Pimientito -> RE: Guitar on the plane (Dec. 17 2007 23:06:47)
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ORIGINAL: jrabbani the trick is at check-in. BUT DO NOT MENTION YOUR GUITAR. once you get to the security line, get your guitar and go on in. The security people figure that it has been checked in and will never question it. the only other time you might have an issue is when you actually get on the plane. once youre on the plane, a flight attendant might ask you about it, but if they do, kindly ask to put your guitar in the flight attendant's area, where they hang out and keep their personal belongings. worse case scenario, when you already have your guitar on the plane, is that the flight attendant will ask to put your guitar below the plane, but they will hand carry down there with the other fragile cargo. trust me, this works and I know many pro's that do this same thing. when someone first told me this, i was weary about it, but ever since, it has worked. oh yea, i also had that letter with me, just as a back up just in case security or flight staff would try to question me. good luck. You pretty much got it, but now you have to declare instruments in Europe. Heres the routine. 1.Loosen the strings on the guitar. Make sure there is no liquid nail hardener or penknife etc. in the case. Security will remove them. 2. Cheap airlines like Ryanair charge for instruments. Make sure you have booked a seat for the instrument or paid the surcharge. 3. Better airlines are more easy .Check in your luggage, make sure your guitar is your only piece of hand luggage. The job of the check in clerk is to try to stop you taking it on. Tell them you want to put it on by hand at the door of the plane.They will tag it. 4. At door of plane the attendant will normally let you stow it overhead. A flight case will fit in a 737 overhead locker, it will not fit in an airbus locker. 5. If it wont fit, the attendant will put it in a locker or stow it by hand below with the childrens prams/buggies. 6. Make sure you label Front and back FRAGILE- PLEASE HAND TO PASSENGER AT DESTINATION 7. Occasionally a snotty attendant will ask you to recheck the guitar as luggage. In this case, remind them they are not fully insured to stow the guitar in the luggage hold. If they insist, threaten to leave the plane. They will have to delay the flight an hour looking for your luggage from the hold before take off and the captain will be very unhappy. I only tried this once and they grudingly found a space for the guitar.
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