Over weight flight

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 10 May 2005 3:58 am

Well I booked a flight to Thailand, and was bringing the
Bud Pro-II , 35 kl
Hartke bass brain 22 kl
and one bag under 20 kl
my 6 string Fodera bass
and video camera.
Hilton pedal

I was told a 22 kl limit,, and asked for the over weight fee by kilos.
The company was closed, but she booked the ticket and finally called today to say the price for over weight was..
48€ PER KILO...

I was stunned
if I bring the camera and bass as carry on,
ie not weighed, I have around 60 kl overweight.

Well that adds up to a 2880 € surcharge

Total 3336€ to fly one way....!
$ 4336.8
WAY up from $592.8 just days before...

Oh yeah NOW they ALSO say no instruments over 32 kl...
the Bud is 35 kl...

I am now ALSO told that I must pay
80€ cancelation fees for dropping the ticket 3 weeks in advance,
even though I could NOT get the weight fee number till this morning.

Purest MERDE.

Nice day if it don't rain.
So I ship by fedX brain and steel.. DRAT and likely pay import duty too.
TRIPLE DRAT CADERACK and OFFENDICUM.
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 10 May 2005 at 05:00 AM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 10 May 2005 5:23 am

Bro D, if yer gonna spend them kinda $$$ you might as well get a U-Haul double axel trailer, or a compact container, even better a compact mobile home
put the gear & you inside
get put on deck
& sail to Asia

yer a lucky stiff Bro D

Dave Ristrim · Post by **Dave Ristrim** » 10 May 2005 5:33 am

Hi David,
I sure wish the airlines would get together on this. I recently flew to New York on Continental. Checked all my gear, no problem, no charge. Coming home, I flew on American, they weighed the steel, oh, "this is overweight", " you must pay $50". Well gee guys, I just flew here a day ago and it didn't cost any extra. I understand the airlines are hurting and need to make more money, but some sort of consistancy would be nice.
The AFM has made an agreement with the airlines that says we can carry our instruments onboard if they fit in an overhead. The only problem is that nobody working at the airport knows about this agreement. You can bring a copy of it and show them, but it may or may not do you any good. I flew while in a bluegrass band one time. We all had our instruments as carry on. The attendant said "you can't bring those on, they won't fit in the overhead". I said, " I bet I can fit all four of these in one overhead". I did with no problem. Banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin all in hard cases. Hell, they let people bring those oversize bags that could hold a small car in them onboard!
stepping down, off my soapbox,
Dave

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 10 May 2005 6:04 am

I've done a fair bit of flying with my Emmons in the last few months.

First time I checked it and paid the $25.00 surcharge (it's 69 lbs), but the worry was too much for me. Even though it arrived in one piece, I was a nervous wreck 'til I had it in my possession again. I vowed to keep it with me after that.

Not only have I had the advantage of handling it myself, I've never since been asked to put it on a scale, so I've not paid any more overweight fees. With my Wheel-Ez case, I can roll it behind me so it looks like it's almost weightless (!!), and I've found that, on boarding, most airline staff are preoccupied with getting the 'plane loaded and away, unlike the check-in clerks who are more focussed on raising extra revenue.

Stewards are usually helpful and will find a handy cupboard for it, but my last flight was on a smaller 'plane, and the guy asked what was in the case..... "My guitar", I replied. I had to endure some Jimi Hendrix references, but that was OK. There was nowhere for it to go but up in an overhead - I'll never forget trying to get that D10 up above my shoulders and sliding it into the luggage bin while making it look feather-light! It was also quite important that I didn't drop it on the passengers below.

"Funny sort of guitar!", he said - "Steel guitar...", said I, but he looked none-the-wiser.

Anyway - it's worth a try. Just take it with you through security, and the cabin staff just want to get you sat down with a minimum of fuss.

RR

John Poston · Post by **John Poston** » 10 May 2005 7:41 am

Dave,

Could you point me to a link or email me a copy of the agreement (instruments as carry on). I'm probably flying to Europe with an instrument (banjo in soft case) for the first time and am hoping to avoid headaches. Thanks.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 10 May 2005 8:31 am

That's why I'm now strictly a traveling bass player with a super cheapo electric bass.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 10 May 2005 8:31 am

I have always gotten the Fodera bass on board except once.
But I would give a lot to only get charged $50 for this over weight...

2880€ = $3744 ..... HELLO!!! on a $500 ticket cost.

Looks like I must sell the amp here and buy one there...

Ain't now 8+9 Pro-II's down there...
Aither put it in the shipping container and wait and wait,
or use DHL or FEDX...
Still MUCH cheaper than fly it...

Heck I could buy a used MIllenium for what they want.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 10 May 2005 at 09:32 AM.]

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 10 May 2005 12:37 pm

I could buy a used Millenium for what they want

Now yer thinkin'....

Dave Ristrim · Post by **Dave Ristrim** » 10 May 2005 1:37 pm

If you want to download the AFM agreement allowing musicians to carry their instruments on planes, go to the Nashville AFM site www.afm257.org the link is on the first page that pops up. Good luck.
Dave

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 11 May 2005 12:59 pm

Dave great thing to post for sure.

Won't help me for squat this trip ,
but good to have for a future USA trip.
DD

John Davis · Post by **John Davis** » 11 May 2005 1:20 pm

David, I have the answer!!
I have a D10 in Ireland, A D10 in Jersey,got one at home, and if Tommy finds me another one..... I will have a steel everywhere I go..Happy Bunny,Happy Bunny,Happy Bunny,Happy Bunny,............

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 11 May 2005 1:39 pm

John old son,

I got a D-10 in France, and an S-14 in California,
But I need SOMETHING in Thailand next month...

It's either DHL, FedX or the slow boat from Marseiles..DRAT

Alan Keach · Post by **Alan Keach** » 11 May 2005 2:30 pm

buy 2 tickets.

Jonathan Gregg · Post by **Jonathan Gregg** » 11 May 2005 3:05 pm

I had a similar experience domestically, on a much smaller scale. No charge going, but the return cost $80 (the steel was about 85 in the road case). No rationale given.
Then as I was waiting to board I saw a guy throw the guitar down on the tarmac. No harm done, it turned out, but I almost had a conniption.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 11 May 2005 3:09 pm

Still the problem of 3 kilos over a weight limit...

One reason I am getting the S-14 is portability.
It could go in over head in a gig bag.
Try that with a D-10 Pro-II Bud....[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 11 May 2005 at 04:11 PM.]

Alan Keach · Post by **Alan Keach** » 11 May 2005 3:30 pm

put legs,pedals,rods,etc.ina seperate bag/case untill you come up with 3 kilos. even in you have to have a case made you'd be ahead money wise.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 12 May 2005 12:19 am

David, as you are probably aware, the low cost airlines in Europe are even worse,they only allow 5kgs of hand luggage, which also has to conform to a certain size.On a recent trip to Dublin from Glasgow with my old Shobud pro one , about 26 kgs in flight case I was charged £54 gb , more than the actual cost of mt ticket.Having just got a Mullen D10 at 32Kgs I dread to think what I will be charged next time.I did have a soft gig bag for the Shobud, but could never risk using it when flying in case they refused to let me carry it on and it ended up in the hold, and as ex airline staff I can assure you that you do not want that to happen.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 12 May 2005 1:07 am

I can't understand why there are differing policies with the airlines..When Pat and I went to Hawaii last November, the advertised allowance was two bags each with a 32kg. limit per bag. That's a total between us of 128kg or in real figures that's 282.191696 pounds or 20 stone 2 lbs.

My Fender 1000 in its flight case weighed in at 30kg. We had an external flight case made for Pat's Hofner Jazzica in its own case and filled the rest of the space around the guitar case with a Roland Micro-Cube, music stand, leads and various "Thingies" (technical terminology for ancillaries)
Our main problem (We thought) was the SIZE limit, as pat's case was 1" over the allowed length..As it turned out, the airline we used for the first leg (KLM to Amsterdam) wanted to charge us for the oversize case in full, not just the extra, but when I pointed out the Trans-Atlantic allowance as advertised, and also that we were only taking 3 cases instead of the allowed four, the official relented and we paid NO surcharge. The same applied on the return trip.
The policies VARY between airlines..I checked them out on the "Web" before deciding..
Baz

------------------

Steel players do it without fretting

http://www.waikiki-islanders.com

[This message was edited by basilh on 12 May 2005 at 02:11 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 12 May 2005 2:31 am

Different country's, different company finances, different routes.

Not surpising they have differing policies.

But this Qatar Air flight is still WAY over anything
list above for a problem... Dang I WISH I only had a 58 sterling difference.

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 12 May 2005 2:34 am

David.

throw away the legs and let Bobbe Seymour send you a couple of new ones to Thailand.
Easy bro.
Thats what I would do.

Ron

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 12 May 2005 3:37 am

Actually Alan called it, buy a second seat. lots less expensive than the usury they are trying to perpetrate on you otherwise...

------------------
Sierra S8, Rickenbacher T-Logo Bakelite lap steel, Peavey Delta Blues, Regal Dobro, Teese RMC2 Wah, Proco Rat, Lap Dawg bar

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 12 May 2005 4:38 am

I think DHL or FedX are a better deal.
about 150€ less than the other seat.

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 12 May 2005 4:42 am

David,

Are all the taxes covered with DHL or FEDX?You can bring a steel into that country but you will have to prove that it's yours.If you can't do that they will see that steel as a sagitta and they will charge you for that.Better take care of that to bro.
Would be sorry money for you if customs over there charges you for that too.

Ron

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 12 May 2005 12:37 pm

Two choices there
I have a container going, but it is a LONG trip by boat.

So do I just pop it in there and wait and wait,
or use a shipper and a bunch of paper work that might work, but might cost me 5% duty.
I have no real bill of sale...

I of course CAN play the thing, and no one else there has a clue what it is,
so I can surely prove it is mine.

At least it ain't 20% like here or 100% like on cars....

I need to get the S-14 over there too,
but it's either
have it shipped boxed with no new case made,
and gig bag it over here or wait...

Priorty is the big container one way or another.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 13 May 2005 1:03 am

David, when you will fly with a group, you have the possibility to let the group cover the total weight (from all the people) If one is bringing only his drumsticks, toothbrush and fresh underware, you won' t be in trouble, cause he is ' under the limit ' and can take a part of your stuff

------------------

Click on the pic!