Carry-on on Frontier Airlines

[juggernaught]

Even better is if I can find someone in MN to buy the Distillate.  That would justify bringing it and I'd be able to practice   Any takers?

[bsee]

Sorry, I'm in MA and about six hundred short...

[rockbassist]

byoung mentioned using ATA flight cases. I had an airline employee tell me to never check an instrument into the cargo hold no matter what kind of case it's in. Chances are it will get damaged or stolen. Many musicians that I have come across and do a lot of travelling do one of the following: Carry the instrument on the plane in a gig bag, ship the instrument via FedEx, UPS or another carrier, (always remembering to insure it), or just have the equipment truck bring it to the next gig.  
I would call the airline and find out what their policy is

[hendixclarke]

Get on the plane... Your bass will fit overhead with ease. I had the same problem, but I purchased a bass, so I didn't have a choice but to understand the laws. Airlines are cool, so stay cool.
 
Boeing made the majority of airbuses with more than enough room in the above head lockers.  
 
Also, consider taking the red-eye flight... this way, fewer people... The fewer the people, the friendly the people and the more room you will have.
 
Don't sweat it, you don't need to worry, the laws are in your favor now.

[basstard]

So it seems I'm in big trouble (again, lol).
 
1. I'll be flying with a bass I want to sell soon so an ATA case will be of no use to me in the long run - it'll cost almost a half of the entire bass's value, and I won't be able to sell it separately as the bass has an original shape (the Nexus in the Family Portrait thread).
 
2. Actually, I can't afford such a case anyway.
 
3. As the whole gig is organized in Chicago and we have all expenses covered and the tickets are bought by the organizers not by us I doubt if they remember about instrument insurance.
 
All that, and I'm definitely not the luckiest guy on Earth. I'm feeling sick already.

[bsee]

Jarek, In your position, I would be looking for one of two things.  
 
1.  Do you have any sort of allowance for expenses as part of your deal?  If so, paying all costs associated with the transport of your instrument sounds like a valid expense.
 
2.  If another instrument might do, then you should look into getting a rental of some sort delivered locally in Chicago.  You're talking about a fairly sizable city with a historic musical scene, so pro level gear should be available.  Maybe they'll pick up the cost of the rental?
 
(Message edited by bsee on September 30, 2008)

[bsee]

Hal, where do you get the idea that the laws are in your favor?  The regulations for every airline that I have looked into say that the airline should never allow you to carry a guitar in the cabin without buying it a seat because it is oversized.  Therefore, I would have to conclude that the laws are against us and only courtesy and reason are in our favor.
 
Additionally, there are some routes where the red eye flights are extremely popular and almost universally full.  It is good advice, though, to plan an itinerary that is lightly traveled if it is possible.  With only a couple weeks until he travels, I would expect that it is too late for Devon to make any such changes.

[Bradley Young]

Bob is correct here.  
 
You have no law protecting carryons. The flight attendant/gate attendant/TSA agent has absolute authority.  
 
If you check a bag, it is automatically insured for $2500.  This is why you can fly with ATA approved cases.  I would not fly with an expensive instrument.  
 
And the more I read Hal's posts, the more I think that he's trolling (Boeing made airbuses?!).
 
Just for reference, the interiors of the planes are ordered/specified by the airlines.
 
Bradley

[rushfan]

i use ata cases anywhere i go, because i want my bass to survive anything. but, if you go, i reccomend getting a steinberger or something like that, something compact.also, byoung is right, airbus is a german company, not a product of boeing.

[hendixclarke]

YES YOU DO!
 
You can fly with your axe... TSA will support you!
 
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1235.shtm

[hendixclarke]

The bottom line here is, the size of your axe and what you use to carry it. If you walk on with an anvil case, they will tell you to check it in because its bulky. If you walk on with a guitar shaped bage or case, they will not have a problem in USA. People love music and they love to see musicians boarding their flights. It's a very old solution to a very old and know problem.... FEAR NOT!

[juggernaught]

so far as my experience goes, the airlines have always let my bass on carry on in a gig bag.  I did have a close call going from Norfolk to DFW as we were on a regional craft for that leg of the trip.  The gate staff tried to pressure me to gate check it, but the airline staff let it on.  I called AA ahead of time and they told me that their policy was to allow the bass since it wasn't greater than 4 ft long, but as experience showed me, the staff can make exceptions whenever they want.
 
And this brings me to Frontier.  They also have a policy regarding instruments, but it's vague: if it fits.  This opens me back up to the risk of being at the mercy of whoever is on staff.  However, I was inclined to take a carry on except Greg's firsthand experience is telling me otherwise.  I'm going to try to call the travel agent to have some sort of statement put on my ticket to give me arguing power.

[bsee]

Hal, reading comprehension!  The article you point to says the TSA will let your instrument through the security checkpoint.  It also states in multiple places that it is up to the individual airlines to decide if they want to actually let your instrument into the cabin.  The TSA has absolutely no power to convince an airline to take your guitar on board.
 
The typical maximum size listed for a carry-on is a combined length plus width plus depth of between 45 and 55 inches.  My Strat with no bag measures 39 long by 13 wide by 2 thick for a total of 44.  If I don't put it in a bag, it would be legal to carry on Air Trans Airlines, the only one I have found with a 55 maximum size.  If you wrap it in anything thicker than a garbage bag, though, it even exceeds that.  Thus, everything you are pointing to says that no, you are not entitled to carry your guitar in the cabin.  
 
In short, you are giving dangerous advice to someone who might show up for a flight carrying an instrument in a gig bag.  That person would be left with very few options, and probably no good ones, if their guitar were denied admittance to the cabin.
 
If you're planning on flying with your guitar, contact the airline you will be using.  Unless they can confirm in writing that your guitar will be allowed on board, there will always be a risk that you will have to gate check it.

[hendixclarke]

What are you smoking man, cause I want some of it...  
 
My fellow Alembican, the nature of traveling with a very delicate instrument, is completely acknowledged and very well understood by most commercial airlines.  
 
Surly a private business has the right to allow what ever they deem, and to serve who they wish, but one thing you failed to understand and support is: TSA does control what can, and what passingers can-not board on airlines. No Airline can allow you to board a plane items that are banned. (A moot-point)
 
The definition of cargo (Musical Instruments) had already been written, and signed off with TSA.
 
Thus under those guidelines, warrents protocol as such, to honor passengers with musical instuments and one carry-on.  
 
Sure, it's wise to call your airline first, (that's completely prudent) but believe me, there are musical institutions all over the world who'd had lobbied strongly so that we may feel at ease about this concern.
 
I know my rights.
 
The strongest point on this topic, is:
 
The size and remaing overhead lockers availble for your guitar.  
 
However, if there's no room available, then out of safety reasons, Airline personnel would have and in some situations, must use descretion with any bag....  
 
Therefore it pays to reserve an early flight or take flights that are least likely to be full.

[hendixclarke]

What are you smoking man, cause I want some of it...  
 
My fellow Alembican, the nature of traveling with a very delicate instrument, is completely acknowledged and very well understood by most commercial airlines. GOOD LUCK!
 
Surly a private business has the right to allow what ever they deem, and to serve who they wish, but one thing you failed to understand and support is: TSA does control what can, and what passingers can-not board on airlines. No Airline can allow you to board a plane items that are banned. (A moot-point)
 
The definition of cargo (Musical Instruments) had already been written, and signed off with TSA.
 
Thus under those guidelines, warrents protocol as such, to honor passengers with musical instuments and one carry-on.  
 
Sure, it's wise to call your airline first, (that's completely prudent) but believe me, there are musical institutions all over the world who'd had lobbied strongly so that we may feel at ease about this concern.
 
I know my rights.
 
The strongest point on this topic, is:
 
The size and remaing overhead lockers availble for your guitar.  
 
However, if there's no room available, then out of safety reasons, Airline personnel would have and in some situations, must use descretion with any bag....  
 
Therefore it pays to reserve an early flight or take flights that are least likely to be full.