High quality gig bags - which ones fit in overhead bins?

Lorenzini · #1 08-20-2010, 12:37 PM

I travel a lot and refuse to leave my bass in even a heavy duty flight case for check-in, because I have seen firsthand just how brutal they can be with luggage (especially when they see a 75+ lb flight case. I mean, they seem to treat them even worse).

I have been putting my bass, which is in a cheap but efficient RoadRunner gig bag, in overhead bins or plane storage closets for over a year now, with 3 different airlines.

I am now looking into the following gig bags, but want to make sure that they'll fit in an overhead bin, or they'll be useless to me:

Protec Contego
Incase Slimbag
iGig G515 or G525
Mono M80 single/possibly dual
Sadowsky Portabag

That's pretty much it for now. Who has experience with this?
Right now I'm leaning toward the Protec for price, protection, availability, storage.

Portabag looks great, but too similar to the Protec for a lot more money.

The Incase is utterly unavailable from what I understand. Even the Incase site has it "sold out", which is pretty ridiculous.

The iGig is just great. A top choice for me.

Mono is probably the nicest, cleanest build, with the least amount of space, but if any of them are going to fit in an overhead, this is the one.

So??? Which ones fit??? Thanks

Hoover · #2 08-20-2010, 12:47 PM

Depends on what kind of plane you're flying. I've flown on some small commercial airliners where my freakin' Steinberger barely fit in the overhead bin!

scotch · #3 08-20-2010, 12:52 PM

Well, it all depends upon 3 things:

1) The Airline you re on.

2) What kind of mood the gate agents are in.

3) The equipment (aircraft) you are flying on.

If you're going to be on a turbo-prop, or some of the smaller regional jets, you're going to have to get lucky to get them in the cabin in the first place! Other than those small planes, virtually any gig bag will fit in the overhead (or closet).

Some airlines, and depending on the airport you are departing from, won't let you carry a guitar on period! Air Canada and Delta are amongst the most adamant about it. Also consider that while these airlines might let you fly out of LAX (LA), BNA (Nashville) or the NY Metro airports (where they see more musician passengers & are easier going) - whatever your' destination airport is may giave you a hard time on your return flight. I've seen it happen a dozen times.

I any case, using good people skills can you on-board with your gigbag most of the time. Just don't count on it! (Insurance, insurance, insurance!!!!!)

There are also some great threads already about flying with your instrument. I keep hoping the moderators will 'sticky' an airline policy thread so we could all keep up with the daily changing policies and trends of the various carriers.... oh well.

I've been putting my gig bag into an SKB Bass Safe for most of my flights over the last couple of years. It's performed excellent & SKB has always replaced broken wheels and latches for me promptly and for free! http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ase?sku=544564
I highly recommend one for the bassist who flies often. I've hit over a dozen countries and most of the U.S.A. with mine with zero instruments damaged.

GhettoBrassGuy · #4 08-20-2010, 01:07 PM

Like everyone said...it's dependent on a bunch of things. I fly with a gigbag all the time...lately they've been making me gate check. Horrible. My Incase Slimbag fits in an overhead on a large plane fine, but when it's a full flight they wouldn't care if your bass costs more than the plane. Alaskan told me they would gate check for me, but they don't bring bags back upon arrival and I could pick it up at baggage claim. Sure fire way to see me go off. Ugh.

I like the Incase because it's very sturdy. My guitar player has a Mono and it's not what I expected. Much more flimsy...I like them but I wouldn't trust one with the chance of gate check while flying. No experience with the others....

BobOnBass · #5 08-20-2010, 01:13 PM

+1 on point number 2. I've heard this from airplane staff first hand. For this reason I bought the slimmest looking quality bag I could get my hands on. You can look up maximum measures for each airline online I believe.

Lorenzini · #6 08-21-2010, 11:07 AM

Okay thanks guys. Honestly I'm flying constantly, either on Delta or Virgin and have never had a problem. I'm a very good actor and they are always happy to help out when I tell them I just cannot check my "baby". Janek Gwizdala wrote a bit about this a little while ago, and it has a lot to do with convincing

The next thing, which probably helps a LOT, is that I'm Silver, soon to be Gold Medallion status with Delta. So what does that mean? First in line on the plane, I'm first-class about 40% of the time and they are willing to treat me with a bit more respect when I mention that status.

janekbass · #7 08-25-2010, 06:39 PM

Levys leather gig bag has been amazing for the past ten years on the plane. it will fit in an overhead as small as a CRJ700 puddle hopper.

always stay with one airline, and amass as many miles as you can. I'm a million mile flyer with United, they greet me by name at an check in counter in the country..... not that I need any of that pomp and circumstance at all, I think it's rather silly... but it really does help getting my instrument on the plane, and I haven't had a problem for many many years now.

Flying other airlines - specifically delta and virgin..... ( i know that's contrary to lorenzini's post, but I just don't fly with them enough to have hi status) is a whole other deal. I recently had very bad experiences with virgin blue in australia, and also with air asia flying in indonesia, singapore and malayisa.....

at the end of the day I think you should stick with one mileage program, even if it means spending a little more money on tickets here and there.

Janek

Lorenzini · #8 08-26-2010, 10:59 AM

Fantastic post, Janek. I don't know if it's just me, but this topic is very relavent to traveling musicians.

Interesting you mention Virgin and Delta. Either way, even if our experiences have been different, I think I've had luck because I am flying a lot with Delta with a Silver/Gold Medallion status and am not given any trouble. Prior to that I only flew Virgin from the US to the UK and they were more than happy to put my bass in the closet.

I'll check out the Levy's.

Before reading your post, I've been looking at the iGig gig bag because it'll fit my stuff, especially the laptop and interface.
http://www.mikobass.com/Shop/iGIG/

jasonbraatz · #9 08-31-2010, 10:14 AM

This letter from the security admin of the TSA to the president of the American Federation of Musicians should be enough to get your bass on the plane:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=...thkey=CN6n2bQC

scotch · #10 08-31-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonbraatz

This letter from the security admin of the TSA to the president of the American Federation of Musicians should be enough to get your bass on the plane:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=...thkey=CN6n2bQC

Yeah, I used to carry that around with me. You'd think that TSA letterhead would mean something to a gate agent. Well, don't count on it! I pulled it out 3 times & each time it carried the same weight. None.

Still, can't hurt I suppose.

joelx817 · #11 08-31-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonbraatz

This letter from the security admin of the TSA to the president of the American Federation of Musicians should be enough to get your bass on the plane:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=...thkey=CN6n2bQC

Thanks for that letter!!!! I'm printing that b!tch up right now.

scotch · #12 08-31-2010, 10:25 AM

Don't be too confident with that letter in-hand!

Quick search:

Flying with an SKB Bass Safe?

The cruel lesson I just learned from southwest airlines

jasonbraatz · #13 08-31-2010, 10:28 AM

Anecdotally I just know it's worked for me, my guitar player friend, and all his guitar player friends every single time.

BabyWhiteTiger · #14 08-31-2010, 10:38 AM

I've got the Incase, and though it does a great job protecting a bass and carrying plenty of accessories, it's much heavier and bulkier than you'd think from online photos, etc. A friend of mine has the single bass Mono, and that is noticeably lighter and slimmer.

Both are very high quality though!

abcdefranklin · #15 08-31-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonbraatz

This letter from the security admin of the TSA to the president of the American Federation of Musicians should be enough to get your bass on the plane:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=...thkey=CN6n2bQC

Does this work with just gigbags? Could I use a hardshell case?

scotch · #16 08-31-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonbraatz

Anecdotally I just know it's worked for me, my guitar player friend, and all his guitar player friends every single time.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it has potential. But let's be clear, it's no guarantee!

I'd hate to see a fellow TB'er get in a jam because they thought the AFM/TSA letter was a golden bullet.

Good people & communication skills are still the best tool for getting your bag on!

And insurance! Insurance!!!!!!!!!!!

abcdefranklin · #17 08-31-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

I've been putting my gig bag into an SKB Bass Safe for most of my flights over the last couple of years. It's performed excellent & SKB has always replaced broken wheels and latches for me promptly and for free! http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ase?sku=544564
I highly recommend one for the bassist who flies often. I've hit over a dozen countries and most of the U.S.A. with mine with zero instruments damaged.

I'm thinking about getting this case or the fender SKB molded case http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ase?sku=620711
Which would be better. I have both a pbass and a jbass if that matters!

scotch · #18 08-31-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abcdefranklin

Does this work with just gigbags? Could I use a hardshell case?

See where this is going already?

The TSA letter is no guarantee. Even the airlines published policies that day are no guarantee! Expecting to carry-on a bass hard-shell is definitely pushing it. Not recommended as a 'plan A'.

scotch · #19 08-31-2010, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abcdefranklin

I'm thinking about getting this case or the fender SKB molded case http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ase?sku=620711
Which would be better. I have both a pbass and a jbass if that matters!

The new deluxe SKB rectangular cases are great! But, be ready for possible oversize charges. For some reason, even though the triangular bass safe is technically oversize as well, the shape seems to throw them at the counter. I've never been charged with the safe. Rectangular cases, on the other hand, I've gotten charged dozens of times! Not sure why (although I have some theories!).

MNAirHead · #20 08-31-2010, 10:57 AM

What kind of bass...

I own an IGig.. not sure I'd hassle with it on a plane.. or my Undercover... protec etc.

Opinion.. (if it's a traditional size)

Pay $50 and get a Peavey contour case.... they're on ebay.

When on the road I NEVER had a latch or hinge break... for fun we'd throw them out 3rd story balconies... never a broken neck or ding. If I sell a bass in one, it doesn't get boxed.. just taped and sshipped.. NEVER had an issue.

All of the flight damage (tons of it) has been from overhead bins.. not checking through

Or buy an ashbory if this is only for fun.... these fit behind the last row seat