Flying with a Guitar

[Marcus Wong]

Thanks for the confidence booster Mau, John and Bruce! Let's hope that they do indeed not adhere so strictly to the books and that I have the success you all have had

Rog, I am in fact planning to stop by San Francisco haha

[jt1]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wong

I am in fact planning to stop by San Francisco haha

If your flight takes off from or lands in the US, the airline must comply with US law, which requires that airline personnel allow you to take the guitar into the cabin, provided there is room for it.

My Fretboard Journal article on the subject.

[Marcus Wong]

Originally Posted by jt1

If your flight takes off from or lands in the US, the airline must comply with US law, which requires that airline personnel allow you to take the guitar into the cabin, provided there is room for it.

My Fretboard Journal article on the subject.

Wow, thanks. That's very helpful! What about if I were to take off from Canada? Would such a law still apply?

[JoeCharter]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wong

Wow, thanks. That's very helpful! What about if I were to take off from Canada? Would such a law still apply?

Marcus, I think the answers that you received pretty much cover the whole spectrum.

Law or no law, if there's no room for your guitar, you aren't bringing it in the cabin. Best to assume that you have to gate check it -- and there's nothing wrong with that if your case provides decent protection.

[6L6]

Lots of threads about air travel.

The basics:

* Buy a Hiscox Pro II case (about $300)

* Detune about a full step

* Remove EVERYTHING from the case but the guitar. If there's a battery in your guitar, remove it too (looks like a bomb on the X-ray machine)!

* Hand carry your guitar to the gate. If you can't get it on the plane, gate check it.

* Wrap the headstock in something like a good old undershirt to insure it is snug.

* If your guitar has an end pin, remove it.

* Your guitar may come back to you with regular luggage or outsized baggage. Check both places.

* DO NOT LOCK YOUR GUITAR CASE!!!! If it ends up going through with your regular luggage (some places require this) they will bust it open to check the guitar if needs be.

* Insure your guitar if it is valuable. Heritage or USAA (if you are military).


Relax and enjoy the trip!

[jt1]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wong

Wow, thanks. That's very helpful! What about if I were to take off from Canada? Would such a law still apply?

The law applies only if your flight takes off or lands in the US.

[Marcus Wong]

Thanks so much for the great advice guys, very much appreciated!

[The Bard Rocks]

If you don't like the Hiscox (great cases!), there is a company whose name I forget who makes lightweight but sturdy cases into which you can put your regular case. They are essentially the plastic cardboard from which signs are often made and they have a very heavy duty Velcro to which their wheels can be fastened and used once you get to the airport. They are coffin-shaped and you can fill the spaces between them and your regular case with clothing.

Put a sock over the headstock before putting in the bubblewrap. Some finishes react with plastic. And also some finishes will be OK in the lower temperatures of the hold, but I'd try to avoid that if you possibly can. If you can't, you may be just fine anyhow - assuming you don't have nitro. For noon-nitro guitars, I suspect the greater danger is in the handling, not in the packing or the lower temperatures and a good flight case or this kind of over-case should go a long way toward protecting it from baggage handles Put on lots of highly legible "FRAGILE" stickers.

And insure it separately with a 3rd party.

And take out any batteries.

[rogthefrog]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wong

Thanks for the confidence booster Mau, John and Bruce! Let's hope that they do indeed not adhere so strictly to the books and that I have the success you all have had

Rog, I am in fact planning to stop by San Francisco haha

Seriously? Let me know when, we should meet up. I have room at my house if you need a place to crash (and don't mind cats).

[Bruce Sexauer]

When I gate check fragile cases like Calton or Hoffee I wrap them in cardboard to protect them from damage. A regular guitar shipping carton can be cut down to a trapezoidal shape with a hole for the cases handle. Still easy to carry, and it will probate to the case from conveyor damage.

If you are in SF I am 28 car minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge and charge nothing for my 6 bit tour as long as you play a guitar or two . . Or three . . . Or four . . . Etc.

[Guitars44me]

Lots of great advice here! Since you do NOT want to lock your case! I would put some strapping tape over the latches. Then TSA can get in to check and you don't need to worry about latches giving way...

Tune down, pad the headstock really well, remove end pin and battery and pad the end if you can. You can not be too careful, and an ounce of Prevention is worth the proverbial pound of cure!

Good luck and have fun

Cheers

Paul

[Marcus Wong]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

If you don't like the Hiscox (great cases!), there is a company whose name I forget who makes lightweight but sturdy cases into which you can put your regular case. They are essentially the plastic cardboard from which signs are often made and they have a very heavy duty Velcro to which their wheels can be fastened and used once you get to the airport. They are coffin-shaped and you can fill the spaces between them and your regular case with clothing.

Put a sock over the headstock before putting in the bubblewrap. Some finishes react with plastic. And also some finishes will be OK in the lower temperatures of the hold, but I'd try to avoid that if you possibly can. If you can't, you may be just fine anyhow - assuming you don't have nitro. For noon-nitro guitars, I suspect the greater danger is in the handling, not in the packing or the lower temperatures and a good flight case or this kind of over-case should go a long way toward protecting it from baggage handles Put on lots of highly legible "FRAGILE" stickers.

And insure it separately with a 3rd party.

And take out any batteries.

Sounds like something I could explore, thanks for the suggestion! I guess I shall buy plenty of Fragile and Glass stickers to stick all over it too haha

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

Lots of great advice here! Since you do NOT want to lock your case! I would put some strapping tape over the latches. Then TSA can get in to check and you don't need to worry about latches giving way...

Tune down, pad the headstock really well, remove end pin and battery and pad the end if you can. You can not be too careful, and an ounce of Prevention is worth the proverbial pound of cure!

Good luck and have fun

Cheers

Paul

Thanks Paul. Taping over the latches sounds like a great idea! Yup, I am especially paranoid when it comes to the safety of my guitars

Originally Posted by rogthefrog

Seriously? Let me know when, we should meet up. I have room at my house if you need a place to crash (and don't mind cats).

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

When I gate check fragile cases like Calton or Hoffee I wrap them in cardboard to protect them from damage. A regular guitar shipping carton can be cut down to a trapezoidal shape with a hole for the cases handle. Still easy to carry, and it will probate to the case from conveyor damage.

If you are in SF I am 28 car minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge and charge nothing for my 6 bit tour as long as you play a guitar or two . . Or three . . . Or four . . . Etc.

Thanks Rog and Bruce for the hospitality! I shall drop you guys a PM should my trip there be confirmed

[SiliconValleySJ]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wong

Thanks Rog and Bruce for the hospitality! I shall drop you guys a PM should my trip there be confirmed

Sounds like you may be creating a mini SF Bay Area AGF meetup at this rate. Let us know when it is!

[Guitars44me]

Hope this works...

https://www.casextreme.com/

Good luck!

Cheers

Paul

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

Hope this works...

https://www.casextreme.com/

Good luck!

Cheers

Paul

Those look really nice Paul and under 300.00. If I fly some down to Texas, I will definitely look into these!!!! Great link.