Elec Guitars on Airlines

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

Can anyone tell me of the restrictions of bringing an electric guitar on an airline ?..I'd like to carry it on in a gig bag ....Is this doable ?......If not I would imagine that I would have to put it in a flight case no ?..Thanks in advance for your help ...Jim

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

The last I heard, airlines only allowed "steam powered guitars" onboard.

Seriously, it's up to the individual airlines and the boarding agent. But if the item fits easily in an overhead I see no problem.

I have only flown Northwest with my instruments. They have always let me on the plane with a full sized hard-shell case. I try to book my seat in the back of the plane so I am one of the first to board and have my pick of empty overheads. I've heard horror stories about Southwest Airlines and their rigid policy of not allowing anything in the overheads that doesn't fit in the size-o-meter at the boarding gate.

Wait... I take that back. Last summer I flew to Mexico on a charter flight. I had my Yamaha Silent Guitar in it's gigbag and had no hassel at all. I think I flew American TransAir.

When I've flown with my uke in it's case... no problem whatsoever.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 11 May 2005 at 12:58 PM.]

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

Gerald,
Thanks for the reply .... I'm not sure if a hard shell Strat case will fit in an overhead or not ?.......???......Anybody ?

Thanks again .......Jim

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

See Dave Ristrim the link bottom of the overweight thread in steel players.

it is a PDF file of the FTS agreement.

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

Jo Dee's guitar players (acoustic and electric) have flown just about everyone, taking their guitar on in a gig bag - no issues: American, Southwest, America West, Delta... I flew my Variax in a gig bag several times on Southwest too.

Often our guitar players have two, and are checking the other in a hard-shell case at curbside. If you do that, use some tape over the latches after they inspect it.

It doesn't hurt to pray, or have music equipment insurance too! I am sure there are exceptions to every case (no pun intended), so I hope you don't run into one of those.

Hope that helps,

David Spires

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

The airlines are talking an additional $75 to take a guitar ....It has to be in a hard case, and the hard case want's to be in a cardboard box !!.... Talking about a gig bag, I'm wondering what the length is on an overhead bunk in a 747 ? .... Maybe a Strat in a gig bag would make it ?....thanks again to all .....Jim

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Which airline?

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

Air Jamaica .....Jim

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