Air Travel with a Guitar

This guy didn't have a happy time..

United Breaks Guitars

When traveling though airports, I too have seen many people carrying guitars and other instruments. This is past the check in and security so I can only assume that they are carry on instruments. 

Smaller ones like violins will fit in the overhead bins but I'm guessing that most are placed in the crew storage area at the front of the plane where you generally enter the cabin. Of course, that depends on the space being available and the stewardess allowing it to go there. 

I have also seen some airlines request people to allow their large "carry on bags" to be stowed in the hold by the ground crew, after all the checked baggage is loaded. I have had several of my bags handled this way, especially on those really small commuter hops. 

I even asked a few musicians with guitars about this and the response was that they asked nicely to store it in the crew storage. Sometimes it worked and sometimes not. 

In my several trips to Argentina, knowing that I was a musician, I was asked to bring my guitar. I declined each time simply because of the hassle and expense and regulations on it, asking instead for someone in Argentina to provide a guitar when I would need one. That worked out OK.

Hi,

Got to admit ... never seen anyone just start playing the guitar and get everyone's attention ... oppppsss I lied ... there was this first class cabin, and they don't usually tell those folks they can't have their guitar ... Tom Petty would not like it and would trash your airline, or some other big name ... but in regular and economy class ... I doubt it.

Wasn't it the Concorde that also had some accoustic musicians do shows during the flight?

After 9/11 things changed ... wonderful excuse to make sure that we remove the arts from people's lives so we can concentrate on other areas! And we have no choice but agree with it.

It's not uncommon to "gate check" special baggage that you carry through to the gate and then turn it over for special handling there.

best regards,
mike

drewfx1


Well to be fair, I can understand why they would want to restrict guitars.

After all, many people have fled in terror after seeing me strap on a guitar (and that's on a "good" day).

I was thinking of bringing my flute with me ... next time, just to see if they think anything ... or maybe my drumsticks that I keep in the car ...

We do it with video gear... it is never comfortable and it is always stressful.

What we often do is check the camera bag at the gate and take the camera and footage on board to stuff it in the overhead in blankets. Sometimes we have to disassemble the camera into lens, body, and viewfinder etc. It all has to happen fast and with flexibility to the situation at the moment.

We try hard to get to board the plane before it's filled up.

We also have loads of checked gear in travel cases getting slammed around but usually everything but the light bulbs will show up fine. Usually the light bulbs do too.



I used to casually take a guitar with me when I was a young guy... those days are gone.



I think it might be worth inquiring with other traveling violinists to see if there are any favorable policies on specific service providers.

Good luck.


best regards,
mike

 
"A musician named Dave Carroll recently had difficulty with United Airlines. United apparently damaged his treasured Taylor guitar ($3500) during a flight. Dave spent over 9 months trying to get United to pay for damages caused by baggage handlers to his custom Taylor guitar. During his final exchange with the United Customer Relations Manager, he stated that he was left with no choice other than to create a music video for YouTube exposing their lack of cooperation.
 
The Manager responded: “Good luck with that one, pal.”
 
So he posted a retaliatory video on YouTube. The video has since received over 6 million hits. United Airlines contacted the musician and attempted settlement in exchange for pulling the video.  Naturally his response was: “Good luck with that one, pal.”
 
Taylor Guitars sent the  musician 2 new custom guitars in appreciation for the product recognition from the video that has led to a sharp increase in orders. Here’s the video, and it’s GREAT!  A Must Watch."  
 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=5YGc4zOqozo
 

I have seen once a guys trying to put overhead a contrabass, fly attendant told him: it won't fit, put it under the seat...