[jck_strw]

Has anyone had any recent experience flying with a guitar? I'm headed to Colorado for vacation Friday (woot!) and I'm considering bringing a guitar. It used to be that you could bring them on the plane and stuff it in the overhead or the "closet", but post-9/11, I'm not sure what the situation is. I have an old beater guitar that I would bring just in case something happens, but I'd still hate to lose/damage it.

Anyone have any recent experiences? Tips/suggestions?

Thanks.

[st stephen]

i would call the airlines and ask but i am pretty sure i have carried my acoustic on before.......post 9-11.

[shakedown_04092]

Hey Jim,

I have definitely seen folks at the airport, inside the security checkpoints, with their guitars, which leads me to believe that you can bring them on the plane with you. I think they store them either up front or out back in the coat closets reserved for the stewards/stewardesses.

[nedcat]

Almost a year ago Southwest allowed me to bring my Telecaster ('52 re-issue) on a flight to Phoenix. They put it in the only closet on the aircraft. I asked them if I could do the same on the return flight and they said "of course". That was BS 'cause I got denied on that request when the time came to fly home.

[tigerstrat]

Do NOT CHECK your guitar into checked luggage unless in a flight case.

Just keep insisting that it is very valuable and needs to go either in the coat closet or in overhead bins. DON'T check it.

[strumminsix]

Do NOT CHECK your guitar into checked luggage unless in a flight case.

Just keep insisting that it is very valuable and needs to go either in the coat closet or in overhead bins. DON'T check it.

+1

Another point.... Realize that the people at:
- airline call center
- security checkpoint
- gate people
are not the people who make the decision.

The flight attendants on the specific plane make that decision.

I checked an old acoustic once in a very sturdy molded plastic hardshell case. It came out just fine but it was checked by security.

One thing I've noticed, you see people trying to carry on guitars in a soft case but never in a hard case. Seems kinda like "murphy's law" might bite you in the ass... They won't let you take it as a carry on in a HSC but if you check it with a SSC then it's as good as destroyed.

[hesgone95]

I've had both experiences post 9/11. Be careful about insisting too much though. One time I had an M16 stuck in my face by a nat'l guardsman when I was bringing by guitar through the xray. They didn't want to allow me through and I argued and had some punkass 19 yr old put his gun in my face. Course, that was like 3 mos after 9/11. Things are probably different 5 yrs later. And I had hair halfway down my back and a full beard, which probably didn't help.

[nedcat]

I learned a long time ago to put ALL axes in flight cases. I bought extra metal-reinforced kevlar nonmagnetic cases.....hehehe. Come and git me!!....
"Mall Security".....oooooo.. eyeB scared!!

[BayAreaBB]

How are guitars, upon completion of being built, sent to their owners? Specifically, I am thinking how Resurrection, Alembic etc. ships their guitars to their clients across the country?

[steve]

i flew to and from england about a year ago with my acoustic in the hardshell case i got it in. ended up not being allowed to carry it with me but checking it instead. fortunately, it worked out well. i was flying virgin atlantic at the time and they seemed to treat it delicately

[Laytonco]

Jackstraw, welcome! I hope you have a nice visit to our fair state!

Gil from Parker, CO

[Playdeadphish]

here is the deal...

i spend my life in airports flying cause im an airline pilot and thats what i do for a living.

the easy answer is YES you can carry on your guitar and NO you cannot carry your guitar on.

the airline industry is the most f'ed up industry you could ever imagine. there are different rules when dealing with different people. alot of employees just dont know the rules and automatically say no..or yes.

you are also dealing with different agencys throughout the airport, airline employees, rent-a-cops, tsa and the like. all have different rules, different airports make up their own rules. confused yet.

here is your best bet. contact the airport authority for the airports you will be traveling thru. ask them if you are able to bring it thru security. ask the airline and then just hope for the best.

please dont check it unless its insured and in a travel case. i cant tell you how many packages, letters and the like are are seen every day laying around the airport on the tarmac cause some tug driver took a turn too tight and launched stuff off the back,

personally i always allow guitars on board, if i see one comming down the jetway ill even offer to hold it up in the cockpit. flattery can also get you past even the toughest flight attendent and gate agent. the nicer you are the furthur you will get.

good luck. i wish i could give you a better answer but thats the way it is. it sucks but it is what it is.

peace
glenn

[jck_strw]

Thanks for the advice. I figured it would depend upon the individual flight worker(s) I encountered. Good to hear that people have had success. I'll be bringing the instrument in a hard shell case so hopefully my karma is high enough that Althea (my beater guitar) will make it to and from Colorado safely.

/fingers crossed

[jck_strw]

My karma level must've been high. Not a peep from anyone involved in the airline/security industry and my guitar was able to fly in the closet (on both flights) to Colorado. The return trip was not as cozy, but she was still able to ride in the above seat compartments on both return flights.

Nice.

[phreaker]

A few years ago (well, it coulda been 15 years...i cant remember) leo kottke came to town to play a gig. when he went to get his guitar from the airport, they handed it to him--in a plastic bag. it was splintered, completely. i think they checked it, and didnt lock the case right. fortunantly, within 1 mile of the venue, there are 3 guitar stores in our downtown. he got a new one 3 hours before the gig.