Q. FOR THE GUYS THAT TRAVEL A LOT!

Dario Napoli

So I'm about to head for the US for a few gigs and I'm really stressing about bringing my guitar through airports. I'm flying United, called them up and they said they wouldn't guarantee they could carry it on the plane....!
How do you guys that travel often do it, do you have a solid case and have it luggaged in or do you soft case it and always manage to bring it on the plane?
All feedback and experiences/advice more than welcome...

Luca

Maybe this helps:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10402&p=54195&hilit=travel+plane+guitar#p54195

Dario Napoli

Very helpful Luca, thanks!!

HotTinRoof

where are you gigging in the US? Boston by any chance?

Tele295

We always fly Virgin with our guitars and they are good about letting us gate-check. I think the conveyor belts, carts and forklifts are where a lot of problems happen, so we avoid them.I watch it go into the plane and I watch it cOme out. We have sturdy cases ( not flight cases or Calton though) with duct tape over the latches.

Dario Napoli

@ HotTinRoof, not Boston unfortunately, at least no this time, we'll be in Los Angeles, Austin and New Orleans. Would love to do Boston at some point!
@Tele295, sturdy cases...so you don't even try bringing the guitars on the plane?

Tele295

darionapoli74 wrote:

@Tele295, sturdy cases...so you don't even try bringing the guitars on the plane?

Nope. There's rarely room for my carry-on suitcase, so why bother?

Doug Martin has a Calton, and he checks it with all the other baggage

Dario Napoli

Yes, just bought a flight case yesterday...peace of mind is priceless!

HotTinRoof

Taping the latches is good idea - even on a flight case.

Dario Napoli

Yes, I'm also going to get two locks...you never know

Tele295

The ATA says no locks - all checked baggage must be able to be opened and inspected. That's why we use the tape. Zip ties are also ok to secure against accidental opening