Flying Internationally with Your Guitar

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Flying Internationally with Your Guitar

Your going to fly with a Gibson? Sure its replaceable but what will you do if it gets broken? You'll be in AU with no instrument. Did you at least get a hard case for it? I wish you luck but I think its a dice roll.

 

[mig50]

Re: Flying Internationally with Your Guitar

yeah, i have a hard case. no matter what, its going to be a roll of the dice, but i decided to go with a guitar that balanced cost, playability, and replaceability.

the sg wasn't as cheap as a junk beater guitar - nor was it anywhere near as close as buying a gp (assuming another could even be found), play-wise will be similar to what i'm currently used to, and could potentially be replaced should i need it. its a gamble, sure, but it was a fine excuse to pull the trigger on a good deal.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Flying Internationally with Your Guitar

melbourne. playing at this:

http://aus.paxsite.com/

Serious? Cool!

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Flying Internationally with Your Guitar

I fly internationally with this one (on the left). Fits in overhead fine.

Another idea would be to have a guitar with a full scale neck body (if it's an electric), so it can go in the overhead bin.

 

[mig50]

Re: Flying Internationally with Your Guitar

Serious? Cool!

yep. it will be my fifth show with minibosses.

 

[mig50]

Re: Flying Internationally with Your Guitar

got my sg last night. it was packed up tight in a box and survived ups air shipping. this gives me some confidence that it should make it without issue on a commercial flight.

since i have that box and all that packing material, i am going to use it to my advantage. planning on packing it up in one of two ways:

1. gig bag packed up tight in a shipping box. with as much packing material that was provided, it should stay nice and still in the box. this isn't the most ideal situation, as there's nothing hard to protect from major bumps / gouges, but i don't really think that's going to be much of a concern with all the air and packing material surrounding the guitar.

2. put it in the hard case and, if it fits, put that case in the box with some additional packing material. this is my most likely scenario. my only major concern with this is that the headstock rests against the back of the case, and i keep imagining it being hit / bumped in just the right spot and causing a headstock break. i'm sure the chances of such a perfect hit are about as good as winning powerball, but its still rolling around in my head. i did find that putting a t-shirt under the neck lifts the head up enough to where there's no contact between the headstock and the case. i will probably add a little bubble wrap between the head and case for some extra cushion / air.

number 2 seems to be the best and most likely option. if anyone else has any suggestions / tips, please let me know. i'm at work for 7 more hours, then i'm headed home to pack everything up and head to the airport.

 

[chadd]

Re: Flying Internationally with Your Guitar

The only way you will be covered is if you use an ATA compliant case. They are more expensive and heavier, but I wouldn't use anything less. I work for an airline and there's a reason we call the guys loading the airplane "bag-smashers".

 

[Brian Griffin]

Re: Flying Internationally with Your Guitar

I once made a trans-Pacific flight carrying 2 guitars, one carried on in a gig bag (the more expensive one) and the other in a hard case (it was probably not even up to FAA standard) but luckily both arrived safe and sound. Take the most prized with you in the cabin and check only the one you can afford to lose or damage.

 

[cohara41]

Re: Flying Internationally with Your Guitar

HSC 4sure. You may or may not get to carry on. I took a full size acoustic with HSC from Phoenix to Beirut & back. Had to check it & it was fine. Good Luck.