Back in May 2001, I received my custom built bass ($3600), and took it with me from Honolulu to Louisville, Ky to visit my sister. I carried it on board in a gig bag, and put it in the overhead. I was understandably nervous about traveling and carrying it, but didn't want to risk it as a check-in item. I was also transferring three times before getting to Louisville, with each plane becoming smaller the closer I got to my destination.
Didn't have a problem with bringing my bass onboard, but on the first leg, as I got up to get my bass out of the overhead, a male passenger opened the overhead first, swung my bass out of the way to get his bag, and there was my bass, sticking out of the overhead and into the isle, wedged between the top of the bin and another piece of luggage, suspended only by the top one-quarter of the neck! It was obvious (to me) that it was clearly an instrument case, but that moron had only his bag in mind. Fortunately, it survived. The last leg was a small commuter from O'hare, with no overheads, so my bass got checked at the airplane door, put in last, brought out first and put in my hand, so no problem there.
After 911, I bought a Spirit five string Steiny copy to travel with, and had no problems with it through five trips in 2005. Although the case made it look like I was carrying a small rifle, I had no problems until 2006, when a TSA agent at the Honolulu airport decided that the three small allen wrenches that had come with the bass, and had been in the bag through all of my previous trips, could be used as weapons, and confiscated them.
Pointing out to him that they had been in the case since I bought the bass did no good, and as you all may know, nothing they take from you can be checked in and retrieved later when you return - whatever they take from you gets tossed in the garbage. I learned to put anything pointy or weapon-like in my check-in bag after that. (It's strange to me that you can carry a pen or pencil on board, which I think they would make a much better weapon than a small allen wrench, but since when has logic ever been associated with TSA reasoning....).
I know I'm getting a little wordy here, but I wanted to point out one of the underlying currents of this thread: that there is no standard in the airline industry when it comes to carry-on. And it starts right at the metal detectors with the TSA agents. It truly is up to the whims of the individual at any given point, right up to the crew in the plane.
Although acting sincere and turning on the charm may work in most cases, there will always be that one person with a heart of stone that will probably be even more turned off by your personable attempts, because they are most likely jealous of your good nature, as they don't have those skills, hate their job, are tired of serving the public, etc, etc.
So to recap, there are three common options at this point:
1) ship your bass to your destination
2) carry it on
3) enclose it in a sturdy container, such as an ATA case, golf case, etc.
You have to determine what will ultimately give you the most piece of mind, however, if it's an expensive bass you want to travel with, don't let money influence your decision. Spend whatever it takes to make your bass safe, and ensure it arrives in one piece.
Good Luck in your decision, let us know which way you went, and what the outcome was... I hope you have nothing eventful to report, and you and your bass had a great time in sunny Florida!
