traveling on airplanes

adrimar · #1 01-03-2007, 09:45 PM

So i travel quite a bit and i'm not sure if i should buy a hardcase for my new bass or is it ok the bag it brings. Also with so many new securities measures, can i still take my bass as a carry-on?

spudmaster34 · #2 01-03-2007, 10:11 PM

they won't let you carry it on most of the time, but they let snakes on a plane, it is a bizzarre system

JimmyM · #3 01-03-2007, 11:41 PM

Ya, the airlines have been cracking down on guitars and basses as carry-on. You can still do it once in a while, but the best thing to do is get a flight case and check it because it's rare that they let you do it without hassling you.

Bruce Lindfield · #4 01-04-2007, 02:36 AM

Chalk up another one - it's an aeroplane!

Wally Malone · #5 01-04-2007, 12:07 PM

My wife and I, she's a guitar player, just flew to New Orleans for a New Year's Eve gig. We used Continental and had no problems with carrying our axes in the gig bags for all four legs of the trip. It is always good to check with the individual airlines since the autonomy lies with each airline. Delta is one of the worst for not allowing a carry on instrument.

Wally

JimmyM · #6 01-07-2007, 05:46 PM

The autonomy is sometimes there, and sometimes not. For example, the airport in Columbus, Ohio won't even let you take a guitar in a gig bag to security. You have to check it at the desk.

And as far as checking with each airline, I've tried that approach, only to be thwarted by some flight attendant who refuses to go along with it. If they decide there's not enough room in the bins for your bass, it's going to be gate-checked and put in with the luggage.

So your best bet is to get a good case and plan on checking it.

buliwyfff · #7 01-07-2007, 10:55 PM

need to get one of those traveling basses

http://www.zzounds.com/item--TRAESCBASS

Peter Squire · #8 01-07-2007, 10:57 PM

flight case all the way

CamMcIntyre · #9 01-08-2007, 12:38 AM

If you're doing it frequently as you said, i'd recommend just buying the flight case. It's a few more bucks for some peace of mind [ok-more peace of mind]. It was going to be one of those "once in a blue moon" type things i'd recommend a normal SKB hardshell. I've flown 2-3 times w/my Ray5 in it's OHC. Bass was fine-i was nervous until i saw it come down the baggage claim thingy.

take it easy.

steve4765630 · #10 01-16-2007, 09:15 PM

I had to check my bass one time and just took duct tape with me. I taped over each latch, so they wouldn't brake them off. By law, if they search the case they must tape back over it. Seemed to work fine for me. I think I am going to get a flight case, however, it's just that much harder for them to destroy my investment.

Floating teetH · #11 01-16-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudmaster34

they won't let you carry it on most of the time, but they let snakes on a plane, it is a bizzarre system

Mad props, yo.

CamMcIntyre · #12 01-17-2007, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve4765630

I had to check my bass one time and just took duct tape with me. I taped over each latch, so they wouldn't brake them off. By law, if they search the case they must tape back over it. Seemed to work fine for me. I think I am going to get a flight case, however, it's just that much harder for them to destroy my investment.

I failed to mention this in my post. I duct taped the hell out of my latches. The one time they opted to search the bass, they put their ATA labeled wide tape back over them. Bass was fine. I typically duct tape the words "CAM BASS" on one side of the case too just to help me identify it even faster. Why Cam Bass? Well, all of those times where with a show choir on tour. If myself, or anyone else in our group sees a bass case that says CAM BASS on it-they know [as well as i do] that it's mine.