Carry-on on Frontier Airlines

[bsee]

That's fine Hal, keep looking through the rose colored glasses.  We've both had our say on the matter and I don't think either one of us has any facts to add.  I'll stick to the headless for travel, and you do what you're going to do.

[hieronymous]

Found this article with an interesting suggestion further down heard from Steve Bailey.
 
hendixclarke, how often do you fly? I'd like to see you arguing about your rights with airport or airline staff these days. It's not like it was before 9/11. I fly as little as possible now, and I'm not even trying to carry an instrument. And with increased fuel costs, airlines are cutting down on the number of flights, so all the flights I've taken in the past couple of years have been full, whether from SFO to Japan or within the country, whether it's Sacramento CA to Portland or Seattle, or SFO to Boston or NYC. The best part is when you ask bsee what he's been smoking and yet you expect airline and airport staff to be all lovey dovey because it's music?!!! Then again, this is the internet, maybe you are really just a mellow guy who travels with his bass all the time and you only get argumentative in forums...
 
Devon, maybe it would be good to have a cheap instrument to keep at your family's place - then when you get back to your Alembic the music will just fly under your fingers! There's something to be said with having to struggle with an instrument to get it to sing, though it's nice not to have to do that all the time! Best of luck to you whatever you decide to do!

[hendixclarke]

Whatever man...

[hendixclarke]

You guy are half glass empty with this... By the way, my work requires much travel, and when I am away from home for weeks upon months, I take my axe with me for the conforts of home and leasure.  I had even purchased guitars in other cities (an even bigger risk, some might think).  
 
I had nothing but pleasant experience on planes and I never was never stopped upon entering the foliages of multiple flights.  
 
Hey, if you want to buy in to 9/11 that's fine.
 
Otherwise, enjoy your travels with whatever guitar that makes you happy bro for I am just sharing my experiences and we are all different, thank GOD!
 
Peace-

[hieronymous]

Now that's more like it! We have to push you sometimes to get you to make sense. It wasn't clear from your posts that you were speaking from experience. Now we know that you are offering an example of the system working.
 
Do you really take your Series I (which is beautiful by the way) with you on business trips?
 
By the way, here's an article about classical musicians from 2006 which offers a different perspective. (You might have to register with the New York Times to be able to view it)

[juggernaught]

Hal, do you go through Denver or Minneapolis a lot?  How about Frontier Airlines?

[juggernaught]

I did get pulled aside for my bass once in ABQ.  They saw the battery on the xray and wanted to do various tests on the bass.  I was afraid that they were going to want to open her up!  Thankfully they didn't: they just did this thing where they wiped areas around the backplates with some tissue and analyzed the tissue with a machine.  I bet a lot of this depends on the threat level though.

[lbpesq]

Hal:  
 
TSA has authority to tell airlines what they can't allow on board.  This is significantly different from telling the airlines what they are required to allow on-board.   For example, TSA can forbid an airline from allowing dynamite on board, but can't force the airline to allow Kenny G CDs if the airline, in its infinite wisdom, chooses to ban such malodorous materials!.  Even if you had the right to bring an instrument on board as carry-on and the airline respected your right 99%  of the time, that 1% could result in a damaged instrument.  
 
In my line of work, I consistently deal with patients who have the right to possess cannabis, but the cops arrest them anyway.  We may eventually prevail in court, but that didn't stop the cops from seizing medicine and arresting the person in the first place.  That's why I coughed up the money for Calton cases for my Further and D-28.  The Calton case is the same size as a standard hard case (The Further case is guitar shaped, like a 335 case - not a big rectangle).  On my last trip with the Further, they let me bring it on the outbound flight, but made me gate check it on the way back.  My advice is to try your darnedest to carry on the instrument, but be prepared to gate check.
 
Bill, tgo

[juggernaught]

I still like the idea of bringing a gig bag and tucking the neck part under your arm.  Clever.

[Bradley Young]

So, Bill,
 
Am I to understand that you bought a Calton case because your clients keep getting arrested for possession?
 
Does it have some kind of secret pocket or something?  Filled with coffee?  A place to fit stuff?
 
Do you recommend them for other forms of contraband?  Fissile materials perhaps?
 
Just wondering.  
 
Bradley
 
PS- Bill already knows this, but I'm yanking his chain.  Nothing meant by it.

[hendixclarke]

Hieronymous, the 2006 article was heart breaking. Yeah, it's sad as hell for us musicians who travel via air. But in all fairness, the article was written back in 2006.  
 
Again, we are talking about the size of something just about or equal to the size of an average guitar...
 
In fact just call it anything you want...
 
But just remember to ask yourself this question: will this bag fit the overhead locker and TSA baggage requirements...  
 
Ask for the measurements.
 
Once you know the Airlines and TSA measurements, measure your bag.
 
If your bag complies with their rules, then at this point, walk proudly and enjoy your flight... (because you did your homework...)
 
However, if Flight attendants stops you while entering the plane, tell you know the rules and you would be more than happy to show that it measures perfectly for flight. (There's usually a bag measuring container, that validates size at most boarding gates) ask if they would measure your bag (work with them, make this a professional issue not personal).
 
If they still stop you, tell them it's a bag with a guitar inside and it could be easily damaged...  
 
Tell them, most hard shell case wouldn't fit their overhead lockers, and the soft bag shotens the length to stow with ease.  
 
Tell them you want to follow the rules... Stay professional and cool and please never make a scene. Be cheeful and smart. Stay on point, with the measurement rules, you have nothing to fear.
 
If they still want you to check the bag in, ask them why... If they just say because they say so... ask for an official statement of their bases for refusal.
 
IT WILL NEVER GET THIS FAR, BE COOL!
 
Last post on this one, enjoy your fly.

[Bradley Young]

Right.  
 
Maybe it's just me, but I'm not seeing a bass fitting into 9 by 14 by 22 inches.  That's how big the airline measuring bin is.
 
Maybe yours has a folding neck or something?  Mine won't fit.  
 
Just for reference, that is the allowed size, and you're completely dependent upon the grace of a flight attendant that just broke up with her cheating guitarist boyfriend.  Good luck with that.  
 
I couldn't resist feeding the troll, just in case anyone tries to take this advice seriously.

[bsee]

I know how you feel, Brad.  This has been one of the most irresponsible trolling runs I've seen at this club over the last five years.  There's the occasional angry or insensitive post, but never anyone so insistent on providing bad information.
 
There is no airline on the planet that has measurement rules which, if followed, would allow you to carry an Alembic bass guitar onto a commercial airplane.  If anyone has documentation of such an airline, please post the link to those carry on regulations.  I don't expect to see too many such responses, though...

[juggernaught]

Bob, I just wanted to reiterate that while there isn't a specific size rule that allows guitars, they aren't specifically prohibited as they are in an exception class.  I couldn't find any info on their website, but got this from an agent reading from more specific regulations.  However, I'd bet a bag of gold that the same reasons that airline staff can choose prohibit you to bring your bass are, I'm guessing, as easily applicable to your normal correct size luggage.
 
also, hal wasn't talking about the sizing bins, but the overhead bins.  I have *never* had a problem fitting my bass in the overhead, evn on the regional planes.
 
I understand Brad has a bit of an attitude but I understand that he's trying to be informative.  However, I'm really not able to separate opinion with experience with almost everyone posting here.  ...broke up with her boyfriend...  talk about trying to find any possible thing that could go wrong.  I know this is you being realistic but it sounds like  to me

[juggernaught]

also, even though Hal's advice could be construed as being foolishly or even purposely misinforming (though I can't for the life of me see how you could be certain of the later), it's worth noting that he's been very helpful if you're trying to minimize risk.  Come prepared, be nice and cool, check the measurements, get it in writing... this is all great advice and would certainly help you get your bass in the overhead.  The motivation on flaming this idea because it's too optimistic and not %100 is beyond me, but I suspect there are some principles being violated here.