NEW GUITAR ADVICE

[Demanic]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

Well it was a cello after all

Cello was the first instrument that I played. It was always fun bringing it to school on the bus.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[Adieu]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

Well, there was a case just recently, of a woman being bumped from a flight because she had her $30,000 cello with her. Oh and she had paid for an extra seat for the cello. So you can never be quite sure how any particular airline is going to treat you if you fly with an instrument.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

Probably because she was being an entitled, self-important ... who kept demanding attention and pushing "whatcha gonna do to protect my super-important $30k cello", and somebody decided to snap a little

I mean --- WHY else would we or anyone else possibly know how much it allegedly costs?

Also, seats are for humans, and she surely brought a hardcase, possibly even some armored monstrosity... there's likely an FAA regulation to quote (or at least invoke, whether or not it exist, in the name of *safety*) for shiz and giggles if such a customer gets under your skin.


Inexpensive and inoffensive electrics in gigbags are a wholly different matter. Moral of the story, don't provoke the service industry and anything reasonable usually goes a-ok.

 

[Demanic]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

Probably because she was being an entitled, self-important ... who kept demanding attention and pushing "whatcha gonna do to protect my super-important $30k cello", and somebody decided to snap a little

According to the article, she was initially told by the airline that it would be no problem as long as she purchased another ticket for a seat for the cello. Then, because the flight was overbooked, they changed their minds at the last minute and and told her she had to check it. Then they kicked her off the flight and gave her seats to others.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[Adieu]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

According to the article, she was initially told by the airline that it would be no problem as long as she purchased another ticket for a seat for the cello. Then, because the flight was overbooked, they changed their minds at the last minute and and told her she had to check it. Then they kicked her off the flight and gave her seats to others.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

Work with needy problem customers a bit and your whole perspective on these stories will change.

Also, whatever customer support at some call center in India tells anyone is generally meaningless and random... plus, in an overbook situation, theyre gonna reject somebody in any case. AND it sounds like they offerred her a later flight, same as always.

If theyre kicking people off planes, then yeah, the "my special needs require two seats for one ass" customer is gonna be first in line to be asked to take up one single seat only or fly later. Otherwise, people gonna cause a riot.

 

[Demanic]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

Yeah, my only experience with needy customers was when I managed restaurants.
And I know how airlines are, which is part of why I don't fly anymore. Of course, I can only imagine how a customer would have reacted if they had, not just a reservation, but a paid reservation, and I booted them off the table to give it to someone else. I would have been fired, and subsequently sued. But I guess that the airlines operate according to a different set of rules.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[Darg1911]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

I don't know if the woman was being a pain in the arse but reading the updated story, American Airlines pretty well admitted that they effed up. That being the case, the woman would have a legitimate reason to be po'd. Especially seeing how she had already flown, with the same airline to Miami, with the cello strapped in the seat next to her, and was now returning back to Chicago. They were round trip tickets for her and her cello.

However, if it were a case of an overbooked flight that really got her and her cello removed, I do know that it still wasn't the cellist nor her cello's fault ...

 

[Demanic]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

The point being, even for a working musician, flying with an instrument can be hit or miss. Unless you are in Iron Maiden.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[arinkara]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

The first guitar at what price is best?

 

[jtees4]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

Just a niggling thing that annoys me, nothing personal But a Yamaha Pacifica is not a guitar, it is a full line of guitars. A Yamaha Pac112 was a very solid budget guitar, but the line comes cheaper and much more expensive too. The Mike Stern Pacificas went over $1000...not sure if they are still made etc. I'm sure the line has changed over the years, I've owned a bunch of Yamahas but mostly 7-10 years ago so I don't know all the current model numbers etc.

 

[chadd]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

Wait, you're flying and that's the problem?

Thats a non-issue, ALL airlines will allow you 1 guitar or bass gigbag as your main carryon (brazen customers like me have even gotten away with a two-guitar gigbag).... furthermore, anything that looks like a computer case or briefcase or 'manbag/purse' does NOT count as a second carryon.

And, the other unspoken secret? If your stuff still doesnt fit, airlines will generally let you walk in with any amount of plastic bags you can reasonably carry, as well as large items of clothing like winter coats or whatnot. (As long as you simply DO NOT ASK)

For example, flight optimization 101 for long visits to anywhere:
1) winter coat in hand
2) any heavy boots you need on feet (just take em off as soon as you're on the plane)
3) around 10 kg of crap in a 17" laptop bag
4) anything else that didnt fit in plastic bags in hand
5) gigbag slung over shoulder... you can also 'optimize' some other crap into the pockets

I've shamelessly walked onboard with like 40 kilos of stuff total as in-hand carryon

I work for an airline in the US and allowing someone to walk on with what you describe could result in a fine for anyone that allowed you to do that. Most US based airline employees aren't willing to risk the $1000 fine. Any question and they will err on the side of caution more often than not. Regulations (enforceable as federal law) prohibit more than one carry on (guitar, in this case) and one personal item (laptop bag). If it's a regional jet, the restrictions are even stringent. I'm not familiar with EU regulations, just want to throw out a caution for US based members.

 

[chadd]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

Well it was a cello after all

There are very specific regulations for "seat baggage" that must be followed. I've seen a handful of cellos on board over the years and crews tend to review their manual when faced with things like that. At least the ones I trained tell me that's what they did.

 

[contiContiCONTI]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

Just a niggling thing that annoys me, nothing personal But a Yamaha Pacifica is not a guitar, it is a full line of guitars. A Yamaha Pac112 was a very solid budget guitar, but the line comes cheaper and much more expensive too. The Mike Stern Pacificas went over $1000...not sure if they are still made etc. I'm sure the line has changed over the years, I've owned a bunch of Yamahas but mostly 7-10 years ago so I don't know all the current model numbers etc.

Very true, my bad, its a Pacifica 112XJ, which I don't see to see much of around actually. Pretty much a 112J with slightly different electronics and colours I think.

 

[Adieu]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

I work for an airline in the US and allowing someone to walk on with what you describe could result in a fine for anyone that allowed you to do that. Most US based airline employees aren't willing to risk the $1000 fine. Any question and they will err on the side of caution more often than not. Regulations (enforceable as federal law) prohibit more than one carry on (guitar, in this case) and one personal item (laptop bag). If it's a regional jet, the restrictions are even stringent. I'm not familiar with EU regulations, just want to throw out a caution for US based members.

Clothes and random crap in hands is generally exempted from rules


Fine what fine are you making up spur of the moment???? fines are levies against airlines, not some random ticket counter girl.

And whatever company has an enforceable "pay our fines out of employee salaries" clause sounds pretty dang suspicious


But i really WOULD love to watch somebody try to give me crap, or better yet somehow fine a crew member for my kicking off the boots I walked aboard in once seated and neatly placing them in a plastic bag I retrieve from my carryon, or doing same with a coat or sweater or both.

Lol.


And if you reaaaaally wanna split some hairs, luggage is counted 1 single time as you embark... how it reorganizes or redistributes once in flight, as well what rando,m crap you may or may not be holding while waiting for boardimg to start, is really wholly irrelevant.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

I took a Hofner Shorty with me when I was deployed to Afghanistan 10 years ago. Took the neck off, took a V-Amp2 and backing tracks on my laptop. A couple of pairs of small PC speakers and I was good to go!
Of course, small travel amps are excellent these days but at the time it allowed me to stay somewhat sane!

I did originally think of something like a Steinberger in answer to your original post, but probably too expensive.

 

[Mincer]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

The new Steinberger Spirits aren't expensive at all, and are pretty good guitars.

 

[Open lane]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

I got an ibanez gio for $150 shipped, which i purchased with the idea of traveling. Ha, the case i needed was almost as much as the guitar

 

[Adieu]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

Btw, you can also mail a parcel to yourself you know...

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: NEW GUITAR ADVICE

Yes you can
I we used to mail tools to jobsites
Then race them with the flight