Help: Traveling w/ guitars post 9/11

Subject: RE: Help: Traveling w/ guitars post 9/11
From: van lingle
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 09:27 AM

Thanks for the help all and for the link, Norton. Dave

Subject: RE: Help: Traveling w/ guitars post 9/11
From: GUEST,Weary Traveler
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 10:44 PM

I fly about twice a week (usually United or Frontier, sometimes Delta) and often see guitars coming on board and placed in the overhead bins. Shouldn't be any problem getting through security in most airports although some are more strict about carry-on size limitations and guitars don't really meet the posted size limits. I just leave the guitar at home and take the mandolin- no problem with that.

Subject: RE: Help: Traveling w/ guitars post 9/11
From: 53
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 10:31 PM

I don't think that I'll take any of my guitars on a plane.

Subject: RE: Help: Traveling w/ guitars post 9/11
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 05:52 PM

Hi, I've never been able, even before 9/11 to find an airline that would allow me to bring my guitar on board. Perhaps it's a non-assertive personality. Anyway, I bought a second hand Mark Leaf case for my Santa Cruz which I use when we're going to fly to a gig. Never had a problem with damage (if the plane crashes in water, I'll drown and the guitar will float forever) when I've checked it. We flew to Florida for the Folk Alliance recently, and even checking it, there were a couple securitry problems. No problems heading down on delta airlines. When we flew back on Airtran, the baggage check lady noticed a radioactive sticker (put on by a previous owner of the case 20 years ago as a joke), and was not going to allow me to check it until the sticker was off. I did ask how I was supposed to scrape something like that off when no pocket knives or anything were allowed. They finally found a pair of scissors they let me use, and then put tape over the offending sticker. I did show them the "lethal" guitar for inspection and it was allowed on. I also had my check in suitcase looked (five days of dirty laundry, I said,"help yourself.") And got picked as a random search person before boarding (don't know if that was just a lucky coincidence or not). I try to be as non-threatening as possible, but you never know. Whatever you do flying wise, I think a lot of your adventures will depend on the mood of whoever you're dealing with. I'm not ruling out flying with guitar again, but shipping it ahead by UPS sounds better all the time.

Subject: RE: Help: Traveling w/ guitars post 9/11
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 05:48 PM

Here's the thread on this issue. My experience was that I was permitted to carry it on and put it with the Attendants gear. One leg of my flight there were three guitars in there. I did call the airline, United, and the supervisor told me her son was a professional musician and flew near daily - hadn't checked his yet. But see what other's experiences are! Good Luck!!

Steve

Subject: RE: Help: Traveling w/ guitars post 9/11
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 05:18 PM

A few days ago, Alaska Airlines forced a local professional violinist to take his expensive violin out of its case and check it in one of their own cardboard boxes. It came through unscathed but after he landed he went public. All hell broke loose. Even our Governor got involved and wrote the company a letter.

They then announced a 'new' policy (Actually their old pre-9/11 policy): Musicians will now be allowed to carry on any instrument, in its case, that will fit into the overhead, and if it is too large, if there is room in the plane, they will be allowed to put it in the attendants' closet. If it's TOO large, however, like a cello, if they don't want to check it as baggage people will be required to buy another ticket.

What with the Alaska Folk Festival coming up next week and the Jazz and Classics Festival being put on this spring, this reversal comes in the nick of time.

Hurrah for common sense.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: Traveling w/ guitars post 9/11
From: Tweed
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 04:54 PM

I don't think you'll be able to anymore VL, as I was given this guitar while on a visit back home and called ahead to see if I could carry it on. They told me I'd have to buy a seat for it, at least that's SouthWest Airlines policy.

Subject: RE: Help: Traveling w/ guitars post 9/11
From: Maryrrf
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 01:24 PM

My advice is don't count on it although they MAY let you. They are skittish now about hand luggage and it probably depends on what airline and who happens to be in charge on the day you travel. Might help to call the airline you'll be flying on and see what their policy is.

Subject: Traveling w/ guitars post 9/11
From: van lingle
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 10:32 AM

I'm considering buying a Larrivee Parlor guitar to take on vacation this summer. I wonder if it's still possible to put one in the overhead of a commercial airliner after the terrible events of 9/11. I'm going to check with various airlines, of course and I searched for previous threads on this topic without success. Any 'catters got any experience to share on this matter. Thanks, Dave.