RE: Guitar on the plane

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fivealive

Posts: 10
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: brooklyn

RE: Guitar on the plane (in reply to Bogdan1980)

I had to check a guitar once in a plastic hardshell case (not a proper flight case). I put it under "odd-sized baggage" and it came out ok on the other end. It still made me a bit nervous though.

I've also carried one on-board (a cheap acoustic in a cheap gigbag) with no problems. Just wear it on your back so they don't see it when you check in. Don't have any other bags if you can help it. I flew between Thailand from India this way, from India to NYC, and also from NYC to Seoul to Thailand (then back the same way) like this with no problems. I think I flew Korean Air, Thai Air, and Air Italia.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2008 17:24:30

luke.park

Posts: 114
Joined: Dec. 29 2005

RE: Guitar on the plane (in reply to Pimientito)

hey,
last summer i went wth easyjet to spain and back, as well as italy, and took the guitar on board and put it in the overhead. for me it has varied everytime, and depends on the staff. once i have been told to go back and check it through as luggage, until they realised the plane had to go!ha! another time i walked straight on without neone batting an eyelid
i am still a member of musicians union so ive always got that back up, but all in all a bloody pain in the ane!! bogdan1980, im not sure of the situation with a union in usa, we love em over in uk ya see, but if you can try that road. theres a lot of gd advice on here that ill take on board! or not!!!!.. ah never mind....

luke,

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2008 10:16:55

Bogdan1980

Posts: 370
Joined: May 23 2007
From: Frederick, MD

RE: Guitar on the plane (in reply to fivealive)

Well, I just came back from the long trip I was so worried about bringing my guitar to and that's why I started the thread.

I had three planes one way, one in US, one from Atlanta to Vienna, and Vienna to Kiev. On the way back the same but through London. The only place where it's a problem is in US (domestic) if you have one of those small planes. It just doesn't fit anywhere, but they let you carry it on the plane since it's a musical instrument and everyone seemed to respect that fact. Once it's on the plane right before takeoff the stewardess will take it and place it in the luggage section but it will go last and they will carry it out for you when you get off.

From then on the planes were big enough to fit the guitar in the overhead bins. The only problem is that people try to stuff something on top of that. But that's when you club them with something heavy like an umbrella or a bottle, whatever you have.

Now, London is the worst place I've ever flown through, Gatwick to be precise. And they say Heathrow is even worse. They've now adopted this ridiculous policy of one carry one per person. And when my wife said that one is a purse and one is a carry on the stuck up, really short and ugly trashy looking girl said: We call that a bag". But even she seeing my bag and a guitar tamed all her inner beasts and said: " Well that's a musical instrument so it's OK". I'm sure her generosity and graciousness made her feel so good about herself that she went home to her cats very happy.
Besides this, Gatwick is full of other many unpleasantries like long lines, unprofessional personnel, very long and confusing airport, etc. So if you can avoid it.
But the guitar was Ok, and it seams like musical instruments still have the respect even from the most hardened by cold British Isles winds airport watchdogs.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2008 1:33:39

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: Guitar on the plane (in reply to Bogdan1980)

quote:

Gatwick is full of other many unpleasantries like long lines, unprofessional personnel, very long and confusing airport, etc. So if you can avoid it.

Sounds like you've never flown the Las Vegas International Airport.

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www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2008 1:52:45

Bogdan1980

Posts: 370
Joined: May 23 2007
From: Frederick, MD

RE: Guitar on the plane (in reply to fivealive)

No, what? That bad?

I was mostly talking about international. Ever since all these security changes after 9/11 most Euro airports tightened up, but for some reason UK has been the worst and full of a**holes.

It's strange, Ukraine as a post soviet country with corruption still provides better service in the Airport than Gatwick. Other Euro spots like Vienna, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Zurich and especially Frankfurt are fine, Frankfurt is the best place to go through. Usually in US airport you don't go through as much security so it's not so bad no matter how unorganized it may seem. But should I avoid Vegas?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2008 1:58:25

kudo

Posts: 2064
Joined: Sep. 3 2009

RE: Guitar on the plane (in reply to fivealive)

my teachers (El_Tortuga on foro) fb status is :"Air Canada destroyed my guitar case. My guitar seems ok. " a 2hr internal flight
its great to have this thread here on the foro

i found some useful info here too:
http://www.guitar69.com/lessons/lesson%2011.htm

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 30 2011 14:38:10

Paul Magnussen

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 8 2010
From: London (living in the Bay Area)

RE: Guitar on the plane (in reply to kudo)

quote:

Air Canada destroyed my guitar case

Yes, Air Canada has the reputation of being the industry leader:

http://www.padmaland.com/2011/01/air-canada-breaks-guitars-too/

And of course, the famous United:

http://www.davecarrollmusic.com/ubg/story/

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 30 2011 15:48:49

etta

Posts: 342
Joined: Jan. 20 2010

RE: Guitar on the plane (in reply to fivealive)

2010, flew Delta to Madrid and back to Atlanta. No problems, but on the return flight there was no room in the flight attendant area (the flight case would not fit overhead) so with some diplomacy and a smile the attendant removed enough items so the guitar would fit in the attendant closet. I never check anything; carry a small backpack and a guitar and you will go far.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 30 2011 16:16:04

Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

RE: Guitar on the plane (in reply to Paul Magnussen)

Im ammending my posts from previous years. Cheap airlines are now getting very tough with handling instruments and using all sorts of tricks to try to avoid you carrying a guitar on a plane. You cant take a guitar into the cabin as luggage so easily now( unless you travel business class)

Some time last year, Ryanair (low cost european airline) would not allow you check a guitar on to the plane as hand luggage. I used to get round this by buying an extra seat for the guitar but they then stopped this for a while as well. I think they got so many complaints that they had to change this policy, especially as it was pointed out that it was actually cheaper to transport a guitar than a person. If the ticket is less than 50 euros then its well worth it. I have done this a couple of times and its by far the best way of avoiding the horrific accident as in the above video. Here are their terms.

"Smaller musical items, such as a guitar, violin or viola which exceed our cabin baggage dimensions may be carried in the cabin, if an extra seat has been purchased.

To book an extra seat for a musical instrument go online and select 2 seats the first seat should be booked in the actual passenger's name and the other seat should be entered as ITEM SEAT as the Last Name and EXTRA as the First Name. The name EXTRA ITEM SEAT will then be displayed on the online boarding pass - see extract of an online check-in boarding pass below. There is no cabin or checked baggage allowance associated with the purchase of an extra seat."

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 30 2011 17:00:20

El_Tortuga

Posts: 258
Joined: Aug. 11 2011
From: Canada

RE: Guitar on the plane (in reply to kudo)

So I've heard that the FAA is passing a bill which will allow for musical instruments to be taken on airplanes! I don't know how much available space there would be, but perhaps if there's no room left on a particular flight, attendants would still take your instrument and hand it back to you when you de-plane... let's hope that's the case. No pun intended!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2012 13:13:55