Importing 2 guitars from the US. NEED FAST REPLIES!

[Dr. D]

A friend of mine is on a vacation in Houston with his family.
He is going to buy a guitar for me(RG2570EX) and a guitar for himself(Fender strat).

Is it possible for him to get both the guitars inside of the cabin of the plane? He's flying with KLM.

If he don't get to carry them inside the airplane, should I tell him to tune down the strings?

Dr. D

[krizz]

Are they in flightcases ( ) or in a bag?

[revsharp777]

It would be a good idea to call KLM & ask if it would be OK to stow the guitar's in one of the crew closets. I've done this a few times & the crew is usually pretty accomodating. However, I did this BEFORE 9/11, so the rules may have changed.

Bottom line, it never hurts to ask.

[caprile]

I traveled to the states and back, with 2 guitars: one in a gig bag with me and one as luggage in it case. No problems at all with neither. They didn't even check that much, and it was 9/11/2003!!!

Oh, and DO NOT DETUNE!!!! guitars should fly ready to play.

[ScottB]

Read here: http://www.jemsite.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=26155

[Dr. D]

Thanks for the answers. I was planning to have the guitars in a gig bag. Should I buy a case for each of them?

[krizz]

Inform at KLM...If you may not take the guitars in the cabin, it's quite obvious to buy some cases there before handing them over to the rough-minded people of the luggage service. Else you could take 'm as handlugage.

It differs with every flight company.

Oh, and read the other threads here kindly linked to by ScreamJem7, there's a _lot_ of info in there.

[Doink]

Have your friend get a couple of cardboard boxes at the guitar store. Stuff the guitars in gig bags in the boxes, surrounded of course by newspaper or foam pellets.
This is how I always travel with guitars.
Your friend can probably bring extra luggage, but he'll have to pay extra money. So that may be a concern as well.
Either way, good luck, and good decision (2570EX).

[ken_r152]

Does the Jem count as a carry on? After all, it has a built-in handle. (I'm kidding).

-- Ken