| Author |
Topic: Air Travel with guitar - advice? |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 12 Jun 2003 6:01 pm |
|
I will be traveling by air this summer with my guitar, not my steel, but my archtop jazz guitar.
Any tips other than "get a Calton case"? How do I get it on board in the cabin? How should I pack it if I have to check it with the other baggage? Any tricks?
Thanks
------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
|
|
|
 |
Jussi Huhtakangas
From:
Helsinki, Finland
|
Posted 12 Jun 2003 9:54 pm
|
|
| Gerald, I think most airlines are reluctant to let you take it as hand luggage, especially if the flight is full booked. Though I know the regulations in US are a bit different than here in Europe. I travel with my arch top a lot, I do have a Harptone 5-ply heavy duty case with a canvas cover. That alone is enough to protect the guitar from the usual "airline treatment". In addition to that, I always loosen the strings and use an extra piece of poly foam padding around the headstock to prevent the guitar from moving in the case. So far this has been enough and the guitar hasn't suffered at all, the case took a few hits on the first flight when I didn't yet have the canvas cover. |
|
|
|
Alvin Blaine
From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
|
Posted 13 Jun 2003 1:18 am
|
|
Last year the AMF negotiated with the Transportation Safety Administration to allow musicians to carry on one instrument in addition to the permitted carry-on item.
It must be able to fit in the overhead bin and you can't carry any tools in the case, no wire cutters, allen wrenches, screw driver, etc.etc..
They have a letter that you can down load and print out to carry in your case, to show to airport security personnel should there be a problem.
I have flown with my '57 Martin about five times so far this year. I just carry it in a gig bag right on the plane, and I have not had any trouble.
Musician Union Carry On Letter |
|
|
|
Tony LaCroix
From:
Austin, Texas, USA
|
Posted 13 Jun 2003 6:47 am
|
|
Hi Gerald,
I would definately call the airline well before to find out- their policies differ quite a bit. If your guitar is in a gig bag, there should be no problem. Most guitar cases are too big to fit in the overhead bins. |
|
|
|
