Flying with a Sadowsky Portabag?

[Jim Carr]

Several airlines (United, American, and Delta if I recall correctly) that I have asked in the last three years have all said that seats can not be purchased for instruments any more.

Update on this:

American allows the purchase of a bulkhead seat for an instrument as long as it is a window seat and the instrument owner is seated in the seat next to the instrument.

However, the policy on the web actually also states "No Bass Fiddles."

 

[Jim Carr]

...There is usually one idiot passenger that makes a comment about my basses in the incase dub bag...This passenger...[who] had to gate check his bag was screaming "there is a CELLO BASS on the plane!!! That's illegal!"

At least I didn't bring my bajomophone.

Or your "Bass Fiddle."

BTW, no pics, no bajomophone.

 

[JohnThomasson]

I couldn't imagine taking my double bass (bass fiddle) on a plane and putting it a seat. I always think back to that old picture of Rufus Reid in the Evolving Bassist book with his huge afro and leather vest putting his double bass in upside down in the seat. That can't be good for the neck. I wonder if that picture is modern versions of that book.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Just IMO, but I would not do this. The Porta Bag is great, but it's still a bag. If something heavy is set on top of that case, you are dead. I wonder if the portabag would fit in the SKB 'bass safe' or whatever that 'shell' is called. That would be great.

Otherwise, IMO, use your hardcase.

+1, I would never fly with my porta bag alone. Maybe it'll fit inside a golf club hard case thingie, or see if you can find a bass safe like Ken suggests.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I personally would be worried to send my bass in a gig bag down to the gorillas in the baggage areas !

 

[Coelho]

a good thing is to have the bass in a hardshell case and put the case in a shipping box.

 

[Jim Carr]

I couldn't imagine taking my double bass (bass fiddle) on a plane and putting it a seat. I always think back to that old picture of Rufus Reid in the Evolving Bassist book with his huge afro and leather vest putting his double bass in upside down in the seat. That can't be good for the neck. I wonder if that picture is modern versions of that book.

+1

I'm not sure, though I remember seeing a picture of Gary Karr's bass (not the Amati, I think) in a bulkhead seat. The seat belt was tied around the neck, if I recall correctly.

I searched but failed to find that image on the internet. I believe it was in one of his books, or in the ISB Journal. The Reid picture is frightening!

Electric bassists are now facing the same kind of barriers that double bassists have had for decades. Fortunately our instruments are smaller and less fragile, but the issue of not being treated with a reasonable and rational amount of respect and accommodation is pretty much the same, IMHO.

 

[Jim Carr]

I personally would be worried to send my bass in a gig bag down to the gorillas in the baggage areas !

Arthur, we all agree on that for sure!