Advice for taking my axe on a plane?

[Rusting In Peace]

Im flying from texas to florida this monday to visist my dad for a week and I dont want to have to leave my guitar at home and go a week without playing. Its a y2kv and the case is too big to take on the plane as carry on luggage i think. I am worried about putting it on that moving thing that you set your big bags on to have taken to the bottom of the plane for the flight because I dont think they are very careful with your belongings. I am flying Delta by the way. Thanks in advance.

[Hotrodder]

Re: Advice for taking my axe on a plane?

OK Now don't take anything I say as the last word, But up until a few weeks ago I was an airport security screener, and I have seen guitars being taken as carry on luggage.

I have also seen a pdf on the web where some musicians union has negotiated with the TSA to allow musical instruments as carry on luggage. Best bet is to call Delta and ask them about having a guitar as a carry-on.

If you take the guitar on the plane, make sure and remove any tools you might have in the case and put them in your checked baggage. They will be taken at the checkpoint.

If you check the guitar don't lock the case! Wrap the case with duct tape a few times (covering the latches).

[Kamo]

Re: Advice for taking my axe on a plane?

You can take your guitar as a carryon as long as its in a gigbag, and not a big square thing. They'll think it's a rifle if you have it in a big square thing. Just make sure you're using a softshell case, and you should be fine.

[raven]

Re: Advice for taking my axe on a plane?

My guitar flew with me (in a hardshell case) as a carryon about a year ago from U.S to Europe. When I ordered a ticket I made clear that I want to take my guitar to the plane as a carryon and that there are no other options, because the instrument can be damaged easily.

[The Enema]

Re: Advice for taking my axe on a plane?

ask the company if you can take it as special luggage, you hand it over at the gate and they make sure it is last to be stowed on the plane and first to be taken off and taken straight back to you,

i am pretty sure there is some way of caryring on large, fragile things safely, you just have to ask to make sure

David

[Swillmaster]

Re: Advice for taking my axe on a plane?

I fly quite a bit and don't recommend taking a guitar with you. (especially a KV) I have yet to see any airline allow you to put a case that large in the overhead bin. Since the airlines have scaled down their schedules, flights are almost always full and they don't want an entire bin filled by one passenger. Also, the bins sizes are different on every type of jet. Just my observations... As for checked luggage, remember the Samsonite gorilla? Just peek out the window and see how the "handlers" toss each bag on to the conveyor belt. Rough treatment to say the least!
I bought a Steinberger specifically to take on flights, it fits with no problem but I'm always worried about some dillweed crushing it with a roll on. That and the TSA folks trying to figure out what it is and if I can harm someone with it. [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[ June 04, 2003, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: Swillmaster ]

[Rusting In Peace]

Re: Advice for taking my axe on a plane?

Thanks Hotrodder, that post helped alot ill give Delta a call. One question, why wrap the case up in duct tape?