Carrying a Steel Guitar on an Airplane

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 3 Jul 2014 9:05 am

I've done a lot of fly gigs.... as stated by others, the big factor is the unpredictability. I have a small S-10 Williams with a heavy duty case. It weighs in at 47 pounds. I just check it, no hassles, no problems. Sure, they will probably lose it one day, or break it, but that goes with the turf for fly gigs. Don't fly your vintage/irreplaceable axe.

Interesting about the bar..... they always think that it is a giant bullet or something. They were even more curious about a zirc bar that I brought on one gig.

W. Van Horn · Post by **W. Van Horn** » 3 Jul 2014 8:33 pm

My experiences have been similar to what many are saying, especially Boo Bernstein. I have flown often with a banjo and its a crap shoot - everyone gives you a different answer and all you can do is lie to whoever tells you to check it - "when I checked in they said I could carry this through security!" all the way to the gate and then pray they let you carry it on. Carrying on a small s10 in factory case has been basically impossible. Got it in the cabin once and it was pure luck.
One time I was checking in for a flight with my singer and our guitar player. My small s10, in case, had a much smaller footprint than my singer's jumbo acoustic. They would not let me carry it to the gate no matter how much I explained that it WAS a type of guitar, simply because the case was not shaped like a guitar. No kidding. The woman checking us in said it wasn't shaped like a guitar so I had to check it.
I've tried the whole sh*tloads and bubble wrap and cardboard and it doesn't work. You may get away with it for one flight, but it always broke parts of the steel in question - the pickup would come loose, etc and eventually, after very few flights, I discovered the changer fingers were bent.
Boo said: " Two years ago, my steel in an SKB case was literally dropped from the hold of the plane resulting in severe damage to the instrument." I'm assuming that was the skb trap case, as he said he later got a rifle case.
This is what scares me about those trap cases. I know many haw had success with them but the plastic seems fragile. Sure, that drop would probably mess something up no matter what case, but pelican cases are literally crush proof. You can run them over with a hum-vee. Seems like a case with that strength, plus the right amount of foam, is key.
Once I wised up I started bringing a d10 in an anvil style flight case - no problems, except it cost my singer a small fortune to fly me places.
I apologize for the rant - I have been obsessing over this subject, getting prepped for upcoming fly dates - some of which may include Australia, which in my experience is EXTREMELY strict about baggage regulations. In the end, don't believe what any agent tells you and be prepared for the worst.. Be underweight and in the size limits, plan to check the steel, and hope it doesn't get destroyed.
Okay, rant over.

W. Van Horn · Post by **W. Van Horn** » 3 Jul 2014 8:39 pm

Oh yeah - my experience regarding accessories is the same as others in this thread - the bar, VP, George L cables always get looked over. For a while in some cases. Call it a slide and say you play blues guitar. The word guitar is key.

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 3 Jul 2014 10:17 pm

I believe it is a federal regulation (FAA) that allows for ALL musical instruments to be carried on board and airlines must adhere to it. I think if it will not fit in above overhead, they'll usually find a closet up front or in rear by attendants.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 Jul 2014 7:59 pm

Has anybody bought a seat for his or her steel?

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 26 Jul 2014 8:02 pm

You wouldn't have to buy many seats for your steel to pay for another one!

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 26 Jul 2014 8:06 pm

Here's the language of the regulation Kevin mentioned - it is a long way from absolute, and is subject to there being room on the particular aircraft at the time:

1. SMALL INSTRUMENTS AS CARRY-ON BAGGAGE â€” An air carrier providing air transportation shall permit a passenger to carry a violin, guitar, or other musical instrument in the aircraft cabin, without charging the passenger a fee in addition to any standard fee that carrier may require for comparable carry-on baggage, if â€¦

(A) the instrument can be stowed safely in a suitable baggage compartment in the aircraft cabin or under a passenger seat, in accordance with the requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage or cargo established by the administrator; and

(B) there is space for such stowage at the time the passenger boards the aircraft.

2. LARGER INSTRUMENTS AS CARRY-ON BAGGAGE â€” An air carrier providing air transportation shall permit a passenger to carry a musical instrument that is too large to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) in the aircraft cabin, without charging the passenger a fee in addition to the cost of the additional ticket described in subparagraph (E), if â€¦

(A) the instrument is contained in a case or covered so as to avoid injury to other passengers;

(B) the weight of the instrument, including the case or covering, does not exceed 165 pounds or the applicable weight restrictions for the aircraft;

(C) the instrument can be stowed in accordance with the requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage or cargo established by the administrator;

(D) neither the instrument nor the case contains any object not otherwise permitted to be carried in an aircraft cabin because of a law or regulation of the United States; and

(E) the passenger wishing to carry the instrument in the aircraft cabin has purchased an additional seat to accommodate the instrument.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 27 Jul 2014 9:15 am

Southwest Airlines baggage mishap broke a tuning machine off a Legrande of mine, even in a flight case. Other stuff has happened in years past. Nothing is truly secure from Harm's Way if the stars are against you.

My new Infinity D-10 arrived last week in a Red Dirt one-piece case, and I immediately transferred the guitar into one of my several two-piece plywood/ozite case sets to reduce weight simply for gigging purposes. Guitar body comes in at 46 lbs, less for the legs/rack so no excess weight baggage fees if I fly.

Per Frank Carter's suggestion, I inquired at Red Dirt about a 2-piece set similar in quality to my one-piece. The quote was $495; pricey, no lie... but for an instrument that costly? Seems like I might go for it, based on the two or three times I usually fly with my guitar a year.

In the end, see my first paragraph above. We can do things to mitigate the risk, but a dedicated baggage handler can destroy an anvil sealed in a concrete container if he's a mind to.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 27 Jul 2014 5:17 pm

I have extensive personal experience flying between the Twin Cities and Tucson, originally on Northwest, and for the last several years now on Delta. The aircraft has always been either an A319 or an A320. On different occasions I have carried-on an Artist & Lutherie Ami parlor-sized flattop guitar, a Washburn Strat copy, a Crate 508 amp, a Fender Pro Junior amp, and various other combinations of smaller musical and electric gear such as mouth organs, cables, mics, stomp boxes, etc. All have been cased up or securely packed in gig bags. All items fit in the overhead compartment without a problem. At no time did a member of the TSA or he flight crew give me any hassles.

Maybe I've just been lucky. I plan another trip later this year with a Fender Studio Deluxe. I'm nearly certain it will also travel in the overhead bin without a problem. The TSA may get a little jumpy though, because I carry the Studio Deluxe in an Uncle Mike's AR-15 Tactical Rifle bag. Plenty of room for both the instrument and its D2F 3-leg bag inside.

Chuck Johnson · Post by **Chuck Johnson** » 29 Jul 2014 11:09 am

Unfortunately, the FAA regulation doesn't matter much if the flight crew chooses not to comply. I have been forced to "gate check"' an instrument since the law passed, and in one case this meant the guitar (in a carry-on suitable soft case) ended up with the checked baggage.

It also seems that the 2012 law was never subject to a "final rule." Because of an incident last week involving the guitarist from the band Deertick, Senator Jack Reed has asked the US Dept of Transportation for clarification.

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaki ... r-tick.ece

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 29 Jul 2014 12:07 pm

The reason I asked is that I've been invited to perform in Italy next year, and I'm very hesitant to accept because of all the horror stories about broken guitars.

I asked the folks at Southwest Airlines about buying a seat for my steel. They said it might be too big, and suggested that I bring the empty case to the airport and let them check.

Assuming everything OK, that still only covers the domestic flight, not the transatlantic one.

I'd like to do the gig, but it might not be possible.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 29 Jul 2014 9:40 pm

Mike, can I suggest that on check in you ask the agent to let you put guitar through the oversize check in, by doing this it normally checked by TSA and sealed, it then goes through a short flat belt, thus avoiding miles of baggage conveyor belts, direct to a baggage cart that is then taken direct to aircraft hold.On arrival it is reverse procedure and you pick it up from the oversize point.The other alternative is to ask to gate check it, this means they will let you carry it to gate and possibly onto air jetty ,where it will be carried down to aircraft hold( as with babies buggies) , or agent may even ask cabin crew if it can be stored in cabin ( have had this happen twice) .I base these methods on many years of exprperiece as a loading supervisor and then station controller with British Airways.The one sticking point when gate checking is that you will probably encounter a airport staff member at queue to security who will tell you that case is too big, ( he is not TSA, just a airport staff member) stand your ground and tell him "it is a very expensive musical instrument , and airline HAVE cleared it to go to gate for check in" Have never had problem with TSA themselves.

Bob Knetzger · Post by **Bob Knetzger** » 29 Jul 2014 10:04 pm

Mike, I've flown with my single 10 Fender 800. HUGE in its case, heavy as hell. Bought a half price ticket (of course this was w-a-y back in 1974). I also had a banjo with me in a hard shell case. Both fit into a passenger seat and were seat-belted in together. Total pain in the ass to connect thru ORD. Since then I have shipped that same guitar ahead (pick your favorite least worst carrier) in an oversize double-walled carton with a couple of inches of foam all around inside and a cut out for reaching inside to grab the actual case's handle. Cheaper than paying airline baggage weight+size fees or buying a seat. This has worked fine for a couple round trips. Good luck! I would hate even think about what could happen to a beautiful custom MSA in airline baggage.. how did it come to be shipped to you originally?

Godfrey Arthur · Post by **Godfrey Arthur** » 4 Aug 2014 11:54 am

Dave Grafe wrote:TSA has always been far more interested in my volume pedal and Black Box than the guitar itself, but you should try to get them to let you watch and supervise the repacking after they pull everything out of the case.

I would add, and I hate to talk disparagingly, monitor the TSA on your gear as they grope your items, as they've been known to steal things from passengers.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/top-20-ai ... d=17537887

8 Tips to Keep the TSA from Stealing Your Stuff
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/blogg ... 5725/posts