| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| salmonella |
Posted - 05/12/2010 : 3:35:36 PM
After reading what seemed to be a hundred pages of horror stories I did not find an example of someone purchasing a seat on the plane for their guitar(s).
Anyone ever do this? At $175 each way to check it or carry it on as baggage, sometimes you could break even. If two people fying on the same flight with guitars could put both of them in one purchased seat, they could save money and have their guitars inside.
Any experiences with this?
Dave |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Volcano |
Posted - 06/01/2010 : 10:14:07 AM
For future reference, always bring damage to the attention of the airlines. I have done many estimates for people to use in recouping repair costs from them. No matter what you sign, they will ususally pay for repairs. |
| chunky monkey |
Posted - 05/31/2010 : 6:40:57 PM
What they gonna say? I didn't even bother. |
| rendesvous1840 |
Posted - 05/28/2010 : 5:43:49 PM
Sorry to hear this. Is the airline accepting responsibility for the damage?
Unko Paul |
| chunky monkey |
Posted - 05/28/2010 : 1:39:45 PM
Just back from Kauai. Took my Seagull Parlor w Gig bag. Had to gate check from San Diego to LA on one of the regional jets. They "dented" it; big fist-sized "impression" (broken wood) in the top below the sound hole. It's insured, but what a hassle. I'm gonna fix it and continue to use it, but I'll never take anything valuable on a plane again. Next time, I'll pay $20 and take my Calton or leave everything at home. |
| JeffC |
Posted - 05/21/2010 : 3:25:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Volcano
There is a great carbon fiber case availalable which is made is Yugoslavia but it is very expensive. Very, very light and strong.
Calton is making a carbon fiber case now too. They're a little pricey, though. |
| Larry Goldstein |
Posted - 05/21/2010 : 08:33:44 AM
For at least a few years I’ve gate checked my guitar, e.g., put it on a cart near the steps of a commuter plane. This has been the routine on literally dozens of flights to eastern Washington.
Yesterday as I was walking to security a Horizon agent called me over and said I couldn’t take the instrument as carry-on. I explained it was going on the cart – like it did just two weeks ago. No. The now enforced rule is nothing bigger than 10x17x24, and no instruments bigger “than a flute or trumpet;” everything else goes in baggage.
At least I wasn’t charged.
Larry |
| Mark |
Posted - 05/19/2010 : 08:31:51 AM
quote:
So more and more the future is looking like the past!
Does that explain why I never got my personal jet pack? |
| Lawrence |
Posted - 05/19/2010 : 08:20:47 AM
quote:
Who wants to wait in line while the entire ticketed population of a jumbo jet gets weighed?
They can combine the weight scale with the new full-body X-Ray (since you have to stand still in the X-Ray with your arms over your head for about 20 seconds). Yes - and they are doing this (the X-Ray) with every international passenger in certain airports already!
On some small aircraft (like some of the puddle-jumpers to Molokai), you are allowed to bring something like 250Lbs of Passenger+Luggage (and you are weighed together with your luggage on the same scale). Actually, this is what they used to do on almost all airlines back in the thirties when planes could not carry as much of a load as they do now. So more and more the future is looking like the past!
|
| rendesvous1840 |
Posted - 05/18/2010 : 11:28:45 AM
"Actually, I sincerely wish they would measure "the size and weight.... of each and every customer." That is the real reason the planes are so much heavier that they need more fuel... it ain't all those guitars!"
Don't say that too loud, it may come true. Who wants to wait in line while the entire ticketed population of a jumbo jet gets weighed? Boarding would take longer than the flight!
Unko Paul |
| Volcano |
Posted - 05/18/2010 : 09:19:13 AM
A big difference is that I can stand on my Caltons and do a tap dance without hurting the guitar inside. Not so with the Hiscox which is nice but more like a glorified SKB with good suspension.
One of my Caltons was once thrown so hard (with a 1953 D28 inside) that the back lock popped and the case was deformed. The guitar was fine and I just pulled out the deformation of the case. It still is used 10 years later.
There is a great carbon fiber case availalable which is made is Yugoslavia but it is very expensive. Very, very light and strong. |
| Mark |
Posted - 05/18/2010 : 08:47:10 AM
quote:
When I got to the check-in counter a month later they were actually measuring the size and weight of each and every checked in bag of each and every customer, and they made sure to measure each dimension at the largest place.
Actually, I sincerely wish they would measure "the size and weight.... of each and every customer." That is the real reason the planes are so much heavier that they need more fuel... it ain't all those guitars!
One last thing to add: I recently picked up a Hiscox flight case. Fantastic! Considerably lighter than the Calton-- and, even better, it is the same size as a standard, garden variety plastic guitar case.
So no worries..
You can find them here:
http://axe-essories.com/
I have no financial ties, 'natch. |
| Mark |
Posted - 05/17/2010 : 2:25:38 PM
quote:
Which airline(s)?
United. It's just about the only airline that flies out of the grandiosely named Medford Jackson County International Airport.
Sorry, Lawrence, maybe it's just the well known Oregon niceness at play up up here. Or maybe the ticket agents didn't have a tape measure....
Oh, one thing I learned from my friend Kelly, the former camp cop at Lark: If you ask, the answer is no.
So I never ask....
|
| Lawrence |
Posted - 05/17/2010 : 1:34:17 PM
quote:
Anyone here have to pony up in the last year or two?
I sent my guitar by USPO last year because the psycho-torture agents at United Airlines customer dis-service phone center said that my Calton case would indeed be charged the over-size fee. When I got to the check-in counter a month later they were actually measuring the size and weight of each and every checked in bag of each and every customer, and they made sure to measure each dimension at the largest place. One of my bags is just 2 inches less than the magic 62 and the gate agent let me know that if it was sightly larger I would have had to fork over the cash, so it seems clear that the Calton case would not have made it past the U-Nazi Airlines SS (without forking over the ransom money).
|
| salmonella |
Posted - 05/17/2010 : 08:52:39 AM
Mark
So even when you check the Calton into the regular baggage at checkin they don't charge you the oversize fee? Interesting. Which airline(s)? |
| Mark |
Posted - 05/17/2010 : 08:44:36 AM
One more thing:
quote:
1) United recently lowered their oversize baggage fee. It was $175 each way, it is now $100.
In spite of all this talk about over sized baggage fees--has anyone ever been charged one for a guitar?
I haven't after a few flights with my big Calton flight case; which would be subject to it if someone wanted to get tough...
Anyone here have to pony up in the last year or two? |
