Flying Internationally w/ Bass Guitar

[GwenOnBass]

I've decided to take the Kinal bass, and use a

The bass player that normally plays in this band suggested I try to take the bass as a carry on and gate check if necessary. I just bought the new version of the RB Continental called the Voyager, but I have the original too. I'm going to try the Voyager and try to gate check it or carry on if I can. Hopefully your experiences applies to the new version too, and gate checking will hopefully help.

This infos I bring to you as one who, in an earlier career incarnation, personally logged more than one million air miles. And in my immediate enviorns are three former flight attendants who are more than willing to chime in if needed. (I was a business traveler, not a FA, FWIW)

The difference between a gate check and a baggage check is the distance to the cargo hold. Contrary to the old Samsonite commercials, air carriers do not employ gorillas. Not as baggage handlers, anyway. Your FA will rip your arm off if you press that call button again. "We're out of chicken, not fuel."

You are sharing your cabin space with a large number of people whose carry on possessions are as dear to them as yours is to you. Cabin space is always limited. Your gate agent holds sole discretion on what (and who) goes on board. They have heard it all.

My carry on baggage in these modern, now-a-go-go days is a rather small bag for my in-flight necessities, my handbag and my coat if it's winter. And it's often a struggle to find space for those. So do think about what you are doing when you ask to bring an item on board the size of a bass.

Bon voyage!

 

[OhDee]

Hey I have a question on this topic:
I will be purchasing a Bass in the US and flying it back to Europe,
My gut feeling was just to go for gig bag (like Reunion Blues) and put it overhead, because that's what I did with my classical guitar when travelling with. Wouldn't feel safe to check in anything but an actual heavy duty flight case which I don't intend on buying.
Like Google recommended, I thought to reserve seats at the back of the plane to be the among the first to have access to the overhead.
Question is - What if it dosen't fit/they don't let me?
What would you do?
1. Put it in the cargo with the gig bag
2. Try to purchase a ticket for the bass if possible
3. Refuse to board the flight, pay the 150$ or so (+difference in rates) for changing the ticket to the next possible flight, in the meantime sell kidney and buy flight case
4. Other...

I mean seriously the first 3 options are not actually options... I'm flying with Swiss Airlines so I can assume they are going to be super strict...

 

[GwenOnBass]

Your bass may fit in overhead storage, or it may not. Overhead storage space varies from carrier to carrier.

I fly my bass without incident on transatlantic runs as checked baggage in a Reunion Blues Continental gig bag. I've also flown with my bass as a carry-on on American domestic flights. Last time around I spoke with the gate agent about an hour before boarding. She assigned me priority boarding so I was able to glom overhead storage space before anyone else got near my seat. The gig bag took up most of the overhead bin. The FAs were okay with that for whatever reason.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

One option would be to buy an inexpensive bass and ship it to your destination via Fd Ex, or UPS.
Maybe try to sell it, or donate it to a worthy cause before returning.
Or, arrange for the purchase of an inexpensive bass at the destination, and sell it before returning.

 

[ookla the mok]

Anyone have more updated experiences since the new FAA rules? Flying to Switzerland via Delta in 2 weeks, trying to decide which case to buy (gator titan or reunion blues)

 

[Pilgrim]

I don't trust airlines to make good, accurate or informed decisions. If I am ever forced to bring an instrument with me on a flight, it will be in a hardshell case, fully insured and checked.

Any airline can decline to let your bass on the plane as a carry-on (and most will charge you at least $30 for that option), and if they allow it on, you'll have to have it in a gig bag. But if you bring a gig bag and then some gate person tells you that you have to check it, you're screwed. And regardless of letters, laws etc, you can't argue with a gate attendant. They win, you lose.

Nope. Not going to happen to me. Assume worst case, get hard shell case and check it - eliminate uncertainty.

The best trick I've heard for checking a bass if you don't have a really good hardshell case is to pick up a used hardshell golf club case, put the bass in a gig bag, and put it inside the golf club case with tons of padding. Used golf club cases can often be found pretty cheap.

 

[MrLenny1]

Have a good gig.

 

[BassHappy]

Calton Cases?

Not for me, I don't carry a Fender Jazz or clone, but I am hearing unreal things about these beasts of a bass case. Totally light - made of fiberglass and made to check your baby in baggage - right in the underbelly of the plane. People jump up and down on the cases to no avail. Made in Austin and around for years - but never made a bass case until now. Poor video but gives you the idea:



I am hearing around $1200, but if you are carrying a legacy piece it may be more than worth it.