Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hey guys, I was hoping y'all could help me out with some tips on how to prep my guitar for a cross country flight (Boston to Oakland). My case is not very great (just a cheap wooden case with some kind of soft plastic exterior and some thin fuzzy stuff on the inside).

I don't want to buy a flight case, rather I can't afford one at the time. So I hope the airport workers don't destory the poor thing. This girl I know who constantly flies with her guitar just gets a Fragile sticker to put on the case and so far everything's been okay, so that's what I was planning on doing.

I'm going to call the airline (United) and see what they tell me about carrying my precious aboard their beastly metal bird thing but I was hoping that some of you had personal experience flying with your guitars.

Also, is there any way I should prep my guitar for the change in altitude and pressure. Maybe loosen the strings or something?

I asked this awhile ago:

http://community.rukind.org/viewtopic.p ... ing+guitar

The case you describe is not rugged enough for it to go into the cargo area. I have seen Martins that were crushed by the luggage handling equipment or at the luggage carousel. One guitar looked like it had been cleaved right through the sides. Neither the back nor top were damaged, sides were split all the way around.

Carry the guitar to the gate with you and attempt to carry the guitar on board. Otherwise, check it at the gate along with the baby strollers. It will be that last thing into the belly of the jet and the first out.

Sometimes you can find some really cool people at the gates who will help you out. Sometimes they are real a-holes and will make you check it without any discussion.

G,
I've sent my guitar through baggage claim a few times without any issues, but it should be stated that I don't have a very nice guitar, and wasn't too concerned about it. I stick the meaningless FRAGILE sticker on, just in case.

Just some tips from when I did it:
I filled up any empty spots in the case with clothes - ie. under the neck, and around the body, etc, to keep the guitar from moving around in the case. I also loosened all the strings.

After reading the other thread on guitars, I'm a little more weary about sending my guitar through, but I'll probably still do it the same way.

i flew once with my acoustic guitar and i just put it in a normal case and i leaved in the passengers area like in a closet, i don't know if that was bad??

nicolasalk wrote:i flew once with my acoustic guitar and i just put it in a normal case and i leaved in the passengers area like in a closet, i don't know if that was bad??

Nope, that's perfect. Always ask for the coat closet, that's what Ive found is the safest, plus you get the convenience of stowing the guitar right as you board the plane and then you can walk down the aisle to your seat unencumbered. Even better when disembarking!

Otherwise, what Dan and d-v-s said. Pack the guitar around the neck like you are shipping it (because you are)... bubble wrap, styro peanuts, whatever, and definitely loosen the strings.

I always bring my beater acoustic and always try to carry it on the plane. Don't bother calling the Airlines, as they will give you the standard pitch about checking it. Keep carrying it with you all the way onto the plane. The worst that will happen is they will stop you at the gate and check it like the strollers and that's not a bad thing. Most will actually allow you on the plane with it and some will bend over backwards and let you store it in the flight closet or up front somewhere. I just use a backpack case, completely soft, and it fits in the overhead on most flights. If they do check it, they need to put it in a place where it can't get hit by anything or it will damage it, so they're very careful. Every once in awhile I'll get someone not nice, but most times they understand and help out. Oh, and check out Jck_stw's link to see what was already said.

again try to carry it on. But remember there is a one carry on and one personal item limit. A personal item it like a laptop case or hand bag. You wont be the only one with a guitar to carry on i see it all the time and it is a good idea to try.

Good luck

Good points from all here. Definitely don't risk it by checking it with the other luggage. Most likely nothing would happen, but why risk it. Carry it on, if they have an issue, gate check it with the aforementioned strollers.

I once checked my 1978 Ibanez GB 10 and had a heart attack the entire plane ride wondering if it was ok. And the cases for those guitars are metal and could probably take a bullet, but still, I was worried. Don't put yourself through that kind of stress.

I thought I remembered reading a thread about flying with guitars but I couldn't remember which site it was on... I used to browse on The Rhombus when it was around...

In any case (no pun intended), thanks for all the replies. I read both this and jck_strw's thead and I am going to try and call the airports and the airline, as long as they don't keep me on hold too long.

Other than that, pack a bunch of clothes into the case with the guitar to protect it, loosen the strings, and hope for the kindness and consideration of the people making the decisions.

Oh and of course I'm gonna be overwhelmingly nice and insisting so they just can't say no.

If that doesn't work then I'll just use the Force.

Just noticed you are from Montreal, if you are flying into the U.S. and your guitar has any parts made of Rosewood or Ivory you might want to leave it at home.

You would need a pre-convention CITES certificate for Rosewood or Ivory to get it through customs.

mutant_dan wrote:Just noticed you are from Montreal, if you are flying into the U.S. and your guitar has any parts made of Rosewood or Ivory you might want to leave it at home.

You would need a pre-convention CITES certificate for Rosewood or Ivory to get it through customs.

Wow, I didn't realize that...how come? And what's a CITES certificate and how would you go about getting one?

Here is a little info on CITES in regard to rosewood.

In June of 1992, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) which is an international treaty signed by 115 countries, adopted a new amendment that went into effect which affects international shipments of Brazilian rosewood no matter how large or small. In order to import or export a guitar made with Brazilian rosewood, you must first have a "General Permit" from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and secondly you must have a "Pre-Convention Certificate" documenting that the Brazilian rosewood was harvested before June 11, 1992.


Or the Canadian version of the above mentioned certificates..