Flying

MaximusVolumus

I know there's another thread on this already out there. I have a similar question. I'm flying from Boston to LA via Virgin America Airlines. What's the best way to bring my guitar. Is it recommended to use a hiscox and check it or a reunion blues bag and try to carry it on? Thanks.

-Max

Russig

Others on this site have way more experience with this than I do, but after flying to Django in June this last summer I would recommend paying attention to the specific model of plane you will be on. The first leg of my trip across the continent was a Boing 737 which has good space in overhead bins for a guitar. That air carrier also had a great gate-check policy so I gate-checked and it worked perfect. The next leg of my flight was a smaller regional carrier flying smaller Embraer jets with no space for guitars in overhead bins or in the cabin. "Gate-check" for them consisted of a steep steel ramp with rollers so gravity could hurtle your guitar down onto the tarmac where they put it in with the rest of the checked luggage, and on the other end it comes out on the luggage carousel with all the other baggage. The guitar survived ok but my new inexpensive fiberglass case had some impressive pavement-rash on it. I know I will be avoiding Embraer jets and probably that small regional airline if traveling with a guitar again.

jonpowl

I'm going to buy a Cigano and insurance for air travel. What about over nighting your guitar to LA via UPS in a well packed box? It's got to be cheaper than buying a seat on the plane.

Russell Letson

The only Really True Answer is "It depends." Russig has pointed out two of the major variables: Airline (policy and practice) and aircraft. Myself, I'd start with the aircraft, since no amount of guitar-friendliness is going to fit a full-size case into a no-size overhead. Most full-size modern jets can take a full-size case in the overhead, though checked-baggage charges have led to everybody trying to take all their luggage aboard. So I pay the extra fee to board early in order to hog enough space for my guitar, which will occupy more than my fair share of stowage.

In most regional jets the overheads are too narrow for anything bigger than a Baby Taylor, though I've flown an Embraer with enough overhead space for my very large flight case--and a 737 with not nearly enough. It depends on the particular plane's setup and (sometimes) age. But the CRJ-700 I flew a couple months ago--first class!--didn't have even enough overhead space to accept my small 16x13x9" shoulder bag. The nice Delta/ExpressJet crew gate-checked my guitar, which was waiting on the jetway in Pittsburgh. (Coming back on an Airbus was a whole different story. I didn't even have to do the heaving-up myself. First class is something I could get used to, though I suspect I will not always be willing to tolerate what it costs.)

I've gotten similar good treatment from Delta crews since they ate Northwest, even when flying my usual coach/cattle-car class, but one hears stories and learns to plan for worst-case scenarios. And that means not ever traveling with a guitar in a gig bag, no matter what some flying road warriors report.

MaximusVolumus

How soon would I be able to have the guitar after the flight if I shipped it? I would need it right away.

Al Watsky

If you were worried about damage and were willing to pay the oversize baggage fee you could pack your guitar in its case and box the case as though you were shipping it UPS. Then you would get it at the end of the flight as usual , but be stuck with a shipping box to haul around.
Anytime you ship anything it can get broken. I've received many a broken guitar in a seemingly undamaged shipping box.
I would take the tension off the strings remove the bridge, in the case of an arch top, pack that in the case pocket , put some fabric between the strings and the top and ship it in a flight case, under the plane. Cold won't really hurt it terribly . If its winter humidify as usual. Just let it warm to room temp at the destination. The worst that will happen is some checking. Which is not a big deal.
A Hiscox,Hoffee or Calton will almost always come through for you.
Nothing can withstand an accident, a forklift rolling over it or something of that nature , but under normal circumstances a flight case is all you need.