Anyone ever had hassles with airlines and a lap steel?

[Bob Russell]

I'm headed out for the ISGC tomorrow and I'm thinking about taking my little 6-string Morrell in its SKB gig bag. Should fit easily in the overhead bin, but I'm wondering if the TSA folks get nervous about these. Anyone have experiences to relate, good or bad?

[Mike Neer]

No problems. They'll open your bag and check inside after they scan it, but it'll be cool. Once you're in the plane, though, overhead bin space is at a premium since most people now basically carry their luggage to avoid paying fees. If you are nice to the attendants when you're boarding the plane, they have a nice little compartment behind one row of seats towards the front that they can stash it in. Make sure to ask nicely with a look of concern for your baby.

[Gerard Ventura]

I've wondered if security lets you take a bar on, especially if it's a larger one-

[Bob Russell]

I've wondered if security lets you take a bar on, especially if it's a larger one-

Yeah, that had crossed my mind too, although my little 2-3/4" Bullet bar isn't too intimidating. Maybe they'll be calmed down by the M&M Minis case. (Better not mention that it's a "Bullet bar", I guess.)

[Bob Blair]

I've never had a problem with small guitars or my bars. Sometimes they ask what the bar is. You will have no problem.

[Steve Benson]

Hey how are ya? Some years ago (post 9/11) I did a fly to tour of Colorado, bringing a lap and a mandolin. The TSA folks understood what the mando and lap was kind of. They took me aside and gave me the ninth degree about my steel bars. So I told him it was a steel guitar and if he did not mind I'd show him...His face lit up and he said "it sounds like sponge bob square pants!!! My kids love that show!" I said "yep I get that a lot." May I now board the plane sir? I'm on a mission to play spongebob music......"
Steve

[Bob Hoffnar]

I have not had a problem with the TSA (Thousands Standing Around) and my lap steels at all. If you have a soft case be careful somebody doesn't cram there luggage on top of it in the overhead. I've had tuning heads get bent from that.

[Jack Aldrich]

The TSA folks are very good about instruments. The problem is with the airlines. My double 8 Stringmaster will fit in an overhead, but the bording folks don't like it. It takes some cajoling/pleading to get it on. Once, I had to show the boarding crew that it REALLY does fit, at least in Boeing and Airbus airplanes. IMHO, NOTHING will fit in an MD-80. I have also slipped a single neck steel under the seat. - Jack

[Bill Creller]

I've taken both the frypan and the bakelite to Hawaii without a problem. A long-scale frypan may be more of a hassle, to get it in the over-head (?)

[Bob Russell]

For the record, I made it from NC to the convention and back with absolutely no issues, even though I was on fully booked flights all the way. There was one beefy dude who was going to shove his gynormous "carryon" bag into the bin on top of my steel, but I was able to head him off and point out that the steel would fit on top of his bag just as easily.

On the home end, no questions were asked at all. At the start of the return leg, the STL TSA guy looked at the case and asked, "What's that?"

I said, "It's a steel guitar."

He said, "Oh." and just ran it through the x-ray machine. I had two bars in the pocket; he didn't say a word about 'em.

Thanks to all of you for your advice and shared experiences.

[Geoff Cline]

Happily the days of "use a guitar, go to jail" haven't descended on us...yet!