Where the heck are you guys meeting such nice flight attendants? I have gotten into screaming matches with them before over my bass. It's why I finally bought an SKB Bass Safe, which has been a godsend except for the flimsy latches (a velcro wrap around the handle is a necessity with the Bass Safe). I have been forced to gate check my bass several times, and once at the Columbus, OH airport, I was told that airport policy is that you have to check a bass in. To their credit, they did give me a box with inflatable padding to put it in and packed it very safely, but that was such a moronic thing to do. And to the person that said never let them put your bass under the plane, I'd like to see you argue with them when they tell you that you can either do it or you won't be allowed to fly. The airline employees ALWAYS win in those cases.
Anyway, I check my bass for every fly gig now, and I'm actually less concerned about its safety than I've ever been. Say what you want about airport baggage handlers, but they have always treated it kindly that I've seen and I've yet to get a scratch on any of them because of it. OTOH, I have had idiots on the plane put gigantic carry-on bags directly on top of it and gotten numerous dings because of it. So never again will I carry a bass on the plane.
Anyway, I check my bass for every fly gig now, and I'm actually less concerned about its safety than I've ever been. Say what you want about airport baggage handlers, but they have always treated it kindly that I've seen and I've yet to get a scratch on any of them because of it. OTOH, I have had idiots on the plane put gigantic carry-on bags directly on top of it and gotten numerous dings because of it. So never again will I carry a bass on the plane.
