Flying With A Bass - What Do I Do?

Verticos said:

So, I have a gig in Florida at disneyworld in 3 weeks. What should I do with my bass? I read the article on the Victor Wooten Bass Nature Camp website on the subject, any other things i should know? I'm planning on buying a hard case and having them put it in the flight closet like a stroller. If they refuse, I'm sunk as it will be too late to check it at that point, (not that I want too, I would be scared for its safety) and its too big to be a carry on. Advice or prior experiences? Am I approaching this the right way?
Thanks,
Steve

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ship it insured thru fedex.

or buy a cheap bass in florida and then donate it to some kid when youre through...

Make sure you're strapped in really tightly or you'll fall off.

Seriously, most airlines no longer let you put strollers onboard. I've flow domestically and internationally numerous times in the last six months with my two kids and I had to have them stow the stroller under the plane for each flight.

Basically, I'd say get a good flight case and keep the bass in it in a hard case. That should help protect it from the baggage handler sadists at the airlines.

Many guitarists/bassists will also use a gig bag and stick it in the overhead compartment. I'm not saying that's what you should do; I'm just throwing it in there as an alternative. At least you know it won't get mishandled. Also these same folks will not take their most expensive instruments on these adventures, too.

According to a 2002 memo from the TSA to the AFM, members of the musician's union are allowed to carry one instrument IN ADDITION to their other allowed carry-on baggage. I haven't tested this (I'm not an AFM member) though...

Use a soft gig bag rather than a hard case - you are much more likely to get the attendants to put it in a cabin closet like that. I have travelled from the UK to US many times with my bass and never had it refused in the cabin in a soft gig bag. That was a 777 of course, and from IN to FL you are likely to be on a smaller plane - to be safe call the airline ahead of time and ask their advice. If you are at all unsure or don't want to take ANY risks, shell out for a proper ATA approved flight case. It'll be expensive but bomb-proof.

deekay911 said:

Use a soft gig bag rather than a hard case - you are much more likely to get the attendants to put it in a cabin closet like that. I have travelled from the UK to US many times with my bass and never had it refused in the cabin in a soft gig bag. That was a 777 of course, and from IN to FL you are likely to be on a smaller plane - to be safe call the airline ahead of time and ask their advice. If you are at all unsure or don't want to take ANY risks, shell out for a proper ATA approved flight case. It'll be expensive but bomb-proof.

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Make sure you check this with the airline first, I was flying in Europe (France->Denmark with a Scandinavian Airline, not SAS though) with a guitar in a softbag, and the airline refused to let me go onboard unless I checked in the guitar, that was not an easy decision. Luckily the guitar arrived at the luggage band in Denmark, and in one piece, but I'll never take that risk again.

=(

D.Don

strap it to your back and flap your arms really hard.

The best solution I've found when I fly to gigs is to use the SKB Bass Safe.

Your bass in it's gig bag goes into the bass safe and you're rollin'!

Great product and it cost about $130 IIRC.

I flew interisland with my Fender Jazz bass. I had to check it in as baggage, but even the older Fender molded, hardshell case protected the bass well enough. I think the scarey part would be if you had to transfer from one flight to another rather than taking a non-stop flight.

Better Idea, borrow an ata case I sure would let you use mine!

I just flew with my bass over spring break. I bought an ATA case and then to make sure my bass was secure within the case I got some foam bed padding from wall-mart for 10$. I cut it down to size and double layered it. I just checked it on with the rest of my bags and picked it up when I arrived, I don't see why that wouldn't work for you.

Here's the definitive info!
Get an ATA case; your troubles are over.

Or-
You are not guaranteed to get to carry a gigbag on-board- It's a "maybe"; end of story.

You can-
Take your bass in a good hsc, to the UPS store.
For $25, they will construct a super-heavy duty cardboard box AROUND the HSC, then at check-in, have it marked and designated as "Fragile- Special Handling", and tell the luggage people that it is your valued instrument.

Ya know- I've heard, and prolly will hear, the same tired BS about luggage apes- they don't care, bla bla-Yeah, but-

With more airline trips than I can count with my instrument,- not one prob with having my bass fly this way. Not one scratch.

To those who would say that the "Fragile/Special Handling" requests are ineffective, lissen up-
No, your communications are ineffective.
I received nothing but respect, understanding, and compliance as I explained that the package contained my axe, and had a lot of agents comment about their musical preferences and such. Good vibes.

Worked for me. All the time. Not luck.

Take off the neck if its a bolt on.

SKB golf case, axe in gig bag inside is one option I've used.

Golf cases are usually exempt from oversize baggage charges (in fact I got some strange looks for trying to check it in at the oversize counter - "that's not oversize sir!"). Doesn't come apart into 2 pieces if the TSA decide to inspect it (the Bass safe comes apart and I heard stories about the halves not being properly rejoined after inspection). Holds instrument +clothes+other stuff. Will alternatively hold 2 instruments. Worked well for me when I used it. Costs about $160US.

The other way I've used is when I bought a g****r at GC and needed to get it back home (to New Zealand) was to ask at GC for a really thick g****r box - they gave me a double-thickness box with some uber-sized bubble wrap stuff left inside. Then went to Walgreens and got bubble wrap. Bubble-wrapped g****r, put in hard case. Bubble-wrapped hard case. Put case in box, surrounded by bubble-bag things that came in the box. Marked FRAGILE on all sides, checked in. Arrived no problems.

If your bass is a bolt-on, you could take off the neck and put it in a suitcase or a carry-on bag. Or, as suggested, you could buy a bass down there - a cheap one to buy, use and dispose, or a better one that you can get home using one of the above methods.

The mere possibility of having to check in a bass in a soft case is enough to stop me doing it ever again. I don't think having someone else bring along an ATA case is enough - it's I've heard of people getting through to the gate and then being made to check things in soft cases/bags.

Good luck,
Steve

Get a Clam!

http://www.casextreme.com/

My buddy turned me on to them and he travels a lot!

Elderly has the bass safe in stock.

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