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guitars on planes


jeffhx
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jeffhx
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01/09/2006 3:00 pm
are u allowed to carry your guitar on board as hand carry luggage?
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# 1
aschleman
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aschleman
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01/09/2006 3:03 pm
I don't think so... I think the policy is that you can only carry a bag that will fit in the overhead luggage compartments... and I don't think a guitar case would fit. I could be wrong though... I've never tried. I'm curious as well becasue a friend and I are going to be traveling soon and we both are going to take our acoustics.
# 2
jeffhx
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jeffhx
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01/09/2006 3:07 pm
i dont have a hard case...im currently only using a gig bag... checking it in wud be a baaaaad mistake....darn im going home soon and i have no idea if i should take it along or not...could they like, keep it somewhere safe for us or something?
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# 3
aschleman
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aschleman
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01/09/2006 3:17 pm
Ouch... I'm not sure about that either. I wouldn't trust them with it just in a gig bag. One thing that you can do, if you really wanted to get it home... is pack it up really good with lots of soft padding in a large box and ship it home a week or so before you leave. I'm scared to check in my guitar and I have a case thats designed to travel in luggage compartments and such... So I wouldnt even consider it. haha. However, an electric is less sensitive than an acoustic... but I still don't know about it.
# 4
jeffhx
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jeffhx
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01/09/2006 3:25 pm
yep its my electric im taking home with me for a month...i wudn think i wud trust them even with a hard case... some of my mates told me i can and some say can't...then there's those who arent sure....im so lost right now
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# 5
aschleman
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aschleman
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01/09/2006 3:34 pm
Yeah, I have never been on an airplane that had big enough overhead storage to accomodate a guitar... And I know the policy is taht you can only carry on what you can fit either at your feet or in the overhead. The easiest thing would be to call the airline and ask...
# 6
Rsam16
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Rsam16
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01/09/2006 3:51 pm
I've taken Guitars with me on planes like 3 or 4 times(on international Flights), and they allowed me to take the guitar right in onto the plane and put it in the storage compartment(although It probably depends on the size of the plane). I used a hard case for my acoustic and my guitar was fine.

Although I would advise you to Detune the Guitar strings until they are very loose, because When you get up in the High Altitude your Strings will snap if they are tuned too tight.
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# 7
bigbuda
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bigbuda
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01/09/2006 5:50 pm
I've seen a couple of people carry them on but you will want to call and check with the airline you intend to fly with about their policy on the matter.
I am a constant evolving music machine. Oh Man, I just forgot what I was playing. Oh well, on to the next song. :rolleyes:
# 8
Homebrew1709
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Homebrew1709
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01/09/2006 6:19 pm
I've done it many times, both with electrics and acoustics. what i do is i take it to the gate, and they stick a special gate check tag on it - kinda like what they do with baby strollers. I've never had a problem. You leave the guitar on the jetway and pick it up when u get back on the jetway after the flight. I've also never had strings snap or go out of tune either as a result of flying.

A hard case is a must though. Also, like the others have said, check with the airline to make sure. I almost exclusively fly America West to go back and forth from school and I've never had a problem.
# 9
Hammurabi
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Hammurabi
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01/09/2006 6:44 pm
Originally Posted by: Rsam16I would advise you to Detune the Guitar strings until they are very loose, because when you get up in the high altitude your strings will snap if they are tuned too tight.

Sound advice, but that's not the worst that can happen. Acoustic guitars strung with steel can get their necks broken.
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# 10
jeffhx
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jeffhx
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01/09/2006 7:59 pm
Originally Posted by: HammurabiSound advice, but that's not the worst that can happen. Acoustic guitars strung with steel can get their necks broken.


so en electric is fine? i really cant afford a hard case now though... well thats good news... thanks guys... yea im going to be on an international flight...i shall ring up just to make sure..

cheers
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# 11
Hammurabi
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Hammurabi
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01/09/2006 8:29 pm
You should still heavily detune an electric.

I would be pretty worried about taking a guitar without a hard case, but you might get away with packing it (in the gig bag) in a box with lots of padding.
"If one has realized a truth, that truth is valueless so long as there is lacking the indomitable will to turn this realization into action!"
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# 12
jeffhx
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jeffhx
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01/09/2006 8:33 pm
well i reckon it shud be a 747...perhaps its big enough to fit my guitar but i doubt id do so...i just wanna hug it to sleep ya know when things get bored... after all its going to be a 8-10 hour flight and it might get lonely ya know...do i HAVE to leave it in the baggage compartment?
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# 13
rockonn91
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rockonn91
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01/09/2006 8:44 pm
i brought my acoustic back from illinois in a very flimsy hard case. this thing is cheap cardboard. they slapped a fragile sticker on both sides and it came through fine.
JK :cool:

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# 14
Cryptic Excretions
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Cryptic Excretions
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01/10/2006 1:02 am
You could always get one of those super dinky guitars, y'know. The ones with a full size neck, but next to no body. Hell, you might even be able to play one of those to pass the time on the plane.
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# 15
bigbuda
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bigbuda
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01/10/2006 3:56 am
Originally Posted by: Cryptic ExcretionsYou could always get one of those super dinky guitars, y'know. The ones with a full size neck, but next to no body. Hell, you might even be able to play one of those to pass the time on the plane.


I've always wondered if you could do that. That would be awesome!
I am a constant evolving music machine. Oh Man, I just forgot what I was playing. Oh well, on to the next song. :rolleyes:
# 16
jeffhx
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jeffhx
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01/10/2006 6:34 am
yeah man...for 3 weeks, id have nthing to do during my free time at home...that sucks.. i cant live without my baby!!!!
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# 17
Andrew Sa
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Andrew Sa
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01/10/2006 7:29 am
I was always weary about taking guitars on planes...when I take my PRS I always have a debate with myself as to wether to tell the guy "hey that guitar cost like 2000 pounds, so be careful" or not...a man who knows the value of my baby, may be tempted by the allure of riches hehe.

I am now comfortable travelling with guitars, even with gigbags (just pack soft clothes inside the gig bag, cushioning the guitar...and always looses your strings a bit.

they usually allow you to carry your guitar on to the plane, then leave it at the front in the fragile hold, or they'll tell you to take it to a certain desk at the airport terminal, where they will take it the fragile hold themselves (this is usually in the passenger section of the plane, not the cargo hold, so you dont have to worry about air pressure or cold temperatures).
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# 18
jeffhx
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jeffhx
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01/10/2006 12:14 pm
hmm...interesting...well i guess i have no other choice but to call and ask..
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# 19
Andrew Sa
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01/10/2006 2:48 pm
If Yoda can do it, you have no excuse...

assuming that he actually is flying on his guitar.
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# 20

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