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Basses Planes and etc

#41
winston said:
Following this thread with interest. I sometimes fly with an acoustic parlor guitar in a gig bag that's small enough to fit in overhead bins.

I've heard of some people putting basses in a gig bag and then into a hardshell golfclub case (I've seen some sturdy-looking SKBs). I'm not sure of the dimensions of these, and I don't know if large-bodied basses would fit but AFAIK most US airlines let you check two pieces of luggage and a golf case (how's that for catering to the needs of rich old white guys? ;) ) for no extra charge. I don't know if the SKB Bass Safe would pass for a golf case.
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it is actually 2bags per pax 50lbs each ,you can take a golf bag in lieu of a regular check bag....some airlines would let their frequent travelers to check an extra bag if traveling on business first class tkt
 
#42
Delta is the worst in my experience also. Missed gigs due to them.
I just flew Alaska and called ahead to ask about carry-on and overhead dimensions. They said if it fit in 55" o.h., no problem. I had them make a note that I'd be bringing an instrument and all went ok. I have to fly delta in a month so I'm going to look at the Bass Safe and cross my fingers.
 
#47
Think its quite different in Norway. I would refuse to let my bass get checked in here, seriously they treat bagage like **** in most places.

Once my band took the flight to Oslo and we got even the drums in as hand bagage :p

The trussrod created a bit of fuzz in the x-ray departement though. And when my drummer said his drums contained bombs we kinda had to wait for a while :p
 
#49
Siggy_Bass said:
Think its quite different in Norway. I would refuse to let my bass get checked in here, seriously they treat bagage like **** in most places.

Once my band took the flight to Oslo and we got even the drums in as hand bagage :p

The trussrod created a bit of fuzz in the x-ray departement though. And when my drummer said his drums contained bombs we kinda had to wait for a while :p
Click to expand...

reminds me of when I took my EMG pickups and preamp in my hand luggage, the little wires, 9 volt battery knobs and little black boxes did not please the german custom officers too much, I was "randomly selected" for a full search
 
#51
Chartered a Lear Jet for a trip a few years back (paid for by a client). It was waiting for me when I got to the airport...captain asked me if I was ready to go and off we went.

It then dawned on me that the best solution is to get very, very famous and just screw the commercial airlines altogether. Unfortunately that just hasnt worked out just yet.
 
#53
I couldn't believe that two years ago, when I took my Steinberger XL-2 on a plane, nobody even blinked! In its gig bag, it looks like I'm carrying on a shotgun. At the very least, I could have caused an incredible amount of damage if I suddenly started swinging it around like a baseball bat. :p

It was great having a bass that was so easy to tuck into an overhead bin; it even fit in the little slanted space behind the rollaboards, and I never had to worry about it getting banged up.

Anyway, I guess those days are over. :(
 
#55
I've never had problems travelling with my bass as carry-on, but I'm flying back to montreal from paris soon, and the airline warned me it wouldn't be possible. My problem is that I already have a big suitcase and my Czech-ease in the flight-case too, so I can't check the EB in too (and I won't even mentioned the number of emails I had to exchange for them to accept the upright).

My solution : I'm taking a screwdriver with me. If they say it's oversize carry-on, I'll take the bass out and remove the neck. Hopefully, they'll let me on before I do that... (in that case, I'll have to toss the screwdriver - but that's cheaper than having to fix my bass...)
 
#56
I've never been able to carry a bass onto a plane - always been forced to check it in a hard case (gator and musicman HSC). I've flown internationally with Qantas, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines (usually between New Zealand or Australia and Hong Kong, and never had any problems with damage.

Everyone was friendly, understanding and sympathetic, but unyielding when it came to carrying it on, but Singapore Airlines staff were nasty bureauocratic b*stards, even though their 'conditions of service' started allowances would be made for 'delicate items such as musical instruments'. :hmm:

Speaking of bureaucracy, don't even get me started on Australian customs ...
 

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