Flying with my acoustic/electric

[shea]

Hey. I have to fly to an audition and take my acoustic/electric. I've read stuff on-line, and it sounds like I can take it as carry-on, and if it doesn't fit in the overhead ask them to put it in the coat closet, but if there is no room they will have to check it. I've read about making sure to remove the battery, loosen the strings and maybe put some cloth in between the strings and the neck. I'm worried if it does get checked having it get tossed on the baggage cart and shoot down to the carousel, and also the possility of someone picking it up and walking out with it. I can't really afford to buy it a seat.

Any tips? Thanks.

Shea

[t4mh]

Hey. I have to fly to an audition and take my acoustic/electric. I've read stuff on-line, and it sounds like I can take it as carry-on, and if it doesn't fit in the overhead ask them to put it in the coat closet, but if there is no room they will have to check it. I've read about making sure to remove the battery, loosen the strings and maybe put some cloth in between the strings and the neck. I'm worried if it does get checked having it get tossed on the baggage cart and shoot down to the carousel, and also the possility of someone picking it up and walking out with it. I can't really afford to buy it a seat.

Any tips? Thanks.

Shea

Is it a really expensive guitar? Carry a less expensive model? Buy it a seat if it is not replaceable? I know you said you can't afford it but depending on what it actually is, this might be your best option. See if the folks at the audition have a guitar you can use and leave yours at home? If you get to the audition and your guitar has been lost, stolen, destroyed, how well will you do? As far as the prep to fly, I think you've covered it all except you might want a case that locks if its going as baggage. One word, insurance...

Good Luck!
Keith

[markjsmith]

Hi Shea,
I've travelled quite a lot with my guitar, and mileage (between airlines) may vary. Especially in the last 9 years, since 9/11 and all.
Some require you to check it and pay extra for insurance, some just check it, some will let you carry it on. If you have a hard case or an acoustic you will most certainly have to check it, but that doesn't mean if you show with a soft case they won't make you check it. Best to call the airline and ask, which may mean nothing to the bag checker. It's a crapshoot nowadays!
Good Luck,
Mark

[mojobone]

Here's what I'd do, if I felt like I needed any particular guitar to ace the audition: a hard case inside a soft case. You want a rugged ATA-approved ABS plastic or fiberglas case with a rigid frame, even better if it has an airtight moisture-proof seal and a lock; stuff that in a soft outer case with plenty of semi-rigid foam padding. A really determined airline gorilla can manage to circumvent even that, so insure it for full replacement cost, plus the cases, and tack on a little more for a rented replacement and the aggravation, in the event of catastrophe. This method is only slightly cheaper than buying a ticket, but you can re-use the cases many times. HTH

[t4mh]

Thinking about this issue some more, the airlines probably won't allow a locked anything these days, so scratch that idea...
Keith

[mojobone]

I have locks on all my hard cases; I've never used 'em, not even once. I might, if I ever need to keep small children from fiddling with my axe. (if a thief wants to steal my guitar, the case has a handle; they don't make such a thing as lock that'll stop a determined thief; the smart ones go at it from the hinges, not the locks) I make sure any case I buy has a lock, though, cuz all the quality cases have one.

I don't see any reason a person couldn't fly with locked cases, whether checked or otherwise, so long as she's there to open them, if asked, though I'd expect you'd have a real hard time putting an unaccompanied bag on a plane, locked or otherwise....

[shea]

Thanks for all the great advice. I was able to take my guitar on all three flights on Delta (LA to NYC to Tampa to LA). Followed some advice on-line - don't ask at check-in about it, loosen strings, remove battery (acoustic/electric). No one said anything, but it was tested in Tampa for chemicals. Most important thing is to make sure you board while there is still enough room in the overhead - mine took up almost the whole bin (length-wise).

Also was given a copy of a TSA letter from one of the guitar stores in NYC. Letter says that guitars have to be considered as carry-on luggage, and can be carried on in addition to one personal item and one other carry-on (not that we needed it but was good to have it).

[mazz]

Thinking about this issue some more, the airlines probably won't allow a locked anything these days, so scratch that idea...
Keith

True, you can't check locked luggage. We did that once not long after 9/11 and they paged us over the intercom and we had to go and unlock our luggage before they would scan it on the belt.

[mojobone]

Heh; shows how much I fly. If you can't lock checked baggage, it doesn't leave you much choice, with a guitar, then. If it's irreplaceable, you'll just have to buy it a seat, board early or ship it ahead.