Best case to fly overseas

BassLover26 · May 10, 2009

Im not sure if this is the right place for this thread but whatever.

Ok I have a korean made 5 string bass that I want to take overseas. I am going to the middle east for a month and Im gonna feel lonely without my bass. :atoz:

I decided to take it with me on the 12 hour flight. But I want a case that will give me peace of mind knowing that my bass will not get broken. Any ideas on what case to buy or any extra precautions to take?

I have heard bubble wrap the head and detune the string but Im not 100% sure.

If you have any stories about travel overseas with your bass feel free to share. Thanks for all the help

bigtexashonk · May 10, 2009

I traveled with my bass in a standard SKB hardshell to London, Kyrgistan, Afghanistan, Qatar, Dubai, UAE, Bahrain, Djibouti Africa and back to the US via Bahrain to Lonon using commercial and military transport and had no issues in checked luggage or pallatized loads.

BassLover26 · May 10, 2009

did you take any special precautions or anything??

nemo · May 10, 2009

The airline companies usually allow to take the bass with you on board in soft gig bag. On the airplane, they will take it and put into the coats locker near the airplane entrance. After landing, they will give it to you back.
Check with your airline company, they usually respect the musicians, you just need to pretend it is very expensive instrument and you are well known musician..

I would not trust putting the bass to hands of airport gorillas that can throw a 50 pound luggage on to your hard case from height.

The other option is to disassemble neck and body, wrap it well and put it into your luggage.

BassLover26 · May 10, 2009

Ok, If I put it into a hardshell case will they allow me to place into the small locker? I have seen other musicians do it before. I am flying delta

conqr · May 10, 2009

Don't know about now, but in the late 90s/early 2000s I used to actually lay it sideways in the overhead, on top of other people's hand luggage. This was a Soundgear bass though, in a very flat padded bag, so it was an extra flat and compact package. On a couple occasions they also let me put it in the coat locker.

bassbrad · May 10, 2009

You can carry on a bass in a bag like has been said but I doubt you will get on a plane with a bass in a hard case, too big. One thing to also consider is shipping the instrument ahead by FedEx or UPS and then returning it the same way. Common carriers can insure your instrument and track it.

BassLover26 · May 10, 2009

so you think take it in a gig bag? or should I contact the airline and see if they will let me take a hardshell

bassbrad · May 10, 2009

You can call but that does not mean everything will be ok on flight days, best bet is a gig bag but no accessories just the bass and don't be piggy with your other carry on. Be sure to pack any cables, electronics and such in your checked luggage, it should not go thru security and would be confiscated as contraband.

BassLover26 · May 10, 2009

so put my cables and such in luggage that goes on the plane. NOT CARRY ON?

JustDavid · May 10, 2009

No first-hand experience, but I've heard a LOT about basses destined for carry-on ending up being switched to checked baggage. That's not a situation I want a gig-bagged bass of mine in. Word was that printed assurances from the airline meant nothing when it came time to board the plane.

I don't want to worry you, but I also don't want you to arrive with 2 half basses.

I've heard of taking the neck off & then shipping the bass in a suitcase. & there's always ATA cases.

Searches & then a thread in the Basses forum might give further illumination.

cbass1 · May 10, 2009

Just do what I did when I went over seas. Go get a used anvil keyboard ATA case (one big enough) and put your bass in the your hsc IN the ATA case. And Check it and forget it !!!
Bulletproof. I put two basses in a double fender gig bag, inside my keyboard case, fill the voids with cables, stands etc. Weighs a ton, but works awesome. put some wheels on the end, a handle on the other, no stress, and you can pick up a used case on CG for 100$ easy.

BassLover26 · May 10, 2009

I was looking at the anvil cases before... I really dont like the weight on them. I dont plan on taking my bass there all the time. Only about once a year. So would a heavy duty flight hardshell case work? Not anvil

Jim Carr · May 10, 2009

cbass1 said:
Just do what I did when I went over seas. Go get a used anvil keyboard ATA case (one big enough) and put your bass in the your hsc IN the ATA case. And Check it and forget it !!!
Bulletproof...

I have done this, too, though I pack a gig bag, cables, etc, in my carry on. You can attempt to carry a gig bagged bass on board, but I have been forced to check instruments this way, and must admit that it is pretty frustrating.

ATA cases are heavy, hard to handle, and even hard to fit in typical vehicles. Mine (see below) will not fit in the trunk of most cars, and is wider than the back seat of most cars. It can usually be wedged in the back at an angle, but don't count on using the back seat for passengers. I like my ATA case, and have toured with it, but painting it Olive Drab was probably a bad idea. After 911, as the the airline ticket workers reached for the phone they would all say, "I'm sorry, but you can't bring a firearm into the passenger terminal."

Caution, do not lock your ATA case. The TSA will break the locks. There may be some newer ATA cases with so called TSA locks, but honestly, how secure are those? I assume that most crooks know how to break a lock anyway. Locks are to make you feel better, period.

However, having insurance is a good thing, and I don't just mean home owners or renters. These will probably NOT cover you, despite what they will tell you. Get real musical instrument insurance.

Finally, I suggest you do a TB search on the words anvils, engine blocks, donkeys and barrels of bull semen. Seriously. You should get a few hits about air travel...

Got my ATA from Affordable Cases. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

BassLover26 · May 10, 2009

Jim Carr said:
I have done this, too, though I pack a gig bag, cables, etc, in my carry on. You can attempt to carry a gig bagged bass on board, but I have been forced to check instruments this way, and must admit that it is pretty frustrating.

ATA cases are heavy, hard to handle, and even hard to fit in typical vehicles. Mine (see below) will not fit in the trunk of most cars, and is wider than the back seat of most cars. It can usually be wedged in the back at an angle, but don't count on using the back seat for passengers. I like my ATA case, and have toured with it, but painting it Olive Drab was probably a bad idea. After 911, as the the airline ticket workers reached for the phone they would all say, "I'm sorry, but you can't bring a firearm into the passenger terminal."

Caution, do not lock your ATA case. The TSA will break the locks. There may be some newer ATA cases with so called TSA locks, but honestly, how secure are those? I assume that most crooks know how to break a lock anyway. Locks are to make you feel better, period.

However, having insurance is a good thing, and I don't just mean home owners or renters. These will probably NOT cover you, despite what they will tell you. Get real musical instrument insurance.

Finally, I suggest you do a TB search on the words anvils, engine blocks, donkeys and barrels of bull semen. Seriously. You should get a few hits about air travel...

Got my ATA from Affordable Cases. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I like the affordable cases, but 200 for a case?? is that worth it. I dont know, any other ideas?

Jim Carr · May 10, 2009

Some large music stores rent ATA cases. Looking for a used one as others have suggested is a good way to go. Call A buddy who tours, and see if you can borrow one.

I recommend that if you buy one, you get the full ATA recessed hardware model. They take an unbelievable beating.

Petebass · May 11, 2009

I'm actually quite surprised no-one's memtioned Hiscox cases yet. I bought one when I got sick of carrying around bulky/heavy flight cases.

It's brilliant for plane travel because:-

* It's tough.
* It's not heavy (so no paying extra for exceeding baggage weight limits)
* It's easy to carry around once you get where you're going.
* It costs less than a typical flight case.

http://www.hiscoxcases.com/

bigtexashonk · May 11, 2009

BassLover26 said:
did you take any special precautions or anything??

All I did was lock the case. The SKB's do have the new locks that airport security can open without your key for inspection.

I also carried a SansAmp Programmable BDDI and a tuner in the case and all survived the trip.

Jim Carr · May 11, 2009

Here are a few of the links to some of the previous threads on this topic in the last few years.
This list is far from complete and is in no particular order. Enjoy!

etoncrow · May 11, 2009

As a drummer back in the 70's I used an Anvil ATA style case for my hardware, snares & cymbals. Traveled through Germany, Greece, Crete, Ethiopia and Turkey flying via mostly military C-130's almost everyday for two months (USO tour). Nothing was damaged until I arrived back at my home airport. I jumped up on the edge of the conveyor and looked down a chute to see two attendants forcing this case onto another conveyor. When I finally got to it and opened the case up I discovered they had turned a 24" heavy Zildjian ride cymbal inside out. Do you realize how hard that is to do? Moral to this story is no matter how smart you pack there is some moron some where dumb enough to outwit you.

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