

Pull the bridge out, then take the neck off. Put parts in a baggie so you don't loose them. [put baggie in luggage, they'd probably consider neck screws to be an offensive weapon]

Ali Naqvi · #9 03-09-2003, 12:50 AM

I fly from California to Abu Dhabi, UAE (right next to Saudi Arabia, in the Middle East...) every summer through British Airways, and I've never had a problem with my lefty custom 470L (beats getting a lefty 555!). Before they can even ask me what's in the case, I just ask them if I could put the guitar in the coat closet, since it won't fit in the overhead compartments. They go, "have you tried?" and I go, "oh yes, countless times, I wouldn't want to disturb the other passengers, you know

" and then they just take it from me

Sometimes I just tell them, "Oh, but I've never before been bothered about this?" or something, and it works. Make sure you insist that the guitar's expensive, irreplaceable, and you're a musician

Hope everything works out fine.

Cheers!

Ali

littlegreenman · #10 03-09-2003, 12:55 AM

Just as a point of interest, last time I flew, I tried taking a guitar as carry on, thankfully my dad had took me to the airport, they decided that I couldn't take it with the neck off as carry on because the neck and strings could be used as a weapon

I suppose a club, and the strings could strangle someone or poke them LOL!!!

whatever, as a result he took the guitar back with him and I went on my merry way one piece of luggage lighter

amt7565 · #11 03-09-2003, 01:14 AM

OK! I have decided not to take my guitar. When I assemble it back I am sure I will have trouble with it again trying to get it setup. And I don't want to mess with the truss rod. I am afraid if I keep messing with it, evenutally I might not have any room left for tightening.

I will try and rent a guitar when I am there instead. Maybe I will get a nice RG...similar neck.

Thanks for everyones support

amt7565 · #12 03-09-2003, 01:17 AM

Also considering the current security, the security people might not le me pass with the guitar in two pieces like littlegreenman mentioned

amt7565 · #13 03-09-2003, 01:22 AM

All Musicians must protest so that the airlines will allow musicans to carry guitars

anuj · #14 03-09-2003, 02:08 AM

flew it onboard in flight case, no problem (from sfo to new delhi, many connections way out cause of storms and other connection-screwer-uppers). just be real nice, tell 'em you've done it before (well, i had, although the last time it wasn't my jem and it wasn't in a flight case, just in my hand), and request that they put it in the coat closet. they'll usually have it for youas you get off the place right by the door!

just remember to NOT put tools in the case. they'll take those away. and just to be safe, whammybar in luggage may be a good idea too, although i didn't really have a problem.

(blargh, allen wrenches, blargh)

~A

amt7565 · #15 03-09-2003, 02:42 AM

Yes I dont mind giving it a try. But you see...I dont have anyone going with me to the airport....so incase they refuse i will be stuck...and might be forced to check it in...