A Good Flight Case

Campusfive

Bi-valve prejudice is very ugly.

Just for kicks, though, just check out http://www.casextreme.com/index.html and click on videos.

djadam

Indeed there's a federal law which makes an exception for musical instruments and I haven't had a problem at any airport security since it's inception.

In the last 10 times I've flown, I only had to check my guitar once, which was gate checked because it was a small airplane. Now I always check what kind of jet I'm booking, which travelocity tells you - most Boeings and Airbuses have big enough overheads for most guitars and a closet for the exceptions. Smaller ones like the Canadian Regionals and Embrarers which have the small overheads. Don't book anything with a propeller!

Even if you have the expensive case, I highly suggest you always attempt to cary it on and gate-check it if necessary. By gate checking it you are bypassing a large portion of potential violence.

Funny story of the Calton case... a buddy of mine wanted to show off the durability of his Calton mando case and stomped on it. He's a light fellow, but the case broke - thankfully the mando wasn't inside!

Josh Hegg

I have the SKB flight Case and it is great for the money. The Colten cases are the bast but bank. The SKB case really is nice and works great. Every time I have used it "they" have let me carry on so hard to say how it would hold up but I would check it no prob if I had to.

Cheers,
Josh

klaatu

Thought I would reopen this topic and see if anyone had any new information to offer. Looks like I will be flying to a GJ seminar and I shudder to think of handing my guitar over to airline personnel.

I know that in the US you are supposed to be able to carry an instrument onboard. However, I don't know the situation here in Canada and am furthermore unwilling to take the chance that some airline employee isn't having a bad day and won't let me keep my baby with me.

Duozona

I will say that I have carried that FAA letter with me, been very restrained and well mannered when dealing with airline folks, and only carried a guitar with me for walking on the plane (checked everything else), and even flown first class once to try and secure my ability to walk on with a guitar........and still, the 25% Michale mentioend seems to always fall on me.

The best ever was America West, now US Airways, they straight up told me it was illegal for them to allow me onboard with a guitar, they would be fined, it was their policy. I was almost escorted off by air marshalls for trying to insist my case, and Im telling you I was not rude just very insistive in a polite way. I talked to 4 or 5 different employees there that time, no luck, I eneded up gate checking a gig bag (gulp!!). It was a crapshoot, it was a Gitane that time, and replacing it if smashed was going to be cheaper than eating the plane ticket, taxi fare etc..if I walked off the plane. Nothing happened it was fine, but I will never fly US Airways again, even if the merger with America West changed there policies, I dont want to know, they lost me that time.

Several other times on various airlines I was denied boarding, forced to gate check etc..

The flight case is the only option for me now, the blood pressure thing was killin me, but, I still worry about luggage gettign there.

I have a clam as well for flexibilty (most guitar cases fit in it rather than havinbg a custom calton which is made for a specific instrument). I bought the clam for a recent trip, but was not happy with it at all. I have found it impossible to get the foam cups to stay on the case, and in place, so when I arrive, everything has shifted inside the clam ans the inner case is loose, banging around, and therefor not utlizing the benefits of the clam. ANy ideas or experiences.

I vote Calton. Accord cases are excellent but even more $$, and mark leaf cases are a bear to carry around. Any other ideas?


I will say, whenever we travel to a concert, I am so jealous of my flute playing wife...never an issue flying with that stick!

Chuck

klaatu

Gypsy mandolin is always a possibility!

klaatu

I should have also asked - anyone have any experience travelling with guitars within Canada, especially on Air Canada? All of the postings in the forum seem to be US domestic or US-to-Europe.

Jack

Michael Horowitz wrote:

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....

Michael, you took your guitar on your honeymoon?!? You ARE dedicated!

Best,
Jack.

klaatu

Michael Horowitz wrote:

Jack wrote:

I almost had my honeymoon canned by a bitchy airline employee who was determined to not let me take my guitar on.

They let you marry your guitar? Wow, I thought we were liberal here in Canada!

MichaelHorowitz

klaatu wrote:

Michael Horowitz wrote:

Jack wrote:

I almost had my honeymoon canned by a bitchy airline employee who was determined to not let me take my guitar on.

They let you marry your guitar? Wow, I thought we were liberal here in Canada!

It's even worse then that...I was actually editing the Unaccompanied Django book on my honeymoon....what is my problem???!!!