Buying a seat on a plane

[anon_6j591b0]

I'm sitting in the Newark Airport waiting to get on an Alaska Airlines flight. When I checked in just now the lady asked if I had bought a ticket for a seat for my bass. When I told her I didn't think you could do that anymore she said she'd just put a cello in a seat the other day. Hmmmm.
Next time I fly it'll probably be Jet Blue so on the way to security I asked them if they had any problems putting a bass in a seat and they said no. At $179 Seattle-NYC this seems to be pretty economical...and much safer.

In a recent discussion of getting an instrument across the USA someone shot down my suggestion of buying a seat saying after 911 you couldn't but a bass on a plane anymore......so what's the deal? Both Alaska and Jet Blue say it's OK. Anyone done it lately?

It's not a huge deal for me as my bass is only slightly larger than a cello in a fiberglass trunk and checks as regular baggage most of the time but for a couple hundred bucks I might consider the added security and insurance it arrives when and where I do. It's also nice not to have to deal with the fiberglass monstrosity once the flying part is done and yer back to stuffing yer bass into ground vehicles and walking with it.

jeff

[M Ramsey]

Originally Posted by jbonny

I'm sitting in the Newark Airport waiting to get on an Alaska Airlines flight. When I checked in just now the lady asked if I had bought a ticket for a seat for my bass. When I told her I didn't think you could do that anymore she said she'd just put a cello in a seat the other day. Hmmmm.
Next time I fly it'll probably be Jet Blue so on the way to security I asked them if they had any problems putting a bass in a seat and they said no. At $179 Seattle-NYC this seems to be pretty economical...and much safer.

In a recent discussion of getting an instrument across the USA someone shot down my suggestion of buying a seat saying after 911 you couldn't but a bass on a plane anymore......so what's the deal? Both Alaska and Jet Blue say it's OK. Anyone done it lately?

It's not a huge deal for me as my bass is only slightly larger than a cello in a fiberglass trunk and checks as regular baggage most of the time but for a couple hundred bucks I might consider the added security and insurance it arrives when and where I do. It's also nice not to have to deal with the fiberglass monstrosity once the flying part is done and yer back to stuffing yer bass into ground vehicles and walking with it.

jeff

Let us know if you get to fly with your bass in a seat. I'm sure there's plenty of folks here who would be interested.

[damonsmith]

The single biggest problem with flying with a bass is the fact that you can never get a straight answer that all the employee's are aware of across the board.
Bringing it on is a great Idea but what if the cabin crew won't let you? then you are stuck with your bass in a soft case that you can't possibly check.

[musicman5string]

From personal experience, I couldn't actually fit my bass in a seat on most planes, unless they are very large with high ceilings. I got stuck once after buying a seat having to put it in the cargo hold because it wouldn't fit. Luckily, it came out ok. But these days, I would just rent a flight case and check it. Security is still a major hassle (though necessary) and it's probably just easier anyway.

[Blaine]

i saw edgar meyer in laguardia airport last year with his bass. he buys 2 first class seats. if he has to fly coach he said he has to buy 3 seats.

[anon_6j591b0]

Originally Posted by musicman5string

From personal experience, I couldn't actually fit my bass in a seat on most planes, unless they are very large with high ceilings. I got stuck once after buying a seat having to put it in the cargo hold because it wouldn't fit. Luckily, it came out ok. But these days, I would just rent a flight case and check it. Security is still a major hassle (though necessary) and it's probably just easier anyway.

I've never tried it but I do remember the pics in the Rufus Read method book where he shows how to secure it in a seat neck down/pin up. Looks doable...I'm gonna look at that again when I get home. Depending on the airline and their seat size doing the Edgar Meyer and not trying to get it in one seat is probably sensible. There just ain't no easy way though is there?

[Paul Warburton]

Hell, I did this for years....just maks sure you get a BULKHEAD seat!

[Stan Haskins]

Those pictures from Rufus' book are pretty outdated. Commercial airline seats do not have nearly as much headroom or leg clearance as they did in the 70s and 80s.

[Marcus Johnson]

On a recent tour, I was checking out the bulkhead seat on a JAL 747... I don't think it would work for bass travel anymore. Not much more room than a regular seat.

[musicman5string]

Originally Posted by Stan Haskins

Those pictures from Rufus' book are pretty outdated. Commercial airline seats do not have nearly as much headroom or leg clearance as they did in the 70s and 80s.

Right.
Plus, the comment about a cello being in a seat: I dunno but, my bass is twice the size of a cello.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by musicman5string

Right.
Plus, the comment about a cello being in a seat: I dunno but, my bass is twice the size of a cello.

Must be a real small bass!

[musicman5string]

Are people buying seats or checking their Czech Ease basses?

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Czeching them.



Try the veal.



Seriously, there are special flight cases made for them. Lynn Seaton uses one every summer when he comes in from Texas for the Aebersold camps. I ask him about it ever year and he always says it's no problem.