Travel with Instruments

rogerroll · Post by **rogerroll** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:38 am

I'll be traveling to Africa in a couple of weeks, and I'd like to take my acoustic guitar. I do own a flight case. But I already have quite a bit of checked luggage. What is everyone's experience with carry-on guitars? Advice? Etc.

ken · Post by **ken** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:54 am

I used to be easier to take your guitar on the plane with you. Check with your airline and ask about their policy. What you want is to put it in overhead, so see if your case fits. I once had an issue flying where if the guitar is in a soft case I could bring it with me, but as it was in a hard case it had to be checked. If your guitar has to be checked, ask them to put your case in with the animals, not with the luggage. Guitars don't like extreme temps, so you want to keep it at room temperature.

There once was a posted letter that showed you were allowed to bring your instrument as carry-on. I forget where.

Ken

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:01 am

The problem with carrying on a full-size guitar is that it's not a guarantee. They can let you take it on at the counter, then decide to make you check it once you're at the gate.

I've carried on a mandolin and an electric, but never an acoustic. I'd say just pony up the extra $20 and check it. Make sure it's in a good ATA case, and that you plaster the case with stickers so you can spot it from a mile away.

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:47 am

A few years ago I went to a party in Sydney and had to fly back to Brisbane the next morning with a guitar. I was travelling on Frequent Flier points and the only free seat available was in Business Class.

I lobbed up at check-in around 10-ish, still half pissed, eyeballs hanging out, smelling like a brewery and looking like I could vomit at any second - checking into Business Class with my only luggage being a guitar. That was soooo cool! I felt so rock and roll! And I could tell the check-in girly was sussing me out trying to work out if I was famous or not (she didn't try to shag me in the toilets, 'Ralph Feinnes' style - so I guess she figured I was not)

The Weakest Suit · Post by **The Weakest Suit** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:06 am

check out the game "jam sessions" for nintendo ds.
it may make it easier to songwrite with guitar on vacations and such.
either way, it looks to be pretty neat.
i think it's due to release in september.

Mostess · Post by **Mostess** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:15 am

In the old days, I used to get by playing dumb. I'd just walk as far as I could with my guitar. Usually the check-in guy, the security guy, and the gate guy wouldn't really care. Only the flight attendant would freak out: "where are we going to put that thing?" It fit in the overhead bin, and in the special closet they have for the attendants' coats.

I guess it's different now, though I haven't really tried that old trick since 1996 or so. I just check the thing (hard case, obviously) now, though rarely. No problems in the 4 or 5 times I've done that. Never overseas.

Any chance you could borrow/lease/buy a guitar in Africa? It would save you two headaches, since you'd have to lug your best baby back home, too (I assume).

ken · Post by **ken** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:22 am

Yeah, the coat closet is gone. They put a wheelchair in there or something.

Ken

Denyer · Post by **Denyer** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:22 pm

I tried to travel with a guitar case once but I wasn't allowed.

bz£ · Post by **bz£** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:28 pm

Mostess wrote:Any chance you could borrow/lease/buy a guitar in Africa?

This was the first thought I had, because it sounds like you're going to be there for a while. It's probably easier than bringing your own.

I've checked hard cases a couple of times and never had any real problems. They aren't too hard to spot, either, because most travelers won't have anything that looks like one, and they usually get tossed in with oversized luggage which is often taken off the plane separately. Of course, none of my guitars are worth a whole lot of money-- it's hard to be too worried when in the (unlikely) worst possible scenario you're only out a few hundred bucks.

Bjam · Post by **Bjam** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:03 pm

You could also invest in a travel guitar/backpacker/small guitar. If you're traveling in cramped situations, it may be easier than a normal sized guitar(smaller + lighter + less emotion attachment[if you're the type that is attached emotionally to your guitar]). This depends on if you have a few hundred to throw down on a guitar(and time to get one). You may be able to find one on eBay.

rogerroll · Post by **rogerroll** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:14 am

I'll probably end up buying one when I'm out there. Thanks for the advice, all.