PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

Hugh Buchanan · Joined: 30 May 2005 Posts: 40

I've traveled several times with guitars on airplanes. Last year I went from Baltimore to Anchorage and back with no problem. Last month, however, I had a bad experience when I flew Delta from Baltimore to Atlanta. An obnoxious ticket clerk at BWI wouldn't let me board with the instrument. I had to check it at the gate. Same drill on the return flight. I loosened all the strings and prayed. Fortunately, there was no damage.

I'm interested to know if the members of the forum have had good or bad experiences with guitars and air travel. Are some airlines more lenient? Are there new FAA regulations which have been put in effect recently which restrict carry-on items? Is this going to be a problem that will persist into the future? Do you have any strategies for getting your instrument into the cabin with you?

I would be grateful if you would share your experiences and insight.

Many thanks,

Hugh

Quinn Brown · Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 107

Last summer I went from Colorado Springs to Columbus OH on American. Every flight I had ever gone on prior to this one, I was allowed to take it on the plane and put it in the closet up front. However, this time, an old woman with a suitcase full of worthless junk, I presume, that she thought had value (probably stuff she had gotten for a "steal" at a yard sale or on a Target clearence rack) filled the entire closet somehow. I was told the only way I could get my guitar to where I was going to was to check it and have it sent with all the other luggage. I had to have it, so I did so (acting as rude and pissed off as I possibly could to every clerk and deskwoman that helped me get it checked). Finally, I got that settled and was relieved. BUT of course the troubles weren't over. When I got to Columbus my guitar was gone, and they had said it got lost in some luggage. This was an acoustic archtop I had gotten from my father, and so I was royally pissed. I yelled up a storm to every person who tried to give a reasonable explanation. Finally, about an hour or so later, it "turned" up somehow. The lock had been damaged and the front of the case had been hit repeatedly, obvious signs of one of the unloading workers trying to get into it. Luckily the guitar had no damage done to it.

That's the last time I fly American.

C. OSullivan · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 176

I was flying American from Columbus, OH, to the L.A. airport and had a problem. In order for them to inspect my case, they had to BREAK the lock on it, and for no compensation when I complained. Not only did they break the lock, they damaged one of the individual locks on it (which keep the case closed). They forgot to ask me to simply UNLOCK it when I sent it through luggage, and I watched it go through two inspectors who put it right along the conveyor belt without saying a word about it to me.

PaulD · Joined: 18 Sep 2004 Posts: 1130 Location: Chicago

I flew Chicago to NY on United last March and had my George Benson GB10. They would not let me take in on the plane with me. I had it in an aluminum flight case, so I wasn't too concerned about damage during the flight. It was the TSA inspector, however, that damaged it. He opened the case and picked the guitar up by the pick guard. The clip that holds the pick guard to the body broke off, so now the pick guard swiveled amd since the back pickup is attached to it, if I touched thew pick guard at all it caused the pickup to touch the strings. I was never compensated for it.

An interesting side note about that flight, I saw another guy with a guitar on the flight. When we got off, I approached him to ask how he had gotten his guitar on the plane, since when I asked them they would not let me. It turns out to be John Abercrombie. Super nice guy, too. He said he just doesn't ask. He just takes it on with him.

Paul

JakeJew · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 2192 Location: Boston, MA

I've flown once with my gibson acoustic and had no problems.

I flew to Puerto Rico with an old nylon string and was able to take it on the plane, but had one problem. After it went through the belt, one of the staff put a pile of trays right on top of it with a little bit of force. He could see that I gasped, and he said somewhat sarcastically "relax, it's not like I dropped them hard." Well, he did drop them hard, and I believe caused a crack in the back that I didn't notice until later. He said something like "get a load of Jimi Hendrix over here."

What an asshole.

I'm glad you guys are sharing these stories, now I know never to fly with a good guitar again.

I went to florida last weekend and simply brought my ukelele Smile

. It was $35 so if anything happened to it, no big deal.

Fwiw, each time I flew I was able to bring the guitar on the plane with me...I don't think I asked, I just brought it. When I went to Puerto Rico there was no room overhead so the stewardess happily and carefully stored it up front for me.

Tip - people are happier to go out of their way for you if you are nice and charming rather than another angry customer.
_________________
"Inspiration may be a form of superconsciousness, or perhaps of subconciousness - I wouldn't know. But I am sure that it is the antithesis of self-consciousness." - Aaron Copland

Bjorn · Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 1035 Location: Denmark

Hi guys,
I can tell you that most airline company´s, revails it in their brochures and in the ''read carefully'' lines which comes with the tickets, that musical instruments, if not carried with normal luggage, requires a ticket as well as a person...
However, I have 6 times now travelled from Denmark to Brasil and Back, and( with Lufthansa, KLM, Ibierra), never seemed to have problems.
I think an idea is to flirt a little with the stewardess, if she gets the feeling that she is noticed and beatyful, she will find you a closet, even at the buisness class....
happened to me once... Wink

.....

Take care, Bjorn....

JakeJew · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 2192 Location: Boston, MA

Bjorn · Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 1035 Location: Denmark

Jake>

, Yeah, It dosnt cost to be gently, and in these situations I would never have the gods to start yelling...
Love my guitar too much for that.....

SteveSecretia · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 159

[quote="JakeJew"]

Bjorn · Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 1035 Location: Denmark

Steve> What is that supposed to mean???
Dont know if i Got it the right way......

Quinn Brown · Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 107

I think it was a joke.

And how do they seriously expect someone to pay a whole 'nother ticket just for their instrument? That's just ridiculous.

I have to fly to China this December and I need to have a good guitar with me. I'm not quite sure what I'll do. Any suggestions?

Hugh Buchanan · Joined: 30 May 2005 Posts: 40

The same day I couldn't get my guitar in the cabin I met a guy with a huge hardshell case strapped to his back. It contained a cello. He told me he had "learned his lesson the hard way". He had bought the cello a ticket. He was traveling to Seattle to audition for as seat in the orchestra.

SteveSecretia · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 159

I take my gun on planes all the time.

PlayJazzGuitar · Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 113 Location: Los Angeles, CA

This is a subject close to my heart! I have had a few experiences, some good some bad and I learned some very quick lessons (especially when carrying a pre-guild Benedetto guitar!).

The first lesson is this: NEVER fly Delta or America West and expect to ever take your guitar on board the plane. The bins are usually too small and they don't want to give up their precious closet space. You can get lucky with Delta on occasion but forget America West, they will be extremely rude and will insist every time that you check your guitar or leave the plane. They are not a pretty bunch. Don't fly with them.

Now having said that, all other bets are on for the other airlines and most will try to accomodate IF you are nice. Charm is clearly the key! Also, if they insist you check the guitar at the check in desk then you very nicely say, "Yes I perfectly understand but I have a very precious instrument and I'd like to walk it to the gate if I may, I'll be happy to give it to someone to place it in the holds at that time". Every time this will get you through the first hurdle....

Once you get to the gate you can try your luck again and walk through. If they stop you again and say "We need to give you a red ticket for that", you say "sure, no problem". Then you walk it down the tunnel and you've got one more hurdle. You hide the red tag, walk on the plane and ask really really nicely if there is any way you can find some closet space, blah blah blah.

You can't give up the first time but you naturally work with them at every step of the way. If you fail at the last moment then you've done all you can and you hope and pray that they treat your instrument nicely.

And other times I have, after being told that they would handle with care, watched from airplane windows complete idiots tossing my guitar case on to the elevator. Naturally I screamed and caused a little attention on the plane. There is no excuse for this but there is simply nothing you can do at this stage. Airplane companies seem to hire complete morons who must somehow enjoy this. I would love to interview some of these guys at some point and ask them one or two questions about it. Of course they may not necessarily be able to string two sentences together with any degree of expertise but there we are.

OK vent over....

Chris
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Hugh Buchanan · Joined: 30 May 2005 Posts: 40

Chris:

Thanks for the detailed reply. This seems to be good advice.

I can agree with your evaluation of Delta. They were extremely rude. I was walking down the tunnel to the plane when the ticket clerk noticed the guitar. Her response created an embarrasing scene. It could have been handled in a more tactful way.

If you are forced to put your guitar in the cargo hold, it might be wise to loosen all the strings. If the hold is not heated or insulated, it might get very cold. Thermal contraction of the strings could drastically increase the force on the neck and bridge. A friend of mine had a banjo destroyed in this way. When the strings contracted, they broke the neck.