Flying long haul with a Hiscox Case. Risky?

[Dreadfulnaught]

Originally Posted by Rev Roy

Not sure what airline you’re flying or whether it’s domestic or international. But I’ve flown many times domestically on Southwest with a dread-size Hiscox Pro II case and never had a problem carrying it on. I just pay a little extra for early boarding to ensure that there will be room in the overheads. Worse case in those circumstances would be gate checking...which beats risking a nice guitar to baggage check.

What Rev Roy said. I have a Hiscox Pro II for my dreads and one for my Harptone Jumbo, which would be essentially irreplaceable. In the US, they have to let you take a guitar as a carryon if there is room. I always pay extra for early boarding so there will definitely be room. I tell them in a polite way that my guitar must not be checked, and if they try to check it I will not get on the plane. I’d print out and take a copy of that policy just in case you encounter an airport Nazi who does not know about it or denies it.

[Jabberwocky]

As long as you're not going through Manchester...

[varmonter]

Originally Posted by AgentKooper

Why do you think a Hiscox case is not a flight case?

Do you own a hiscox pro 2 case?

[6L6]

Later this morning my 1970 Martin D-28 and I will fly from San Francisco to London. My D-28 will be in its Hiscox Pro II case.

I've done the trip many times and even when checked with luggage I've never had a single problem.

* DO NOT LOCK YOUR CASE! If it gets checked with regular baggage the security guys might bust the lock to check the innards.

* Detune your guitar several steps.

* Pack soft rags, underwear, whatever around the headstock area so it is secure when the lid closes.

* Take EVERYTHING out of the case except your guitar! If your guitar has a battery-fed pickup, REMOVE THE BATTERY (looks like a bomb on the X-ray machine)

* As a minimum, carry your guitar to the gate and have it gate checked.

* Your guitar may arrive on the turnstile with regular baggage or it may end up at the out-sized baggage area. Check both places.

* Put some stickers on your case so you can easily identify it.

* If your guitar is made with Brazilian Rosewood, DON'T TAKE IT OUT OF THE USA! Highly likely it will confiscated as a violation of the CITES Treaty. If they take it, you will never see your guitar again. Heathrow Airport in London is particularly notorious for this.

* Insurance is cheap. All of my instruments are on a rider with my USAA Homeowners policy.

* RELAX! The Hiscox will protect your instrument!

[Prizen]

Got there safely. Was allowed bring it on board. Airline was Aer Lingus.

[AgentKooper]

Originally Posted by varmonter

Do you own a hiscox pro 2 case?

I do. It’s been checked and gate-checked a few times without incident. It’s not a Calton or a Hoffee, but it’s way more protective than any other molded case I’ve seen.

[Malcolm Kindnes]

Originally Posted by Gordon Currie

The only thing I could add is that if you can get it to the plane and do a gate check, that will lessen the possibility of it being loaded under many other (heavier) items. It goes through a lot less handling and you retrieve it immediately on deplaning.

Definitely try to carry on board and if that's not possible gate check it.

[Malcolm Kindnes]

Originally Posted by Prizen

Got there safely. Was allowed bring it on board. Airline was Aer Lingus.

Aer Lingus are generally very agreeable.