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mike2jb
Lokahi
USA
213 Posts |
 Posted - 07/04/2010 : 7:20:28 PM
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Lots of posts about airline policies lately and the how-to’s of guitars and traveling, including Dusty’s about his folding guitar that I got to see in person!
I’m wondering how those published airline policies actually work out in real life and thought since a bunch of Taropatchers just finished a couple of music camps, it might be a good time to ask.
So anyone who's traveled recently, please respond to this informal poll about your guitar’s travels as you wish:
1. What airline did you fly? Where to?
2. Carry-on or checked?
3. How did you pack it?
4. What was the charge?
5. Any problems?
My own answers:
1. United. SFO to Maui and back.
2. Checked.
3. I followed advice on another TP thread: packed my Taylor guitar in its hard case, put that inside a Taylor cardboard shipping box I got from a local guitar store (free). Total dimension: 78 inches.
4. To Maui: my partner has “United Premier” status from flying a lot, so he checked it for free. Return: I checked in on-line, was charged $23 for the box, even though the website seems to say an oversize box is $100.
5. Both ways, they asked what was in the box, even though it had “Taylor Guitar” written all over it. That it was a musical instrument seemed to make a difference to them. Otherwise, no problems at all.
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Edited by - mike2jb on 07/04/2010 7:24:19 PM |
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jlsulle
Lokahi
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 04:25:02 AM
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Aloha Mike,
It was great to meet you at the kahumoku workshop and to be your mentor
For the week ( although you really don,t need one,you are doing real good ).
I flew Hawaiian both ways and got the guitar on board in gig bag with no problems or questions. Who knows how long this policy will continue? Just press, Jerry |
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Russell Letson
`Olu`olu
USA
504 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 05:56:28 AM
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Most recent (March): Delta from Minneapolis to Florida; carried my Baby Taylor in its "hard" case the volume of which is about the same as a small roller suitcase; no charge (my suitcase was a different matter); no problems from gate or cabin crew.
Last year: the now-absorbed Northwest Minneapolis to Pittsburgh and later Seattle; carried on a very large flight case (an FQMS Supercase if anyone remembers them) that nevertheless fits in the overhead of any modern full-size jet--and even on a new Embraer 175 regional; all personnel friendly and helpful as always.
I've made all three trips annually for a number of years (Florida for more than a dozen). It's going to be interesting to see whether this year's Pittsburgh trip on Delta with the archtop in the big case will be any different. Fortunately, the flight case is pretty sturdy, should they put me on a regional jet for the trip.
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wdf
Ha`aha`a
USA
1154 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 06:34:06 AM
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Hi, Mike. It was very nice meeting you on Maui. As I mentioned in another post, I was able to carry my Voyage Air on-board Hawaiian.
I used to travel with a Rainsong. I always checked it in a Bruce Lamb "Clam" case. That worked great until I lost my wife and I couldn't manage getting it and my luggage to the car rental place.
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Dusty |
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Fingerpickin
Lokahi
117 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 10:54:47 AM
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1. What airline did you fly? Where to?
2. Carry-on or checked?
3. How did you pack it?
4. What was the charge?
5. Any problems?
1) Delta, flew from Oahu to Alabama and back. (work related.)
2) Carry on. It was a "Little Martin" which is a smaller guitar, but still rather bulky. About 3/4 size or slightly smaller.
3) I brought it in its gig bag, that's it.
4) No charge. It fit in the overheads, and also on some of the legs the flight attendant allowed me to put the guitar in a closet.
5) Only problems were: Rude passengers who insisted on JAMMING their way-too-large roll on into the same overhead bin as the guitar with no reservations about it; and the guitar seemed to draw some extra attention at the security screening area which slowed me down a bit.
For my good guitars, I bought a Calton case ($600!) that seems practically indestructible. If I have to take a good guitar on an airline, I put it in the Calton and gate-check it if they let me. If not, I don't have too many reservations about checking it at the counter, because inside the case its trauma-proof (but of course still stealable.)
I usually just wind up bringing my little martin and dealing with the sub-optimal tone. It works OK for short trips.
-Lance |
"Hey Lance, try watch." -Ozzie |
Edited by - Fingerpickin on 07/05/2010 1:09:36 PM |
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garson
Lokahi
USA
112 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2010 : 1:05:08 PM
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Aloha Mike, Good to meet you in Maui. My guitar is an Ovation Tangent (low end black finish with side soundholes) and not particularly valuable (though I love it). It has been my travel guitar for the last 5 years with no problems. I have only checked it in baggage once .. and gate checked it on puddlejumpers, so far no problems. The rest of the time I have carried it on. Although I have been asked at times to gate check it, I have been able to get them to let me carry it on with polite but ernest pleading. If they worry about overhead space I ask them if they could put it in the forward closet. That has worked every time, though usually it does not come to that. Cross fingers that this will continue. So here are my answers for the last trip:
1. What airline did you fly? Where to? Houston-Maui United, Maui-Kona Hawaiian Air, Kona-Houston Continental
2. Carry-on or checked? Carry on save Maui-Kona leg was gate checked
3. How did you pack it? It its usual hard case, with socks and underwear for added warmth
4. What was the charge? None
5. Any problems? No
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Jim Garson |
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Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2010 : 7:10:05 PM
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Hi Mike,
good to finally meet you in person and fun to "play" with you in Napili.
I flew American LAX/OGG/LAX using soft case for my Dean. Going over they wouldn't put it in the closet so I stood protectively at the overhead bin and helped logistically get everyone else's huge suitcases to also fit within the surrounding 4 or so bins. Going home it was immediately invited to go first class in the closet.
If I ever travel with my Taylor, I wouldn't put it in a soft case. I actually have seen hard cases go in the overhead bins and otherwise be treated benevolently. I think musical instruments are treated a bit more kindly than other big things, though there was also a large skateboard on the flight home.
See you next year on Maui, if not before.
Aloha!
nancy |
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vscotth
Aloha
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2010 : 7:49:46 PM
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Hi Mike,
My answers:
1. What airline did you fly? Where to? LAX to Kahului and back on American, last 4 years.
2. Carry-on or checked? Always carried it on - never had a problem.
3. How did you pack it? In its regular Taylor hard shell case - no special packing.
4. What was the charge? No charge.
5. Any problems? None - I have always been able to find room in the flight attendants' closets, and the crew have always been very accommodating.
I have traveled in first, business, and coach class on American for many years, for both business and pleasure, and have probably brought either guitar or banjo on board literally hundreds of times... and had to gate check only once, in all those flights. I know other people who have flown American and have had different experiences. I'm convinced, though, that it's 90% attitude. If you smile and treat flight attendents like human beings, your chances of having your instrument treated with care and consideration increase enormously.
Scott |
Edited by - vscotth on 07/13/2010 7:50:42 PM |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2010 : 7:57:57 PM
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Hi Mike,
I hope you had a good time on Maui, I certainly did, and it was great meeting you!
As for traveling with guitar, my son flies with his Randy Rhoades Vee, looks like a flying Vee and has POINTS which are vulnerable to breakage. He always puts it in a soft case, otherwise it would be huge in "the coffin case", and they've always let him put it in the front closet by first class.
So when are you going to take Ukulele classes? There is a great teacher living in SF named Saichi Kawahara. He's great, my sista loves taking lessons from him in San Jose.
I'll be teaching "New to Uke" but it will be down here in the Santa Cruz Mountains...
Julie |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2010 : 07:40:43 AM
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Hi -
I'll chime in.
1. What airline did you fly? Where to? United, Medford OR to SF to Kona & back.
2. Carry-on or checked? Checked. As always.
3. How did you pack it? I brought the Dennis Lake Deluxe in a Hiscox case w/ Small Dog case cover. Case fits like a dream & weighs next to nothing, only extra padding was my teddy bear under the peg head. Yes, I travel with a teddy bear. Annie made it, & it's the perfect size to sit behind the headstock... everyone should have one.
4. What was the charge? Varied-- Because Annie and I have to carry so much stuff for the Aloha Camp, we each had two bags. Hence excess charges applied across the board; don't know which one was the guitar. Maybe $50 total?? Ugh.
I hate paying excess baggage for what usta be free.....
5. Any problems? No issues, no damage, no worries. |
Edited by - Mark on 07/14/2010 07:46:31 AM |
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Volcano
Akahai
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2010 : 09:59:35 AM
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| Just flew from the Big Island to Oahu with a guitar in a gig bag (a sample Divide - getting a dealer in Honolulu) and carried the guitar on board. Not even a second glance from airline personnel. Flying back the gate agent let me board earlier so I could get overhead space. His idea. Hawaiian Air. |
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Darin
Lokahi
USA
294 Posts |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2010 : 12:43:28 PM
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Last trip on AA LAX-HON & 2 recent trips on SW LAX-DEN I carried on gig-bagged '54 Martin 5-18, no problem. Anything bigger I check.
Never had one smashed. BA once lost my Caltonised 00-18 btwn LHR & PRG. They DID acknowledge it before I left the airport & safely delivered it a day later.
A recent Acoustic Gtr Mag article by Chris Smithers delectates the nuances of carrying-on a full-sized/gig-bagged guitar. I wouldn't but he has obviously done so with continued good results. He suggests worst "case" is one is told to gate-check, removes/hides the gate-check tag whilst walking the jet-way and slips onboard still carrying/concealing gtr/gigbag over off-side shoulder from flight attendants' view. Dice-roll imho, but all travel with a guitar might be so viewed. |
Edited by - basilking on 07/21/2010 12:47:08 PM |
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And another "guitars on airplanes" post
