The joys of flying... Flight case options.

[JohnDavisNYC]

Hey y'all.

So, I've rarely flown with my bass as luggage... for the last decade or so I've carried my bass in the cabin in a gig bag, save for a few tours where I brought it in a Calzone case, more for safety in the van and crew load in/out that for flying safety...

Anyway, I'm probably going to just keep carrying my bass, but at the same time, I started thinking about nice case options that are checkable... maybe one of those custom carbon fiber or fiberglass cases that string and acoustic guitar players use? They are expensive, but so is a vintage bass... and they seem like they wouldn't suck too much to carry around the rest of the tour, unlike a Calzone/Anvil, etc...

Anyone found a better option than just carrying on and making sure you get to the gate early?

John

[sotua]

USD140 will get you a nice Gator ATA certified + TSA certified case. I used one and received my bass in perfect conditions, even though the airline misplaced it and flew it all over the US north east.

[scotch]

Yeah,... the best advice is INSURANCE!!! Seriously, so many bassists don't bother (including pro's) - it's quick, easy and cheap.

I fly a lot for work (some years over 150 fly dates!) & have been burned at least once by every airline except Southwest. It's the only airline that has never refused a gig bag carry-on. Gate checking gig bags has never yielded a problem, but I have had instruments damaged in checked hard cases (so I'll be darned if I check a gig bag at the counter!).

It sounds like you are already adept at "show up early & smile", but I still warn that you never know when the airline agents are gonna check your bag! I've left home on an airline on Tuesday with my bag & then been refused to carry it back on Wednesday on the same airline!

New U.S. Federal legislation has been passed (although I don't think it goes into effect until next year) to allow guitar carry-ons. Unfortunately, the text of the bill still allows crewmember discretion as regards space & safety.

I have been using an SKB Bass Safe for most flights for years now with zero problems. Your bass goes in a gig bag, then the gig bag in the plastic 'boot'. Wheels, strong plastic shell & you can leave the 'boot' in the hotel room and just use your gig bag for local travel to the show! SKB service is top-notch too! When my wheels start to wear out, they just mail me new ones with hardware. Also, when they upgraded the latches, I mailed my case back & they sent me the new version free.

[Bruce Johnson]

The safest way to travel with a bass is to use a flight case. The term "flight case" isn't some vague term. There's a set of specifications and a process through which case manufacturers apply and get their cases certified as Flight Cases. They are approved for use on airlines; that's why they are called Flight Cases. All airlines have the same wording in their ticket contracts: All musical instruments must be transported inside a certified Flight Case, or the airline has no responsibility if it gets damaged. If it's in a Flight Case, it's insured by the airline, and it's highly unikely that it would ever get damaged. That's the law. It's really quite simple. But yet, musicians constantly try to take instruments on board in gig bags and non-certified hard shell cases, and get all upset when they get damaged and the airlines refuse to pay.

A great combination for traveling is to get a flight case which has bare foam inside, cut out to fit your gig bag. Then, when you get to your location, you can leave the flight case in your hotel room or backstage, and carry the bass around locally in the gig bag. Also, that makes the flight case more generally useful. It will be safe transport for any of your basses or guitars or anything else that will fit inside.

[scotch]

Originally Posted by Bruce Johnson

The safest way to travel with a bass is to use a flight case. The term "flight case" isn't some vague term. There's a set of specifications and a process through which case manufacturers apply and get their cases certified as Flight Cases. They are approved for use on airlines; that's why they are called Flight Cases. All airlines have the same wording in their ticket contracts: All musical instruments must be transported inside a certified Flight Case, or the airline has no responsibility if it gets damaged. If it's in a Flight Case, it's insured by the airline, and it's highly unikely that it would ever get damaged. That's the law. It's really quite simple. But yet, musicians constantly try to take instruments on board in gig bags and non-certified hard shell cases, and get all upset when they get damaged and the airlines refuse to pay.

A great combination for traveling is to get a flight case which has bare foam inside, cut out to fit your gig bag. Then, when you get to your location, you can leave the flight case in your hotel room or backstage, and carry the bass around locally in the gig bag. Also, that makes the flight case more generally useful. It will be safe transport for any of your basses or guitars or anything else that will fit inside.

All true (technically speaking) - but the airlines also charge oversize/overweight fees which can be rather exorbitant!

I wouldn't *count* on airline baggage contracts either. It's all up to the counter agents discretion. I have had them make me sign a damage release waiver many, many times even when I used to haul around my anvil-style flight cases. The biggest frustration with airlines is the complete & utter lack of consistency - even in their published policies! Trust me, it all comes down to the mood, knowledge and willingness to help of the staff working that day.

Bottom line, get your own all-risk insurance! Don't travel with anything you're not willing to risk as well...

[salcott]

My travel bass is a Danelectro Longhorn. Its gigbag has a hook that enables it to hang with the coats and garment bags. I also spring for the 9 bucks to board with the 1st class types. No problems so far.

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by sotua

a nice Gator ATA certified + TSA certified case.

Originally Posted by Bruce Johnson

There's a set of specifications and a process through which case manufacturers apply and get their cases certified as Flight Cases. ...[snip]...All musical instruments must be transported inside a certified Flight Case, or the airline has no responsibility if it gets damaged.

Just to clarify that term (and the process) ...the ATA does not "certify" (nor "approve") flight cases. They simply prescribe a set of specifications that a case must meet in order to be considered appropriate protection, and thus in order for any damage claims to proceed.

It is the case manufacturer's responsibility to provide proof that their product meets or exceeds the ATA specification.

So when Gator (or Anvil, or Calzone, or SKB, or Thermodyne, etc.) refers to their cases as "ATA approved" or "ATA certified", what they really mean is "we certified this case to be compliant with ATA specifications."

[brandau]

I always carry on with a heavy duty leather gig bag made by Glenn Cronkhite glenn cronkhite custom cases His bags have a side strap that make the bag almost invisible when someone is looking at you head on...I've never had to check it. A couple of times they've given me the tag to gate check, and I just politely accept it then remove it as I'm was walking down the gate runway...

I used to use a flight case, but after paying additional baggage fees, and having my bass "lost" once, I quit checking it.

[brandau]

Originally Posted by scotch

Yeah,... the best advice is INSURANCE!!! Seriously, so many bassists don't bother (including pro's) - it's quick, easy and cheap.

I fly a lot for work (some years over 150 fly dates!) & have been burned at least once by every airline except Southwest. It's the only airline that has never refused a gig bag carry-on. Gate checking gig bags has never yielded a problem, but I have had instruments damaged in checked hard cases (so I'll be darned if I check a gig bag at the counter!).

It sounds like you are already adept at "show up early & smile", but I still warn that you never know when the airline agents are gonna check your bag! I've left home on an airline on Tuesday with my bag & then been refused to carry it back on Wednesday on the same airline!

New U.S. Federal legislation has been passed (although I don't think it goes into effect until next year) to allow guitar carry-ons. Unfortunately, the text of the bill still allows crewmember discretion as regards space & safety.

I have been using an SKB Bass Safe for most flights for years now with zero problems. Your bass goes in a gig bag, then the gig bag in the plastic 'boot'. Wheels, strong plastic shell & you can leave the 'boot' in the hotel room and just use your gig bag for local travel to the show! SKB service is top-notch too! When my wheels start to wear out, they just mail me new ones with hardware. Also, when they upgraded the latches, I mailed my case back & they sent me the new version free.

Scotch do they charge an "Oversize" fee for the skb bass safe? Thats one of the things keeping me from checking my bass... Several fly dates in a row and I'm looking at $100s in fees...

[scotch]

Originally Posted by brandau

Scotch do they charge an "Oversize" fee for the skb bass safe? Thats one of the things keeping me from checking my bass... Several fly dates in a row and I'm looking at $100s in fees...

Not yet they haven't, no. I've got well over a hundred (maybe 200) flights with this thing & no oversize/weight charges.

Technically, it is oversize, but they always seem to think it's a firearm & after the relief that it's not, they've taken it no questions asked.

It's weird: golfers and hunters/sportsmen never seem to get hit - but musicians usually do.