Comments on: Airline Travel with Musical Instruments

By: Sans Direction

Sans Direction — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:34:20 +0000

The solution for electric guitars that I’ve seen is you take the neck screws out and put the guitar in your suitcase. Doesn’t work for non-bolt guitars, doesn’t work for acoustics, and unless you replace the wood screws with bolts and inserts, you’ll begin to strip out your neck.

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:24:35 +0000

Good ideas to be tried!
I have just had a long mailcorrespondance with Brussel air, in vain, they are very attached to their fixed rules. I had the idea, that buying a cheap model of my bass, that I could bare being handled as regular luggage would solve the problem of having to buy two tickets, but no! The price for an instrument is the same,,, No explanation on why it should cost the same as two night stay at a hotel, more than any aother regular luggage,,, You can choose a cheap B&B a sheap flight and enjoy the service accordingly,,, But instruments is altogether another matter. I guess its jealuosy!!
So I have to praticing for 14 days, only in my head,, ughf!

By: Derek

Derek — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:59:00 +0000

Has anyone that you’ve known had a situation where their luggage didn’t show up to the cruise gig due to the airports. That can go for any luggage. What would the cruise line do in that case?

By: Cameron Mizell

Cameron Mizell — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:49:26 +0000

I’ve heard that airlines have to let you bring your instruments on board as long as it doesn’t cause any major problems due to it’s size. I looked up the TSA guidelines, it might be worth reading this.

You’re allowed to carry one instrument along with one personal item and one piece of carry on luggage through security. Then you should take the advice of this article to get your gear on the plane.

For a while, I had Platinum status with American Airlines, and they treated me like royalty. I was able to be one of the first to board, and they always let me place my guitar in the front closet or helped me get it in the overhead. If you fly often, that’s probably worth the cost of the program alone.

Here’s another tip for guitarists:

If there are two of you on the same flight, you can fit two guitars in the overhead of most larger planes if you put them in “head-to-toe” so the necks are next to each other. It’s pretty easy to convince gate staff or the flight attendants that this will allow for more space for everyone elses carry on. Plus you won’t have anybody trying to cram their stuff into a space right against your instrument.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:12:15 +0000

I found this again after a horror flight from Miami to Brisbane Aus with my now dead trombone. Short story I checked it in it’s hard case which I have done every other time I have ever flown and this time it came out with the bottom of the case completely shattered and a huge dent in both inner and outter main slide!! I was devastated but at least I was in the market for a new one and this made me bite the bullet and pick up something new and fancy… Problem now I’m flying back to Miami with the same companies (AA and Qantas) and I am determined to take it on board! It’s in a hard case and the case at the largest point of the bell is 10″ so I THINK I will be ok, as long as the gate people let me on!! I’m a bit scared.

By: David Hooper

David Hooper — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:21:19 +0000

Great stuff. I’ve seen a TON written about the topic and this is definitely the most thorough piece I’ve come across.

I think it DEFINITELY helps to talk the part. “This is a 747? Yeah, it will fit.”

Want to add that it helps to look the part as well. If people think you’re famous (or playing with somebody famous), they’ll be less likely to give you any problems.