Air travel with a series 1 or 2

[hendixclarke]

Has anybody ran into problems flying with your bass?
 
I would never do a luggage check-in...(that's a no no for sure...)
 
I just want to know the best companies who are the most coolest about taking your bass along with you when boarding.
 
Anybody been stopped? Please give details if this happened as well.

[lbpesq]

Hal:
 
The only airline I've found that will tell me up front I can carry on an instrument is JetBlue.  If it will fit in the overhead, they'll let you carry it on.  I put my guitar in a gig bag and had no problems flying round trip Oakland-New York earlier this year.  Last month I flew to Aspen on United.  No one at United would commit to an answer about carrying on musical instruments, other than that the only way to be sure I'd be allowed to carry on would be to buy a ticket for the guitar!  Instead, I bought a flight case.  Everything went smoothly - no damage, no problems.  Unless the airline gives you a firm green light to carry on, I'd spring for a flight case.
 
Bill, tgo

[hendixclarke]

I have a soft flight bag myself. It would seem to be a better approach in gaining taking less room in the overhead.
 
I am taking a morning flight and on the weekend. I plan to sit in the rear. Those seats are less desireable than the front. Most people are friendly with musicians. We are the glue of society.
 
Thank you for sharing this information for it is a major concern and for good reasons.
 
Peace.

[serialnumber12]

I travel alot & baggage handlers dont care about luggage they 'TOSS EVERYTHING'! so get some insurance!   www.windnwatertravel.com

[hendixclarke]

Yes, this is the hole point of the discussion  
 
Over my dead body, would air checker's handle my 1976 Series I.  
 
This bass has been humming, poppin, roaring, Slammin, singing, slanging, grovin, and in the pocket for over 30 years.  
 
No way in hell will I let the Ipod generation even touch my strings on my bass. (You know what I mean...) let alone, take my bass away and put it in some god-forsaken cargo hole.  
 
Insurance will not replace my marks which were handed down through the Carter, Ford, 1-2 Reegan, Bush 1, 1-2 Clinton, and Bush 1 3/4 years.  
 
A replacement works great for Ipods and other mass production replicational devicesm but not my Alembic (I had to spell it out).  
 
Insurance is good for some, but not for all. Even if you insured the bass, and something went terrorably wrong, and your bass is broken or cracked, what insurance could prevent this gut reaction of anger? I'll tell you... NOTHING.
 
I would rather someone just steal my bass than give it back to me in pieces. At least, I don't have to look and remember the stains in my mind on  erroded values of trust, rolled and packaged in shambles.  
 
I rather not see my bass at all, than see it broken with a check. Some things money CAN buy, but CAN'T replace.
 
(Camera Pans a silent and still shot on hendixclarke's serious face and holds it after his last statement.)
 
Peace-

[keavin]

I traveled from chicago to vegas with my alembic to do a gig & when i opened my bass case the head of my alembic bass was detached totally.....I was furious!!!!!!& i called the airline about it & they put some woman on the phone giving me some shit about we dont compensate for broken goods......so I took my agression out on the nearest thing ..............I stomped My fender P-Bass to death!

[hendixclarke]

Damm, after that story, I am ready to go and break something...
 
Life is nothing, if nothing has meaning. There is a lot of meaning when some body goes and buy an expensive instrument like and Alembic. There are no two guitars alike. When you go back to the 70's too, you know damn well, no two were alike.  
 
keavin, that was a hard pill to swallow and I will always think of you when I travel with my bass, because that was pretty graphic in the context of music and this special art and time piece called Alemebic.
 
Hell, if I had a P-Bass, it wouldn't be a discussion. Thinking about having something happen to it while in a cargo hold, would be worthless as silent fart.  
 
Sorry, I had to laugh at something after I felt so much pain from your Alemebic. I call it balancing. But, by no means, I share your anger seriouly.
 
Peace-

[lbpesq]

Keavin:
 
Were you using an ATA approved flight case when your bass was broken?
 
Hal:
 
The thing about gig bags that scares me is what happens when you show up to fly with your bass in the gig bag and the airlines says no, you can't carry it on?  Then you have to choose between sending it down below IN A GIG BAG (not acceptable), missing the flight (major hassle), or buying a ticket for it at the last minute (VERY expensive and possibly impossible if flight full or not enough time).  As the owner of a '76 Series I guitar, and a '77 Series I 12 string, I certainly understand your momma bear feelings towards your ax.  If a good quality flight case doesn't allay your concerns, you may have no choice but to buy a ticket and put the bass in the seat next to you.
 
Bill, tgo

[keavin]

I Have only one comment,,,,,,, Go Greyhound!........................Or Kill Somebody!

[hendixclarke]

Well, it works this way if thoses are the only rules. The problem is gray and not as black and white as you put this.
 
The factors are the following (good):
 
1. Policy which allows guitars  
2. Plenty of room or available seats (unsold)
3. Good natured Flight Personnel who understands
4. Room in overhead bins/closet for storage
 
Now the bad (as you said)...
 
1. Policy - no guitars
2. No room on airplane
 
If I have to purchase a additional ticket, then I assume the airplane would be considered full. What happens in an event, I pay for the extra ticket, and there are extra seats on the plane? I am out of money and this would be a bet against flight personnel good graces.  
 
This is why I am flying an early morning weekend flight (the first flight...) out.
 
Why pay for an extra seat when the airplane has extra seats anyway?
 
One other thing, oneway travel, I think may take some risks from going through the same questions with entering another airplane.
 
I'll tell you what happened... (TO BE CONTINUED...)

[lbpesq]

Keavin:
 
Does that mean you weren't using a flight case?
 
 
Hal:
 
Good luck.  In my experience, the airlines don't let you use unsold seats for free.  It all comes down to whether the flight attendant had a fight with her boyfriend that morning that left her in a bad mood or some such variable over which you have no control.  For me it's JetBlue, flight case, or leave it at home.  Anyone using a flight case should check the airline's size restrictions on checked baggage.  They have a maximum size (length + width + height) over which you have to pay an extra $100 or so.  When I fly with an acoustic, I use the Clam which exceeds these limits.  I check it with the curbside guys and tip them $20. They haven't charged me the extra $100 fee yet.   (I always tip these guys well, even if I'm not travelling with an instrument.  I always think of the Sienfeld episode where Jerry tipped and Elaine didn't.  Jerry got his bags, Elaine's went to Hawaii without her!)  
 
Bill, tgo
 
(Message edited by lbpesq on July 15, 2007)

[hendixclarke]

I am not using a flight case. By the way, what brand of flight case(s) do you use?  
 
Anvil, what?

[lbpesq]

I have a Rockcase by Warwick with a custom foam insert for my Ferlembic.   Here's a link to a discussion and pictures about this case and flight cases in general.  I've ordered a Calton case for my custom Further.  I have a Clam for my acoustic, but I'm probably going to pick up a Calton for that too.  They're not cheap, but from my research, Calton seems to be the best around.
 
Bill, tgo

[Bradley Young]

I've given this opinion before, but I'll give it again.  You have two choices, as I see it:
 
1) A well built ATA hard case (they vary in quality; you need a good one, and they aren't cheap)
2) buy a ticket for the instrument
 
Again, my opinion.  However, remember this:
 
The airline personnel have absolute say over what goes on the plane.  Period.  The airline will back them to the hilt regardless of policy.
 
Let me repeat: you are completely, unequivocally and absolutely subject to the whim of any of the airline personnel from the time you arrive at the airport.
 
Counter agent doesn't like the look of you?  Bass goes in cargo.
 
Flight attendant had a bad relationship with a guitarist?  Bass goes in cargo.
 
Airline policy to the contrary, your bass WILL GO IN CARGO if the flight attendant decides so.
 
Hence, my two suggested avenues.  Otherwise, you are just taking chances.
 
I don't intend to have my currently-under-construction-for-31-months-but-who's-counting bass shipped, and if I fly with it, I'll buy the extra ticket.  Cheap insurance.  If I flew (with instrument) more, I'd definitely have one of those pretty jan-al flight cases whipped up.
 
Bradley

[keavin]

Baggage handlers don't Give a shit NOTHING But that payday at the end of the week!