Flying (airplane) with my guitar

[sooperunkn]

So I'm going to Florida next week to get out of Boston during the Democratic Convention (going to be a zoo here). I plan on bringing my Les Paul with me but I'm terrified of checking it and letting it out of my site. If I put her in a gig bag, will Delta allow me to carry it on? Has anyone successfully done this (post 9/11)???

If I did check it I was planning on leaving it in the hard case and adding extra padding inside. Then putting the hard case in a cardboard box with more padding. But I think all airlines inspect ALL baggage and I just don't trust them at re-securing the guitar with the same care as me.

Any advice? Baggage insurance??

[nuntius]

Re: Flying (airplane) with my guitar

i take my gordon smith on holiday every year.

i put it in a hiscox case, and take it on with me, and put it in an overhead locker. I never have trouble that way.

i'd never let the airline people handle it, especially if i didnt have a decent hard case. i wouldnt want to be held resposible for my actions when i open up the gig bag to find some unconsiderate person has literally thrown it on the plane and has snapped off my headstock...

[sooperunkn]

Re: Flying (airplane) with my guitar

Did the airlines ever give you trouble for carrying your guitar on the plane? Did you have to get prior authorization from the airline? The last thing I want is to show up with my Paul in a soft case and have them refuse to allow me to carry it on. Then I'd have to check it in the soft case!!!!!

[rspst14]

Re: Flying (airplane) with my guitar

Personally, I'd leave it at home, or at least take a less expensive guitar. I don't trust airline baggage handlers, and they may not let you carry it on the plane. Packing the case in a cardboard box with padding will likely make it too big to fit in an overhead bin, in which case your options are:

1. turn around and go home
2. check it with your luggage and hope that the airline baggage handlers/screeners don't throw it around too much.

You may be okay if you just packed it in its case and carried it on the plane, but there's no guarantee. If it doesn't meet the maximum carry on dimensions, or if it's too big to fit in an overhead bin, you'll have to check it. If you're only going to be gone for a few days, I wouldn't bother bringing a guitar with you.

Ryan

[nuntius]

Re: Flying (airplane) with my guitar

take it in a hard case, and take it on the plane with you. the extra cash for the hard case is worth it because you know its gonna still be in one piece at the other end of the journey.

theres no need for a cardboard box

[Mkf411]

Re: Flying (airplane) with my guitar

take it in a hard case, and take it on the plane with you. the extra cash for the hard case is worth it because you know its gonna still be in one piece at the other end of the journey.

theres no need for a cardboard box

Yeah. I wouldn't go anywhere with a guitar in a softcase. That's a horror story waiting to happen.

[Bludave]

Re: Flying (airplane) with my guitar

Here is a Link I posted yesterday for a very similar question. Anybody that is planning to check a guitar should read this!!!!

http://www.acousticguitar.com/Gear/advice/flying.shtml