Double Gig bag On a plane

[Djadja]

I haven't flown with my instruments in a long time but even then, I did it infrequently. That said, I always look to see whether my guitar (acoustic) or bass would fit in the overhead and I pay attention to other instruments boarding. I flew across country and back over the past few weeks, Southwest, and boarded early enough that all 4 legs, I could have easily put my bass in the overhead. I saw one guitar and a violin on one of the flights. Depending on the depth of your bag, I would expect that it would fit in most planes' overhead bins.

As was said, the TSA has ruled that instruments can go onboard at the discretion of the flight crew. So the advice of being early, friendly, as accomodating as you can be (if you are trying to carry on a bass, don't bring any other carryon baggage with you) and ready for other possibilities (like gate check) should be taken seriously.

Personally, I've been very interested in the SKB ATA case that you put your gig bag inside. Back in the day when I was playing on the acoustic circuit, lots of the heavy touring players put their guitars in a Calton for flights and checked it. They put their clothing in a gig bag for the flight and then switched the guitars and the clothing when they arrived at their hotels.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Just wondering if anyone here has flown with a double gig bag carrying 2 basses . Do they fit in the overhead or where do they store them on the airplane.

Really?

Go with checked baggage.

But even then the threat is real!!

 

[madidus]

I've taken one of my basses on four overseas flights - all as gate check in. On the last flight this is the state it was in when I picked it up at my destination (it's a Fender hard case). Lucky my bass was fine, but it was an anxious time until I could plug it in and play for a proper check. In future I will hire...

 

[dbljointedthumb]

I want to hear what happened on the 4th flight

Ha, the flight attendant gave me a hard "NO" before I could even finish asking and started toward gate check. Ironically it was the largest airplane of my trip AND there were a few empty seats. Luckily all was well in the end.

 

[ak56]

Gate checked items do not go in the main hold, nor do you claim them at baggage claim. You claim them at the gate/jetway. Basically they do not go through 90% of the baggage handler routine.

You don't always claim them at the gate/jetway. Flew recently, and on one of the flights, they stated up front that gate checked items would be picked up at baggage claim.

 

[JimmyM]

Ha, the flight attendant gave me a hard "NO" before I could even finish asking and started toward gate check. Ironically it was the largest airplane of my trip AND there were a few empty seats. Luckily all was well in the end.

Crazy. And this is exactly why I started checking mine in a flight case. Most flights you're fine with one in a gigbag. It's that one you're not that gives you the anxiety.

You don't always claim them at the gate/jetway. Flew recently, and on one of the flights, they stated up front that gate checked items would be picked up at baggage claim.

This is true. If they pink tag your bag, you pick it up in the jetway. If they don't, you pick it up at baggage when you hit the final destination.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Long gone are the days of friendly air travel.

QFT