HELP: FLYING ISSUES

Kevin Hsieh · #1 07-02-2007, 11:46 PM

Hey guys,
Flying out to New York from LA in a month. Moving into my college dorm and I need to get my bass there. I'm thinking about renting a case and flying it over with me. Shipping might be a bit too expensive for me. I'm considering Jet Blue because they fly out of a smaller airport than LAX and i dont think i'll get hassled as much. However, JetBlue's height limit is 80 inches and i'm not sure if a bass in it's case is lower the 80 inches. If anyone that has flown recently can comment on this, it'd be a great help.

i'm getting really nervous and i need to make my flight reservations ASAP. Anyone know where I can rent a flightcase for relatively cheap in LA i'm running low on funds.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zQIKqQK2orw

Thanks in advance
Best,
Kev

Reuben · #2 07-02-2007, 11:53 PM

Don't worry. Jet Blue is known for being particularly bass friendly. I've never even had them charge me an extra fee for a bass in a flightcase. A 3/4 case is around 72 inches. Anyway, the real trouble isn't with size, but weight. If it's over 100 lbs some airlines will refuse it.

Kevin Hsieh · #3 07-03-2007, 11:05 AM

Actually. i think my bass might be a tad bigger than 3/4. It's taller than me and i'm 6 feet tall... how many inches would a case add to the bass?

anon_6j591b0 · #4 07-03-2007, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Hsieh

Hey guys,
Flying out to New York from LA in a month. Moving into my college dorm and I need to get my bass there. I'm thinking about renting a case and flying it over with me. Shipping might be a bit too expensive for me.

You should see if you can get Gage to send a rental trunk out to you so the return will be painless and cheap as a subway ride. If you gotta go get one in LA, fly to NY and then get the thing back to LA.......jeez, for what that's gonna cost in time and money you may as well buy a whole row on Jet Blue and take yer bass in the cabin.

MingusAmongUs · #5 07-03-2007, 12:09 PM

I recently read somewhere that a bass can be shipped by Amtrak for under $100. Don't know where I saw that, or whether you're willing to send it away without your watchful eye, but you might look into that.

Steve Swan · #6 07-03-2007, 12:25 PM

I used to ship most of my basses by AMTRAK for $60-80.00. Two years ago the rules were changed and objects the size of bass trunks were disallowed. Most stations went to having only one person on the freight staff and their safety rules required two people to move around a large or "heavy" object.

If the rules have changed back to pre-2005 specs, I would be one of the happiest bass dealers around.

Kevin Hsieh · #7 07-03-2007, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbonny

You should see if you can get Gage to send a rental trunk out to you so the return will be painless and cheap as a subway ride. If you gotta go get one in LA, fly to NY and then get the thing back to LA.......jeez, for what that's gonna cost in time and money you may as well buy a whole row on Jet Blue and take yer bass in the cabin.

My dad will be with me to help me with the move, so he will be taking the case home to L.A... i just need to know if a case can get through the limits. man... moving basses is such a hassle. i don't know what i'm going to do on winter and summer break...

coreybass · #8 07-03-2007, 03:45 PM

I fly with my bass two or three times a month and have never had it refused. Jet Blue and Southwest are my favorite airlines because they never flinch at the bass and even if they charge you an oversize fee, it's only $50 as opposed to the $80-$100 of most other airlines. As Reuben said, the real issue is weight not size. If it's over 100 pounds they can refuse it. Avoid Continental as their overweight limit has been reduced to 70 pounds. US Airways also won't take basses under any circumstances. I just flew United the other day and was charged $100, but otherwise was a piece of cake. Be determined, but keep chilled out attitude! Good luck.

Corey

coreybass · #9 07-03-2007, 03:50 PM

I also recently ran into a fellow bassist carrying his bass on!!!!!!!!! I was changing planes in Chicago and as I was walking through the terminal, I see this Mooradian bag bobbing up and down in the crowd. I did a double take and then caught up with the guy. He said his flight trunk was damaged so he just bought an extra seat, requested a bulk head seat and told them it was a cello. He said it took a bit of sweet talking when checking in, but he had obviously gotten through security fine etc. He was flying United I think. Crazy. I thought that buying an extra seat was something that stopped during the Carter administration!

Kevin Hsieh · #10 07-03-2007, 05:54 PM

awesome. always nice to run into another member of the brotherhood.

Kevin Hsieh · #11 07-05-2007, 12:12 PM

bought my Jet Blue tickets from L.A. to New York from Long Beach Airport August 23

wish me luck
any tips?

anon_6j591b0 · #12 07-05-2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Hsieh

bought my Jet Blue tickets from L.A. to New York from Long Beach Airport August 23

wish me luck
any tips?

run yer hands under hot water before you get on the plane....?

don't know how you planed to get from the airport to yer new place but this is a car service that was recommended to me and was excellent all the times I used them. http://www.telavivlimo.com/reservation.asp
I booked online the first time, they showed up when they said they would, the cars were clean and the drivers knew the city. NYC cabs can be a pain in the arse.

Kevin Hsieh · #13 07-05-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbonny

run yer hands under hot water before you get on the plane....?

don't know how you planed to get from the airport to yer new place but this is a car service that was recommended to me and was excellent all the times I used them. http://www.telavivlimo.com/reservation.asp
I booked online the first time, they showed up when they said they would, the cars were clean and the drivers knew the city. NYC cabs can be a pain in the arse.

I'm renting a Van with the Pops. Need to do some shopping for my dorm first. maybe a uhaul trailer too... hm

musicrazy · #14 07-10-2007, 10:15 AM

[quote] Originally Posted by Kevin Hsieh
Hey guys,
Flying out to New York from LA in a month. Moving into my college dorm and I need to get my bass there. I'm thinking about renting a case and flying it over with me. Shipping might be a bit too expensive for me. [quote]

NY to LA? That's cool. I actually drove from San Diego (pretty close to LA) to New York in about 5 days. my parents were driving, but we were thinking we could probably do it in 4 if we needed to. It takes care of the shipping, but well.. hotel bills might be higher. Ok, just a thought.
~Louie

alembicguy · #15 07-10-2007, 10:28 AM

I went Jet Blue a few times and had my bass as a carry on and was able to have the flight attendent put it up front in their area instead of putting it in the overhead,very nice!

Ed Fuqua · #16 07-10-2007, 11:07 AM

You DID NOT get the flight attendant to put a DOUBLE BASS "up front in their area" nor did you ever put one in the overhead bin.

Kevin Hsieh · #17 07-10-2007, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

You DID NOT get the flight attendant to put a DOUBLE BASS "up front in their area" nor did you ever put one in the overhead bin.

ed: i read that post and was like "ooooh, this guy's going to get railed!"

Steve Swan · #18 07-10-2007, 11:46 AM

Ed,

Alembic Guy is probably an electric-only bass guitar player that wandered over to our forum by mistake. Before I made the transition from a Fender to a borrowed Kay with gut strings in 1979 or so, I thought that electric basses in a rectangular case were extremely bulky. I had no idea at the time how compact they really are!

njgbass · #19 07-13-2007, 08:21 AM

If anything when your flying it is always good to call ahead and let them know that your coming to the airport.
Ive flow international with a stevens bass case, AA, Air Canada, and Delta.

If for some reason they say it wont fit in through the storage door, try and advise the person checking you in to actually talk to a senior bag handeler.

Ive had the check in person tell me that it wont fit, and then the bagage person coming up and telling me he has put multiple basses on the plane.

For the wieght limit,
Avoid keeping little things in your case such as xtra strings, rosin, chords, music, and your bow! Every little thing adds up, and you can save 6-7lbs by taking this stuff out. I carry my bow as a carry on. Sometimes I get hassled by that because people dont seem to belive that a bass player can play with a bow, or they might confuse it with a pool que wich I guess has been banned from planes.

Good luck!