Author Topic: Carrying Musical Instruments on Planes. (Read 395 times)

grateful · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2006, 05:28:48 AM »

Graeme:

I've insured my Further with E and L: I chose them coz they're based in York, and their web site accepted instruments of this value. It was just over ?80 p.a., includes public liability insurance and covers the instrument anywhere in Europe too. It'll cost more if you want world-wide cover.

Mark, ago

jacko · « **Reply #16 on:** February 21, 2006, 05:36:26 AM »

Thanks Mark, I'm pretty sure I'll be going with EandL. It occured to me a couple of weeks ago that I'm carrying about ?8000 worth of kit to gigs so I really ought to make sure I'm covered. EandL are going to cost about ?11 / month for peace of mind.

Graeme

jazzyvee · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2006, 10:18:42 AM »

I'm in the musicians union and use the company they use called Allianz Cornhill. I figure that they should know what they are doing. Fortunately never had to make a claim. But you have to be careful with the company you choose because many have a clause that will invalidate your claim if you are performing for gain.
I don't know if they are the cheapest but since they are aligned to the musicians union they should have a good idea of a musicians life and risks etc.
I'm happy so far.

Stuff I don't take out of my house I insure under my current contents insurance.

I don't have their number off the top of my head but i will find it and post it here later as I'm off to rehearsal in a bit.

Cheers
Jazzyvee

bigredbass · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2006, 08:22:45 PM »

JVee:

I WAS wondering if you could still by a seat for your axe in this post 9/11 world. I always remember the stories of BB King buying a seat for Lucille, so at least that can still happen.

J o e y

jazzyvee · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2006, 11:20:55 PM »

Well that was one of the options suggested by the checkin crew but as I said earlier that would pose more of a safety hazard in the event of an accident or turbulance than putting the guitar in the overheard locker.

If you are BB King then I would imagine you would be travelling first class and would only be on airlines that allowed you to carry your guitar on board.

When you are travelling economy class, less options are available.

Although on one trip to europe last year when i carried my guitar on board the stewardess placed my guitar flat across on the empty row of 3 seats behind me and put the seat belts round it as additional security.

Jazzyvee

adriaan · « **Reply #20 on:** February 22, 2006, 01:29:03 AM »

They'll put trolleys and stuff into the small passenger's wardrobe at the front of the plane -if there's room. Never travelled with a bass, so not sure if it will fit in your average passenger plane.

gtrguy · « **Reply #21 on:** February 22, 2006, 08:51:35 AM »

I just flew back from San Francisco with a bass (not my alembic) and what I did was unbolt the neck (if yours does this) so I could carry it in my luggage bag. For neck-throughs and most instruments, I was told that a hard case in the baggage compartment is the way to go and that it should be capable of surviving a 50 lb weight dropped on it. I would pad the instrument in the hard case as well.

I was told a carry-on bass might make a potential weapon, what with the metal truss rods that show up on the x-ray machine. On busy flights, the overhead gets pretty full. There is a test storage container in airports the show what size baggage you can carry aboard. It is nowhere big enough to put a guitar into. Theft is also now a problem. The airlines just had a record year for baggage damage and loss.

old_guy · « **Reply #22 on:** February 22, 2006, 01:21:29 PM »

An ATA flight case custom made to fit a factory case weigts 50 lbs and can go Fex-X P-1 A.M. delivery for about $125.00. Can be insured for any ammount, Needs no inspection and the Anvil style case has multiple locking options. If it must go in cabin, ask to speak to the Captin. He has ultimate decision of on board items. Chances are he is a player too! If the Captian is a she, AND lets the instrument on, well then you take it from there!

David Houck · « **Reply #23 on:** February 22, 2006, 01:43:45 PM »

I'm guessing that locking the case is not what you want to do.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #24 on:** February 22, 2006, 02:01:57 PM »

Locking the case is not a good idea as they will, ( and have in the past), broken the hinges to get into the case.

When I first took a guitar on tour in the early 90's to California, I had a full aluminium covered birch ply custom, flight case made with a good lock on it. When the case came back through to the baggage claim belt, after the tour, the whole thing was in a large see through plastic bag.

The hinges were broken off and so nothing was secured and obviously the guitar suffered damage due to being shaken about in the bag with the metal case flapping about during the flight.

The airline refused to pay any compensation for the guitar or case. My travel insurance company also refused to pay for the damage.

Don't whatever you do lock the case with a key. better that you get cases with those butterfly type clasps not the type of clasps you get on the normal standard cases since they do come open far too easily if knocked.

Things would be much easier if musicians could carry their stuff on board without the luck of the draw arrangement you have now. Obviously there are size limitations but guitars and basses easily fit into the overheard lockers. On International flights anyway.
Good information coming out from this thread, thanks for your input.
Jazzyvee

old_guy · « **Reply #25 on:** February 22, 2006, 04:24:12 PM »

You are correct--not locking with the airlines. My reference was to Fed-X shipping. I've been most happy with overnites. I believe priorties process thru so quickly no one has an oppertunity to query. Also I've not known Fed-X to sub to the cattle carriers.

dean_m · « **Reply #26 on:** February 27, 2006, 08:03:58 PM »

I've been traveling with my bass now for about a year or so. Every week I'm flying with my bass. Here's what I've learned and this came from a Delta pilot......
There is no FAA regulation prohibiting musical instruments from being carried on an aircraft. Every now and then you run into someone who thinks they are doing the airline a great sservice by thinking they can enforce this. Now remember FAA regulations do not mean that the airline can't prohibit them.
I've been flying Delta and have had only one run in so far and this was at the gate, not the check in counter.
When this happens I usually ask for permission to see if the lead flight attendant or pilot has a problem with it. If you can get this far, there usually is no problem.
Lately I've only been able to get small 50-75 seaters out of Manchester NH. There literally is not enough space in the overhead. I have a hard time even getting my laptop up there.
This requires me to gate check my bass. When I get to my destination, they hand me my bass as I walk off the plane. This isn't so bad. Even if you do find space in the overhead, you run the risk of someone trying to jam their carry on into your bass.
Lately I've been using an SKB Bass Safe. This allow you to put your bass in a gig bag and then put that into an ATA approved case. Here's a link to the page on my site. http://www.monotunesmusic.com/SKBBassSafe.htm.
Even then you still run the risk of the airline losing your luggage. There really is no absolute solution.