Travelling With A Bass

MikeyFingers · #1 07-01-2010, 05:31 PM

I'm moving at the end of the summer and I will be flying from New York to Austin, Texas. Naturally, I need to bring my bass with me and I have some questions. (I already did a search for related threads but there's one question I didn't see covered already).

I know I need to de-tune the strings (although I'm not sure why) and I've heard differing opinions about locking/not locking the case, but my real concern is this: Is there any way to carry the bass on the plane with me? I'd be willing to use a soft case/gig-bag to make it as small as possible and I'm pretty sure it would fit in an over-head compartment. But I don't know the rules.
I know a guy who travels a lot and I know for a fact that he carries his acoustic guitar on the plane with him all the time. I would much rather do this, but I don't know the rules about a bass since it's bigger.

pica · #2 07-01-2010, 05:37 PM

All of the planes I've been on have a closet when you first walk on the plane. I've never not had a problem putting my bass (in a gig bag) in that little closet. When you get to the gate, ask the counter person to ask the flight crew if you can store your bass there. Chances are they will let you. I don't think it will fit in the overhead.

Iv@N · #3 07-01-2010, 05:39 PM

Last December I travelled to Germany (from Peru) and brought the bass with me. I asked several people how did they carry their instruments in flights or long trips. My bass teacher told me to use a gigbag as hand-luggage and ask nicely if i could have the bass with me.

I put the bass under my feet and had no trouble at all.

pica · #4 07-01-2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iv@N

I put the bass under my feet and had no trouble at all.

I don't know what kind of plane you were on but planes in the US don't have room under the seat for a bass

Iv@N · #5 07-01-2010, 05:46 PM

KLM flight agency. Don't know which planes they have, though

WJGreer · #6 07-01-2010, 05:55 PM

I've flown into Austin with a bass a few times, actually. I'm also a perennial 1K on United airlines (pity me). The previous advice about gunning for space in the front closet is probably the best plan A, and any flight attendant with a modicum of sympathy will help you out. But, that closet space is really for the first class passengers and the flight attendants. If you end up on a regional jet (a good chance going into Austin), those closets are pretty small. You won't find room for your bass in overhead compartments or under the seats. If you can't get it in the front closet, it's going in the hold.

If it does go in the hold, don't freak out. As long as you have it in a standard hard case, it will probably be fine making the trip as gate checked baggage. Depending on the airline, you may get it back at the arrival gate in Austin, or it may go to baggage claim, a somewhat greater concern.

I don't recommend traveling with your bass in a gig bag if you can avoid it.

...and you don't need to detune the strings. Ever, really.

pica · #7 07-01-2010, 06:05 PM

I only suggested the gig bag if the bass was to go in the front closet area. But by all means, like WJGreer said, if the bass is going in the cargo hold, definitely use a hard case. That's a no brainer there.

ButtUglyJeff · #8 07-01-2010, 06:08 PM

Have you considered Fed-ex for your bass? Shipping second day air will give you a chance to beat your instrument to Texas.......

PJSShearer · #9 07-02-2010, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeyFingers

I know I need to de-tune the strings
.

A fallacy - you do not need to do this. I've flown with my gear (and airfreighted it as well) many times and never did this. Note that Manufacturers ship their instruments from the factory strung to tension - my Fender P came out of the Shipping Box in tune.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeyFingers

I know a guy who travels a lot and I know for a fact that he carries his acoustic guitar on the plane with him all the time. I would much rather do this, but I don't know the rules about a bass since it's bigger.

Used to be that guitars were OK, but a Bass is too big for the cabin - period. Therefore it had to go in the hold and that's what I always planned to do. These days, it appears to depend on the airline's rules, the mood of the check in staff and/or the cabin crew. So, to be 100% sure of things, IMO get a quality hard case and check it in.

Or, as ButtUglyJeff suggest, send it Fedex, travel light and it'll be there before you are.

cloclo · #10 07-02-2010, 04:58 AM

i've been to South-Africa and back (coming from Belgium, Europe) with my bass as hand luggage.

check, call and email up front, that always helps ...

cheerio!

J-Building · #11 07-02-2010, 05:34 AM

I'd really like to know this too. I'm going to be traveling internationally next month (LA to Guangzhou, China), and I have no idea what to do if I bring a bass or bring one back.

gttim · #12 07-02-2010, 05:43 AM

Drive. Probably be quicker than getting through security.

Spino · #13 07-02-2010, 05:55 AM

Don't put your bass in the hold,I've heard some real horror stories about vintage instruments being destroyed and the Airlines are not obliged to pay full value if they don't want to because your baggage is only insured to a certain amount by International Law .
I checked a 25yr old Acoustic guitar once and although the guitar was not damaged the "indistructable "case was. The 2nd time the Airline lost 4 guitars ,I got them back 3 days later and made a claim for lost studio time and after a lot of stress they paid up but not in full .That was the last time I put anything in the hold.
I think it's a misconception that a E Bass will not fit in the overhead but I could be wrong .The difference in length between a gigbagged JB and a semi Ac Guitar is about 6 ins and all e guitars will fit in the oh . There is also a space right at the back of the plane on both sides behind the last seats where a instrument in any sort of case will fit no problem.Check with the airline ,they'll give you all specs of the oh's and available space .
If you do take it on board check in early and as soon as boarding in announced be one of the 1st in the line cuz those Oh's fill up pretty quickly. G'luck

chrisisnotevil · #14 07-02-2010, 08:24 AM

Flew from the UK to Amsterdam and back, with it in a locked hardcase stowed in the hold. The only problem I had was not knowing where the oversize baggage claim was at Schipol, and checking it on the way back due to a horrendous queue.

Joe Nerve · #15 07-02-2010, 08:31 AM

I traveled many times, in the US and Europe, with my bass and never had any trouble bringing it onboard. I was told by an airline to just request early boarding (cuz you have an expensive instrument) when you get to the gate and that's what I've always done.

WJGreer · #16 07-02-2010, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spino

I think it's a misconception that a E Bass will not fit in the overhead but I could be wrong

You are. The overheads are generally shorter than a standard hard case and definitely are shorter on regional jets like most airlines fly to Austin these days. Even if you could fit it in, you would face the ire of about six passengers whose overhead space you would be totally occupying with your instrument. Or, they would ignore you and stack their 40 pound rollaboards right on top of it. In my opinion and experience, there's more opportunity for something to go wrong trying to store a bass in an overhead bin than in the hold.

Also, none of my advice applies to hollowbody acoustic guitars, which are clearly more fragile than electric basses.

StuartV · #17 07-02-2010, 11:00 AM

I was talking to another bass player earlier this week that told me he always flies with his bass in a gig bag specifically so that the airline won't make him let them put it in the hold, and will, instead, let him carry it on and store it in the coat closet.

I think requesting early boarding when you check in is excellent advice!

thatonedude02 · #18 07-02-2010, 11:01 AM

Check out my recent post here: Extra security when flying with your bass

This will at least let you lock your checked bass case with a non-TSA approved lock!

superiorpine · #19 07-02-2010, 11:04 AM

Here is the challenge: If you are going to carry on, you are better off with a soft bag, because it won't take as much space. But, anyone anywhere along the line can tell you to check the bass. The ticket counter help, security people, ticket takers or steward staff can all request that you put your bass in the hold, regardless of what permission you got from whomever up the line. Guitars may be let on with hard cases because they don't look as large as a Fender bass case, which can resemble a firearms case.

I bought an SKB bass case, and have used it without incident. If it is the second or third bag you check, then it makes sense to look at shipping, due to the cost of checking bags, particularly if they ding you for an over-sized piece.

Good luck.

lmfreeman9 · #20 07-02-2010, 03:01 PM

Depends on the airline, check with them first. Some like AA let you carry on and will store it in the closet up front. Most do not.

Detuning the strings prevents the tension from snapping the head if it is dropped.

I think Fedex ground for about $30 is the best option, I have found when not driving and I travel frequently. Also, buying a travel bass I don't care about would be good.