Checking your bass guitar on an airplane

[Manticore]

I think you would buy an appropriate case for them to travel in, which NONE of those cases in the video are. The pearl clutching and finger pointing in this thread is hilarious. Flight cases are a couple hundred bucks. So are cheap bases, so are rental bases. Pick your poison, or stay home.

Very well said.

 

[mikeswals]

Here is my bass in the first class lounge at London Heathrow. I thought everyone travels like this.

Maybe its because you went first class, but wife and I being coach and the flight was completely sold out. At Heathrow I was told to put my brand new Wal with the oversize luggage & golf bags stack.
I was given the argument our US travelling musicians rules didnt apply in UK to take the bass onbaord, and that If I didnt want to put my bass in luggage, then I can just cancel my flight and rebook because there were no extra seats to buy on that flight. It kind of drew a security guard over to listen-in this little bit of commotion going on.
So in the cargo hold it went.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I think you would buy an appropriate case for them to travel in, which NONE of those cases in the video are. The pearl clutching and finger pointing in this thread is hilarious. Flight cases are a couple hundred bucks. So are cheap bases, so are rental bases. Pick your poison, or stay home.

Those looked like acoustic guitar or ABG cases in the video. I am not sure they make cases much more substantial than hardshell for those, or what the shock of being thrown around would do to a high end acoustic instrument, even if it's protected?

I can imagine surface woods and soundboards cracking.

Anyway, the guy should be fired. Those jobs pay pretty well, I'm sure someone with a better attitude would be willing to take it.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Carry bass on your shoulder in a gig bag. I’ve done this many times domestically- absolutely ZERO issues. A colleague of mine does many overseas mini-tours annually (USA—> Europe) and always carries his on the aircraft without issue. This is what I would do if I were performing internationally. The only precautions I would take would be to use a higher quality gig bag that holds the instrument very tightly, also I probably wouldn’t bring my vintage 1962 jazz bass or my USA Lakland 4464. I’d opt for my Japanese P bass or mim Geddy Lee

 

[JohnnyChatter]

Carry bass on your shoulder in a gig bag. I’ve done this many times domestically- absolutely ZERO issues. A colleague of mine does many overseas mini-tours annually (USA—> Europe) and always carries his on the aircraft without issue. This is what I would do if I were performing internationally. The only precautions I would take would be to use a higher quality gig bag that holds the instrument very tightly, also I probably wouldn’t bring my vintage 1962 jazz bass or my USA Lakland 4464. I’d opt for my Japanese P bass or mim Geddy Lee

I did that for years... than one time after flying to Florida with my bass I got stopped trying to fly back and they made it a huge deal... I just check it with a really good case now and bring my beater bass that just has nice pickups in it. Sounds great actually. I would still be upset if they treaded my guitars like that though no matter the case.

 

[sdjfoh]

I flew with my bass last summer. They said it was oversized so couldn’t be used as a carry-on. Luckily I bought a fairly recent SKB TSA approved case on TB here and it worked great. I put an AirTag in it and could monitor it when needed.

 

[DigitalMan]

Maybe its because you went first class, but wife and I being coach and the flight was completely sold out. At Heathrow I was told to put my brand new Wal with the oversize luggage & golf bags stack.
I was given the argument our US travelling musicians rules didnt apply in UK to take the bass onbaord, and that If I didnt want to put my bass in luggage, then I can just cancel my flight and rebook because there were no extra seats to buy on that flight. It kind of drew a security guard over to listen-in this little bit of commotion going on.
So in the cargo hold it went.

This is the saddest story ever told on TB.

I am so sorry my brother from the better clef.

 

[dannylectro]

Hope theres a special place in HELL for this guy!

A special place in a Cinnabon…