Flying With A Bass - What Do I Do?

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

Here's the definitive info!
Get an ATA case; your troubles are over.

Or-
You are not guaranteed to get to carry a gigbag on-board- It's a "maybe"; end of story.

You can-
Take your bass in a good hsc, to the UPS store.
For $25, they will construct a super-heavy duty cardboard box AROUND the HSC, then at check-in, have it marked and designated as "Fragile- Special Handling", and tell the luggage people that it is your valued instrument.

Ya know- I've heard, and prolly will hear, the same tired BS about luggage apes- they don't care, bla bla-Yeah, but-

With more airline trips than I can count with my instrument,- not one prob with having my bass fly this way. Not one scratch.

To those who would say that the "Fragile/Special Handling" requests are ineffective, lissen up-
No, your communications are ineffective.
I received nothing but respect, understanding, and compliance as I explained that the package contained my axe, and had a lot of agents comment about their musical preferences and such. Good vibes.

Worked for me. All the time. Not luck.

With experience working at IAH, home of the "Houston Friendly" service....that wouldn't happen in Houston lol.

 

[mikekim]

most probably i'm an exception, but i came from california to argentina and checked a cheap $150 bass in a soft gig bag. not even a scratch on the bass AND the gig bag.
but of course, i'll use a hard case for my pedulla when going back

 

[Muss]

well I was going to say: just put your bass in it's hardshell case and use some bubble wrap, to make sure the bass doesn't move inside the case and all...
but after reading this thread, I really think you have two options:
you should spend the 120$-170$ on the "SKB Bass Safe", wich looks really good (this is the first I heard about it...)
by the way:
Invalid Link Removed

or you should send it by fedex, DHL, UPS folks...

I know that when I'll need to fly my bass I'll get a kickass flightcase rather then shipping it with the fedex, DHL, UPS dudes

let us know once you get home how things worked out for ya!
Muss
let us know what's

 

[realdeal]

With experience working at IAH, home of the "Houston Friendly" service....that wouldn't happen in Houston lol.

What wouldn't happen in Houston?
I've flown into and out of Houston with my bass, as described earlier. Often; it's a major "thoroughfare" for points east for me (LAX).

I'd say conservatively, I've flown 50-60 times with my instrument.
Maybe it's my charming smile; maybe it's my overwhelming good looks...I just don't know-
But EVERY body I've ever spoken with regarding taking good care of my instrument- Showed and gave respect. No results of "throwers" (So old, this baggage handler thing.)
Maybe if you give it (respect)---You get it back, huh?

And to the earlier poster who suggested in a nutshell, to make a scene --
Yeah, brilliant- And after you are taken away in handcuffs for interferring with an airline crew, let's post here again with some more real-world advice. I assume you were being funny, but believe me-I've seen a guitard get into it over carrying his Martin on-board, and guess what?
He lost, and was escorted off the flight. Can we say "post-911?"
And although you MAY get on a flight with a gigbag, it's foolish to count on it.
ATA, bass-safe, or my way all work.
Happy Landings.

 

[Barkless Dog]

I just got back from London and was able to carry on a Gibson Ripper in a Gig bag. They stowed it in the crews storage cabinet. The stewardess said they do it all the time.

A gig bag I think is a must for carry on for a bass.

 

[LHbassist]

The best solution I've found when I fly to gigs is to use the SKB Bass Safe.

Your bass in it's gig bag goes into the bass safe and you're rollin'!

Great product and it cost about $130 IIRC.

This IS a GREAT way to deal with the rectal opening types you have to deal with at airlines like Uni_ed. I bought one in 2k3 and used it on the aforementioned carrier. You wheel it like a golf club carrier. Then, it gets checked, and it doesn't get the oversize charge an Anvil type case will probably incur nowadays. FLY SOUTHWEST airlines if you can. A SW rep told me on the phone that they 'understand the needs of musicians' to carry their instrument with them. That was several years ago... call and ask, can't hurt. They were very cool to me on several trips I have made, let me put my gig bag in the overhead.

 

[bassrique]

I've seen too many necks snapped due to improper handling from the airlines.

Sad but true.

 

[realdeal]

Sad but true.

And based on my experience, I'm just not sure that that's an accurate statement. I haven't seen ANY, and I have quite a few airmiles.

Question-
What percentage of instruments (or other "fragile" baggage) has been damaged by the Airlines, as opposed to the number of those same items that have arrived safely?

Get that answer first, then post back.

 

[Pilgrim]

1) Get the hard case
2) Ship ahead

OR -

If you play golf, buy a hardshell golf club case. Put the bass in a gig bag, add external padding, put the whole thing inside the golf club case. Check the golf club case, and buy insurance. Just make sure the bass will fit. Flying golf clubs to Florida is something that goes on all the time - and the golf club case (esp. a used one) may be cheaper than a ship-worthy bass hard case.

 

[Verticos]

well i called the airline and everything's cool, i can put it in the cabin closet. what a relief!

now i just hope they stick to their word...

 

[lowtide]

Drive

 

[zero_cool]

+1

 

[Jim Carr]

well i called the airline and everything's cool, i can put it in the cabin closet. what a relief! now i just hope they stick to their word...

Rising irresistibly to the poisoness bait...

I'm sorry, but I have done that, and it just does not work that way very often.

The flight crew will have complete control over what you take on the
plane. If one person decides that it is a "safety" or space issue,
your bass goes in the hold with the golfclubs, suitcases, donkeys, and
engine blocks...oh yeah, and with the other basses, which if they are
mine, are in big tough ATA cases. Your tears or threats will be unheeded.

Good luck with that.

 

[realdeal]

Rising irresistibly to the poisoness bait...

I'm sorry, but I have done that, and it just does not work that way very often.

The flight crew will have complete control over what you take on the
plane. If one person decides that it is a "safety" or space issue,
your bass goes in the hold with the golfclubs, suitcases, donkeys, and
engine blocks...oh yeah, and with the other basses, which if they are
mine, are in big tough ATA cases. Your tears or threats will be unheeded.

Good luck with that.

+1!
Listen to him!
Or don't...

No matter WHAT they tell you over the phone, IF a crew member suddenly decides your gigbag isn't going on... well,
do the math.

The point being, I have seen gigbags aboard aircraft, but I have absolutely seen gigbags DENIED being brought onboard and their owners being told to check them as baggage.Even overheard the"...But they told me...." scenario. Denied!
OK, I've posted - and honestly mean well!
If you fly at all regularly, get an ATA case, intermittently, a HSC enclosed in heavy-gauge cardboard will work, bass-safe OK but gigbag.....

Dicey at best that you'll get on. OK we told ya!

 

[Foxworthy925]

I've flown once before with my bass, and that was from SFO (norcal) to Hawaii. Both there and back, they were very nice about letting me bring it onboard and stowing it in the cabin closet.

Later this month, I will be flying to Greece. We'll first go through France, and then change onto a flight to Athens. Because this happens to be overseas and I have no idea of French (or other European) airline policies, I'm thinking my best bet is to get an ata case and check it. I just have to hope that they don't lose my luggage on the transfer, like what happened on my first flight to spain last summer. An ata flight case really would be the best option?

 

[bassrique]

Rising irresistibly to the poisoness bait...

I'm sorry, but I have done that, and it just does not work that way very often.

The flight crew will have complete control over what you take on the
plane. If one person decides that it is a "safety" or space issue,
your bass goes in the hold with the golfclubs, suitcases, donkeys, and
engine blocks...oh yeah, and with the other basses, which if they are
mine, are in big tough ATA cases. Your tears or threats will be unheeded.

Good luck with that.

Yep. People tend to be behave arbitrarily.

 

[1kinal]

Rising irresistibly to the poisoness bait...

I'm sorry, but I have done that, and it just does not work that way very often.

The flight crew will have complete control over what you take on the
plane. If one person decides that it is a "safety" or space issue,
your bass goes in the hold with the golfclubs, suitcases, donkeys, and
engine blocks...oh yeah, and with the other basses, which if they are
mine, are in big tough ATA cases. Your tears or threats will be unheeded.

Good luck with that.

+2

I've heard of people calling the airline like you did and even getting a letter from them with the autorization and when the person arrives for his flight they got a "NO" from the air crew.

They and only they have the control when it counts: on the day of the flight. Don't take chances.

For $120 you should not be hesitating about the SKB Bass Safe. I've did two Europe tours (my 3rd next July) and my bass was even pretty much in tune when I opened the bass safe on the other side of the ocean...
For me it's the perfect product. Solid yet lightweight and the wheels make it so much easier for those long airport walks. The other bandmembers are always jalous of me

 

[Mike X Zuniga]

well ur definately right...


we ONLY fly Continental....and i HAVE NEVER had an issue...and if i do..i gate check it...and THANK GOD i have always been "taken care of"


and AGAIN..if ur dont have a nice gig bag...then HARD CASE IT and GATE check ....

again this DOES work EVERY TIME in IAH...

 

[Tony In Philly]

Rising irresistibly to the poisoness bait...

I'm sorry, but I have done that, and it just does not work that way very often.

The flight crew will have complete control over what you take on the
plane. If one person decides that it is a "safety" or space issue,
your bass goes in the hold with the golfclubs, suitcases, donkeys, and
engine blocks...oh yeah, and with the other basses, which if they are
mine, are in big tough ATA cases. Your tears or threats will be unheeded.

Good luck with that.

Well, after reading this my whole gig bag in the overhead paradigm has been completely squashed. Thanks much for the really great insight!

 

[bassrique]

guitfiddle0409,

If you don't have time/money for one of those flight cases, just take the neck off [if yio have a bolt-on]. It's really not a big deal.