Guitar and air travel

This is a first for me so....

I'll be traveling to Scotland from the USA non-stop flight. I want to bring my Taylor acoustic as I'll be doing a few recording sessions and am comfortble with my own guitar. It has a nice hard-shell case and is pretty road-worthy. ( (I'm 6'1 / 200lbs and can stand on it) They will not allow me to bring it onboard as carry-on luggage, so it'll have to be loaded on with the normal baggage. You're not allowed to put locks on any luggage anymore (in case they need to search). Is my guitar safe? I worry about some of those baggage handlers that 'help themselves' to items.

Any thoughts, tips, etc?? Has anyone flown with their guitar before?? What are my options?? Thanks in advance.

We fly with video gear frequently... always try to carry on the camera. Pack so that you can drop it... they will.


It should be fine.


Have fun!

Thanks fellers!! I was hoping to bring it onboard, but, they won't let me. Thanks for the tips!!

Wow, my post disappeared...???

I had said you could buy special locks for your luggage that are allowed on planes (security personnel have master keys that open all of them). You can buy them at places like Target.

Weird how that post vanished though...

ORIGINAL: Texrat

Wow, my post disappeared...???

I had said you could buy special locks for your luggage that are allowed on planes (security personnel have master keys that open all of them). You can buy them at places like Target.

Weird how that post vanished though...

My only problem Warren is there's no place to place those locks on my guitar case.. This happens to be my best guitar, so if something happens, I'm up the creek without a paddle... I'm looking into renting one when I get over there. Shouldn't be a problem.

ORIGINAL: Jonbouy

ORIGINAL: lhansen

Thanks fellers!! I was hoping to bring it onboard, but, they won't let me. Thanks for the tips!!

So how come that nun on Airplane got to play hers.

D'ya mean that movie wasn't true?

Jon, Don't listen to those people!! That movie was based on pure fact man!! Why the nun? Well she's a nun! That's why! You have no right questioning the Church!!! Why if this were the 13th century you'd be flogged and thrown into the Tower until you recanted!! Shame! Shame!

I did? Oops.

Anyway, Larry, you can use those locks.

1) It is a myth that you have to loosen the strings. Perhaps lower them by a tone might not be a bad idea but that's about it. If the guitar was to expand or contract that much it would come out of the case in pieces! Where exactly are the cavities that would cause departure elevation air pressure to get trapped inside and cause the strings to change tension that much? The pressure in the hold is the same as in the cabin (about 6 - 8 thousand feet equivalent (VERY rare to have an unpressurized hold these days).

2) You can use TSA approved locks on any baggage but it can still be opened and inspected.

3) If the guitar is that valuable to you it should be insured.

4) If it is going in the hold it would be an idea to have it in a 'case inside a case' the outer case being of the 'flight case' style (made by a good manufacturer - and of course this will be heavy and expensive too). Anything other and you are foolish risking it. Taylor factory cases are good but not designed for traveling in the hold of an aircraft.

5) There is a great guitar store in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow called Guitar Guitar, they might rent you a Taylor or have something else you like for not too much money with no risk getting your cherished possession damaged or stolen. (Of course it could get stolen from your home while you are away too)!!

This would be the very minimum protection for my own gear: http://www.prostagegear.com/guitarcases.aspx

it's almost 300 bucks at AMS / MF etc.

However, I still would not put my Taylor in the hold in it.

This thread just reminded me to give some thought as to how I am going to get my Shergold back to the US from the UK. It's a solid body electric (not so fragile) and not so valuable. Looks like shipping it will be the best bet. Last time I was able to take it on board but that was years ago before 911 and the new recent policies on excess baggage.

Would be interesting to call Taylor and see how they ship their stuff overseas.

Good luck.

Larry I've learned something different about the tension issue.
I thought taking the tension off made it somewhat harder for the head to snap off when the case took a blow from being chunked. Grain is usually favorable for a head to snap from a blow.
http://www.frets.com/fretspages/Musician/GenMaint/Packing/packing1.html

This guy recommends lower the tension some but keep some tension...as you can read. Pretty good info in article.

Martin did replace my friends guitar due to the wood grain issue at headstock. He had it only a few weeks when it snapped.
He had leaned it against the wall, it slid down and snapped when it hit the floor. He called me to check it out. I was really surprised it snapped. You know that's a slow slide and to a carpeted floor...but the grain was issue. Didn't take much and Martin agreed.

Larry, I've flown a couple of times with my LP, and was actually rather impressed with the treatment the airlines gave my guitar. Of course, they will want to look in the case before you lock it to make sure it isn't incendiary. When I took it to Michigan they didn't send it down the chute with general luggage; they took it to their office to make sure it didn't get bumped around too much. My venerable instrument got the treatment I thought it deserved.

Incidentally, I'm envious as can be. I'd love to go to Scotland, and jam with James. What a gas!

And added note: I'm under the impression that it is better to ship the guitar with the tension on the strings to keep the neck straight

ORIGINAL: MemphisJo

15) There is a great guitar store in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow called Guitar Guitar, they might rent you a Taylor or have something else you like for not too much money with no risk getting your cherished possession damaged or stolen. (Of course it could get stolen from your home while you are away too)!!

MJ - That looks like the route I'm going to take. Thanks! I called the airline yesterday and they do not offer insurance for any musical instrument and cannot guarentee any loss due to theft or damage. I don't want to be flying over there and worry at the same time. It's the only decent guitar I own and after giving it some thought, don't want to take the chance of losing it. It's bad enough that I go thru 'withdrawal' when I don't pick up my axe and play within a 24 hr. period....

Probably the best call you could have made. Enjoy yourself!

Have you seen the way they throw luggage around?

In 1979, I flew from Burbank to San Jose and took my Alembic Series I bass. I of course loosend the strings.

As I'm sitting on the plane looking out the side window at the luggae beinloaded I see my bass. The guy picks it up as HEAVES it. I groaned.

Fortunately, nothing happened to it (guess it landed on softer luggage). I still have that bass.

If I had to travel with one of my more expensive guitars, I would definately loosen the strings. Head stock breakage is real when a guitar gets shocked and has the strings under tension. My Ibanez electric fell over while leaning against the wall and the head stock broke off. I was able to repair it. My Les Paul was purchased with broken head stock from a previous owner who knocked over the case with the guitar in it, strings under tension. Head stock broke off. I was able to repair it too.

If I had to travel regularly with a guitar, I would use a less expensive one so if it broke or got lost, no biggee.