Airline travel with prized possession

Gigbags fit in the overheads. Didn't think they did till my last flight about a month ago. Only thing ya gotta do is make sure you're one of the first to board the plane. If they won't let you board after first class, and you can't find a free overhead they can store it in a closet (what we used to do up till last time), BUT you run the risk that there's no room. I called the airline to ask them to be specific with me about this "if there was no room" thing, and was told I wouldn't be able to get on the plane with it. I've heard it happens, but of all my and my friends experiences (dozens), I've never seen it.

I've traveled also using just a standard hardshell case, and it's been fine. I just taped the case with duct tape to make sure it didn't open. People say they'll tell you to take the tape off, but that hasn't been my experience - and I live in NY. Travelled internationally also. Actually, ONE time they did make me open it but only because for some dumb reason the lady at check in though I said I was checking a "rifle" when I said "guitar". I could understand as they both sound so similar.

All in all, I don't think you'll have a problem either way.

When possible I like to carry my bass onboard but thats not always possible

I just got back from Texas two days ago and I flew with my bass to and from there. I have flown several times with my basses mostly in the states but also a couple of times to South America and Africa. If you are going to check your bass in as baggage I would definitely recommend some form of a flight case. I have checked in with the standard type of hard shell case before and although my bass arrived fine the case got the crap beat out of it.

Most recently I flew and carried my bass onboard with me. Most overhead compartments are between 36-37" long which is slightly longer than the standard electric guitar gig bag. The bass I carried with me this last time was a short scale Gibson which fit nicely in an Ibanez guitar gig bag that has a detachable backpack. I've also put my headless Status Stealth in the same bag and they fit nicely in the overhead.

Joe Nerve said:

Gigbags fit in the overheads. Didn't think they did till my last flight about a month ago. Only thing ya gotta do is make sure you're one of the first to board the plane. If they won't let you board after first class, and you can't find a free overhead they can store it in a closet (what we used to do up till last time), BUT you run the risk that there's no room. I called the airline to ask them to be specific with me about this "if there was no room" thing, and was told I wouldn't be able to get on the plane with it. I've heard it happens, but of all my and my friends experiences (dozens), I've never seen it.

I've traveled also using just a standard hardshell case, and it's been fine. I just taped the case with duct tape to make sure it didn't open. People say they'll tell you to take the tape off, but that hasn't been my experience - and I live in NY. Travelled internationally also. Actually, ONE time they did make me open it but only because for some dumb reason the lady at check in though I said I was checking a "rifle" when I said "guitar". I could understand as they both sound so similar.

All in all, I don't think you'll have a problem either way.

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I use to put tape and nylon ties on my regular hardshell cases before I checked them in as baggage. They will ALWAYS be opened after you check them in but before they are loaded on the plane. Sometimes they will be retaped and sometimes they won't so if your latches are so so about staying shut you run the risk of them opening.

I use one of these. Works great.

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The Hammer said:

They will ALWAYS be opened after you check them in but before they are loaded on the plane.

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Sorry, but that is simply NOT true. I've travelled (in bands) and over time seen roughly 5 dozen taped cases get checked in without a single one getting opened up and retaped. I'm certain of it as we all had our own duct tape and know how we taped em shut. Not sure why people make the claim that you do. Do you think they open every piece of luggage also?

Joe Nerve said:

Sorry, but that is simply NOT true. I've travelled (in bands) and over time seen roughly 5 dozen taped cases get checked in without a single one getting opened up and retaped. I'm certain of it as we all had our own duct tape and know how we taped em shut. Not sure why people make the claim that you do. Do you think they open every piece of luggage also?

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I've never had them open a bass case. They open my suitcase about half the time. You can tell when they've been searched because the TSA puts a paper inside saying it was searched.

I put two new and personally prized F Basses in a SKB golf case but followed instructions not to lock them.
I regretted after cos they opened the golf case... opend the gig bags and dented/chip some paint off my AC6.
There' nothing i can do about it.

Duct tape... never do without it!

Showdown said:

I've never had them open a bass case. They open my suitcase about half the time. You can tell when they've been searched because the TSA puts a paper inside saying it was searched.

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yep I've got a pretty good stack of those slips now.

Joe Nerve said:

Sorry, but that is simply NOT true. I've travelled (in bands) and over time seen roughly 5 dozen taped cases get checked in without a single one getting opened up and retaped. I'm certain of it as we all had our own duct tape and know how we taped em shut. Not sure why people make the claim that you do. Do you think they open every piece of luggage also?

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Just speaking from experience with air travel post 9/11. In the 30+ times I have checked in musical equipment since then it has always been opened. Maybe mine just looks more suspicous.

First off, those of you who have travelled with gigbags in carry-on recently are very lucky, as most airlines are cracking down on it. I finally bought a flight case and I'm glad I did. While you do still have to deal with the 400 lb. gorillas tossing your bags around, at least you don't have to deal with some idiot putting their 50 lb. carry-on bag on top of your bass. My basses have gotten way less damage from checking them as baggage.

Having said that, I have carried a double bass gigbag on, and back in the day I had no problems. Now I wouldn't even think of it.

JimmyM said:

First off, those of you who have travelled with gigbags in carry-on recently are very lucky, as most airlines are cracking down on it. I finally bought a flight case and I'm glad I did. While you do still have to deal with the 400 lb. gorillas tossing your bags around, at least you don't have to deal with some idiot putting their 50 lb. carry-on bag on top of your bass. My basses have gotten way less damage from checking them as baggage.

Having said that, I have carried a double bass gigbag on, and back in the day I had no problems. Now I wouldn't even think of it.

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yeah I was worried about carrying my bass on this past week as it seems that they change what you can and cannot carry on about every other day and the only thing that they got on to me about was that my contact lens solution and hair gel bottles were bigger than what is allowed in carry on. Go figure

I think the real solution here is for all of us to buy our own airplanes. Shaped like a bass. Y'know, like Geddy Lee has.

Forget carry-on and gig bags. Believe me!

One solution if you are going for a recording session or a series of gigs on a distant coast: Fed-Ex.

I have used Fed-Ex twice now, and had zero problems (besides finding their offices). It is not cheap, but your instrument stays packed as you packed it. I shipped a 4K+ Sadowsky, and lived to tell about it. You are covered for the declared value, which much to my horror, I found written on the outside of the box! That is scarey.

For flying and checking my bass, I have used a heavy-duty ATA flight-case with all-recessed hardware. TSA will break locks if they want to look inside, so don't bother locking it! I have been pretty lucky, but they have always looked inside, and have even left my bass partially dissassembled on one trip.

You have to leave your checked case (of any kind) unlocked, or have it forced open. You can say "Never happens to me" all you want. I promise it will happen, and soon. Don't bother with locks, unless they are TSA locks, for which they have a "master" key. These locks can be found on line. Crooks probably will just steal the bass in it's case anyway.

I ask you: If you are putting your bass into the hands of dozens of people who you cannot see or monitor, do you think a lock of any kind is going to protect you?

scarekrow said:

I'd like to hear some of your experiences with air travel. I've got an anvil flight case and used it a few times with no problems. I've heard that it's risky to depend on a flight case and that quite a few of you are using carry-on gig bags. Do these bags usually fit in the overhead compartments? Anyone gotten away with a double instrument bag (2 basses)? What do you think is the better choice?

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Only do carry-on if you are going on American Airlines. Seems they are the only ones allowing them. Theothers will make you check it. Just got back from Nashville where we went on American and took a guitar in a gig bag. No problems.

1) Carry the bass in a gig bag on your shoulder.
2) Don't say a single word about it at the check-in. If they ask you, tell 'em you're a working musician and your prized instrument is fragile and must follow you on the plane.
3) Once on board, smile at the nicest stewardess, and ask her to put your bass in one of their closets. It's way better than put it in the overhead compartments since those are usually overfulled and accessible to all kind of passengers (even those a$$***** spending their time on board taking this and that from their suitcases until ... oops, I'm sorry ... your bass fell on the ground! )
This is from a bassist and travel agent.

P.S. This works 99% of times. There's still the possibility that at the check-in or at the boarding gate you'll step into one of those lovely human beings that usually give vent to his/her sexual frustration on their customers and he/she is unwilling to let you bring the bass on board, no matter what.
In this case just say that you want to consign personally the bass to have it stored with the checked baggage at the end of the storing process and that after landing you want your bass to be picked first and given directly to you.
Have in mind that this is one of your rights.
Furthermore, if this happens at the boarding gate, chances are that this lovely creature is part of the flying crew so you could kindly ask him/her to supervise the whole process to be sure that nothing wrong happens to your prized instrument. Chances are that instead of staying open air waiting the end of the whole storage he/she, at the end, will let you bring the bass on board.

I do a lot of flying with a bass. It's a crap shoot if they let you on board with a gig bag, so I gave up on that. I used to put it in an overheard all the time, that has changed. I also use the SKB 44rw bass safe. Works GREAT! leave it unlocked or they will unlock it for you. Put your bass in it's gig bag inside and when you get to the hotel room, take out the gig bag and travel light. It is an awesome case that cost just over $100. Surprised it is not a more popular item.

BigMikeW said:

Only do carry-on if you are going on American Airlines. Seems they are the only ones allowing them. Theothers will make you check it. Just got back from Nashville where we went on American and took a guitar in a gig bag. No problems.

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I have seen many guitarists forced to gate check on AA. I'm really glad it worked for you. It may be that Nashville get's a little better treatment in that department, for obvious reasons. On a flight to Lexington KY from Dallas/FT. Worth, American Airlines forced me at the gate while boarding to put a bass that was in a cheap gig bag in the cargo hold. That was after all other AA flights on my trip allowed me to carry-on. I did all of the right things. I called on all of the charm gods, the rights gods, the fragile professional tools gods, etc. The young lady had "spoken." All her managers backed her up (yes, it came to that).

I agree they (AA) are a little better than Delta in their treatment of musicians (who isn't?), but as others have noted, it all depends on the preference of individual airline personnel. No written policies over-ride their preferences, I assure you. They will cite "safety," and the argument is over. The time I was forced to put the gig bag in the cargo hold was not a full flight, and the aircraft was not only the same type, it was the exact same plane I flew out on. This inexperienced girl thought it was unsafe. Whoever trains these folks is to blame.

I have felt pretty angry about this for a long time. Now, I just use Fed-Ex. Flying with my best instruments on the airlines is pretty much over. I feel so relieved.

It is possible to carry a hardshell case with you onboard? three years ago a relative of mine did it, but now he needs to fly with a bass and doesn't know what to do

If you have a hardshell case, I put your likelihood of being forced to gate check at about 95%.