Carry-on small PSG? Security problems with the legs?

Chuck Johnson · From: California, USA

I realize this topic has come up a few times over the years and the responses usually vary from "no problem" to "get a flight case and check it," but I thought I'd see if anyone has recent experience with carrying a PSG on a flight.

I just got a new Excel Robostar, and the case Mitsuo uses now is small and rectangular about the size of a saxophone case. It's size and weight aren't an issue. What I'm wondering is whether they will allow the legs through security. I would *NOT* want to check it in this case if security turns it away.

I have an SKB rifle case for checking it if I need to, but on this tour it could be useful to have the smaller case and less checked luggage.

Thanks!

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

CArry a picture of the guitar set up showing the parts. If TSA questions you, show them the pic.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Tucker Jackson · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

I've carried my leg bag through airport security several times. But I always fear that they'll come to their senses at some point and balk...

K Maul · From: Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL

I have an EXCEL Superb S-11. I flew from FL to CA with the whole thing in a padded rifle bag as carry on. No problems going through TSA and it went in the overhead bin easily. It is dependent on their whims, though!
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KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.

D. Scheindlin · From: Texas, USA

TSA isn’t an issue. But you should check the airline size requirements/restrictions for carrying on a musical instrument. The federal government compels airlines to allow musical instruments on board, but the airline sets policy for what can be carried on and what can be checked based on size.

Boo Bernstein · From: Los Angeles, CA

I flew almost every week for many years. Here's what I found. I checked my steel for quite a while. Then I decided I would try to fly with it on the plane -- after all, the guitar players I traveled with did this with double soft cases and always made it work. However, the steel being in a rectangular soft case just looked bigger -- even though it wasn't. I did this for about two months - there were quite a few arguments but I was able to take the steel onboard. Finally, I got into one situation where they would not relent. I knew if I had to check my steel in a soft case, it would be destroyed. After an hour of begging, cajoling, etc., they finally let me take it on. After that, I started checking it again in a hard case.

Another part of the equation is the flight attendants -- ultimately, they make the rules. The Union did negotiate a compromise with the airlines to be able to bring instruments on board -- but the language says something like "if there is room." I've had flight attendants telling me there wasn't room before I even got on the flight ... it depends on the attendant and their mood!

I've seen photos of the Robostar and it seems much smaller than most steels, so there's a good chance you can pull it off. The questions becomes "what if you get to the gate and they refuse." It's an ongoing dilemma.

By the way, the legs were never an issue -- but the bar often was. Be sure to bring a photo of the steel and the bar being used on it so they can understand! Good luck!

Dave Stagner · From: Minnesota, USA

I fly with acoustic guitars sometimes, and here are things I've learned about the process.

I keep my guitar in a quality hard case, and nothing but the guitar in the case. No strings, no tuners, no wrenches. I check another bag that has all the guitar accessories (just put it in luggage).

Never, ever run the guitar through the normal check bag system! Carry it through security to the gate.

At the gate, get a "pink tag" in case it gets gate-checked. That's what they do for things like strollers that get gate-checked, so it will be returned to you at the gate, rather than dumped in the conveyor belts with the regular luggage.

If you get a chance, ask a flight attendant in advance if you can store it in the closet. If not, carry it down to the plane during boarding and ask there. Works about half the time! If that doesn't work, it gets gate-checked, but with the pink tag, so it gets returned to you on the jet bridge, rather than at the baggage carousel. Remember, it's the conveyor belts and forklifts that endanger your instrument, not being in the baggage compartment!

As an aside, if I'm trying to carry on an instrument, I don't also bring carry-on luggage, so the instrument is my "carry-on".
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I don’t believe in pixie dust, but I believe in magic.

1967 ZB D-10
1990 OMI Dobro
Recording King lap steel with Certano benders

Patrick Timmins · From: Seattle

It's been a bit over a year since I have flown with a pedal steel but I have always gotten it on the plane. I also try to fly Alaska airlines most of the time. Just in case somebody objects, I keep a copy of this printed out. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title49/pdf/USCODE-2023-title49-subtitleVII-partA-subpartii-chap417-subchapI-sec41724.pdf
It's the pertinent section of TITLE 49—TRANSPORTATION detailing how all national carriers must allow musicians to bring their instruments on the plane (within limits which your guitar should meet). I only had to pull it out once while flying on American. They let me bring it on the plane. Sometimes they place it in the first class coat closet, but most of the time they tell me to put it in the overhead. I will also take advantage of when they ask for passengers that need additional time to board so I can get it into the overhead.

There is also this: https://www.nashvillemusicians.org/sites/default/files/Media%20Root/Flying%20with%20Musical%20Instruments%2010.29.pdf

It just explains the law.

Hope you have a great tour! Really enjoy your music.
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Microphones, Recording, and lots of pedal steel guitars!

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