A Good Flight Case

mitch251

Does any one have a line on a good flight case. The airlines managed to destroy my Calton and I am wondering if there are any other cases that are as good.
Thanks in advance
Tom

trumbology

I have no experience with Calton cases, so I don't know if this one (details below) is better or not. I bought one, have yet to take it on an airplane.

Discussed here:

viewtopic.php?t=443

Sold here, among other places:

http://www.fqms.com
SKB ATA Dread. Flight Case
Item # SKB-18RW

Neil

langleydjango

My question is:
How did the guitar IN the Calton come out? And, if the guitar is fine, why would you want something different?

These are real questions, not smartass remarks.

I'm guessing you're just checking out options since you have to buy something to replace the destroyed case. But if it did its job...

mitch251

Well The short answer is after flying with that case for 10 years
the airline managed to break the case and the guitar. The guitar thanks to
insurance and Eric Aceto has been repaired but the case has to be replaced. That being said I don't think you can do much better than Calton, that case took alot of beatings at the hands of the airline folks and even after they busted it you could dance on it. My problem is that I have more than one guitar that I fly with (different sizes) and right now I cant afford 2 Calton cases at $700 apiece. I will buy one and see if I can find a case that will hold up till I can afford another one. So I guess I am looking for a less expensive alternative that I can fly with that will still leave me some peace of mind if I have to put it under.

Thanks Tom

Jack

Tom,

One other thing to keep in mind is your right to bring an instrument onboard rather than checking it as baggage. Often you can get an instrument stowed in a closet in the cabin, I think, and that would be a big help if you were travelling with a case you were less than 100% sure of. I don't know if all this changed with the whole Homeland Security craziness, but it's worth looking into. Not long ago someone posted something on a Yahoo group-some sort of document from the FAA or somewhere similar about the rights of musicians to keep their instruments when flying-I'll see if I can track it down and upload it here. I think Ted might remember it, too. Ted?

Best,
Jack.

nwilkins

Hiscox cases are pretty good, and are light and (relatively) cheap.

MichaelHorowitz

Jack wrote:

One other thing to keep in mind is your right to bring an instrument on board rather than checking it as baggage.

About 75% they'll let you bring it on....but the problem is the other 25% of the time. If you're stuck in the boarding area without a flight case and they won't let you bring it on you have two choices:

1) Risk almost certain damage to your guitar by checking it in

2) Cancel the flight


I almost had my honeymoon canned by a bitchy airline employee who was determined to not let me take my guitar on. I finally was able to talk to a stewardess on the plane and they found a place for it. But for about an hour I thought my honeymoon was over....

It's not worth the stress...just get a good flight case!

'm

mitch251

Michael Wrote

About 75% they'll let you bring it on....but the problem is the other 25% of the time. If you're stuck in the boarding area without a flight case and they won't let you bring it on you have two choices:

1) Risk almost certain damage to your guitar by checking it in

2) Cancel the flight


I almost had my honeymoon canned by a bitchy airline employee who was determined to not let me take my guitar on. I finally was able to talk to a stewardess on the plane and they found a place for it. But for about an hour I thought my honeymoon was over....

It's not worth the stress...just get a good flight case!

Your right Michael
Its that 25% of the time that will get you and it has gotten me more than
once .Thats why I just started checking it in the Calton,
I got tired of having my blood pressure go up every time I had to board a plane. What sort of flight case do you use?
Thanks
Tom

Campusfive

The only option that can fit multiple guitars is the CaseExtreme Clam. It fits over your existing case, and its only $150-200. Its not in the same league as the Calton, but its a different approach.

The Clam is basically a corigated plastic box, and it has foam C-pads that you use to float or isolated the guitar.

I've flown with it 4 times and it works great.

MichaelHorowitz

I have a Calton for my favino.

'm

mitch251

Thanks every one
I think I will get another Calton and save up for a 2nd. The clam does sound interesting though, I am just not sure about putting my guitar in something
named after a bi-valve.
Happy Holidays
Tom