Getting a Bass Across The Country With Me - to Fly or Ship?

[Coltrane21]

Hi Everyone -

Was hoping I could get some advice here. I'm a relatively new player (and reader of this board - great community!), and have never traveled with my instrument. Going to visit my folks in a couple of weeks and would love to have a bass with me. I've read some of the threads here regarding flying and shipping, but I haven't seen anything on flying VS. shipping.

I treasure my instruments, so needless to say I'm nervous, and having trouble figuring this out on my own. Essentially my options are as follows:

Fly w/ Hard Case
Fly w/ Gig Bag
Ship w/ Hard Case
Ship w/ Gig Bag

Thanks for any advice/stories you can offer. Really hoping to avoid any damage to the bass (and hopefully avoid any undue strain on my wallet).

Thanks!

[Fergie Fulton]

If you treasure it, buy it a ticket and fly with it on the seat next to you. Have it in your control, not that of others.

[Pilgrim]

If you have a shipping-worthy hard case, I'd take it, insure it fully and check it in the hard case.

Frankly, I would not carry on with a gig bag...because every airline can allow it or not at their whim. If they say no, checking a bass in a gig bag is a recipe for disaster. You won't be able to carry on in a hard case.

You could also ship it in the hard case - it's going to cost you $$ to either ship it or check it.

I don't need the aggravation - I'd take two weeks off from bass.

[jobo4]

Ship it well packed in hsc. Done it a bunch with no issues. Case might take some abuse but I'd be surprised to find a statistically significant number of folks who had a bass damaged in this manner.

That being said, you know it had to happen to someone and they are probably ticked about it.

[WearBlack]

I flew with my bass in May of this year. Attitudes have changed with the airlines since a policy/law change earlier this year, but it was still stressful. As posted, discretion for carry on/ check in is left to airline personnel. The gate personnel were negative but once I got on board, the flight staff was helpful and did their best to accomodate. Tips I recieved beforehand...Keep a low profile when boarding (carry it rather than sling it over your shoulder with the neck sticking up).... book a seat in the back of the plane so there is still empty overhead bins when you board......check your other bags so your ONLY carry on is the instrument. And lastly, if you have a cheap bass that will get the job done, take that one in case it gets gate checked and is subject -20 temperatures under the plane...YIKES

[Coltrane21]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. After some thought, I've decided I'm going to go ahead and fly with it.

I have an SKB44 which I'm going to enhance with bubble wrap to restrict the movement on the SR755 I'm bringing (wish I could bring my BTB but I'm too afraid of damage as much as I'd love to have her with me). Then going to request to gate check.

Now I know how parents feel about their kids. Hate to call a particular bass my favorite, or say I'd be less upset about one being damaged than another, but..

(even though I'll still be crushed if something happens since the 755 was my first)

But people do this all the time, right?