Taking my bass oversea

[Nev375]

I would go the disassemble/reassemble route myself and pack it in a much more compact suitcase.

Most of the heartbreaking photos of airline damaged instruments that I've seen look like some giant piece of machinery with huge metal teeth crushed them. No case I know of would have helped. I think it's just a risk of long objects being transported by overworked innattentive people. Things that poke out from the carts are at more risk of getting snagged.

Even if you didn't have the confidence of doing the reassembly yourself, any competent tech could do it as part of a routine setup. They have to remove and reinstall necks on certain instruments multiple times as part of the truss rod adjustment process anyway. So even worst case scenario that's got to be way less than the charge for another seat. Most techs probably wouldn't charge you extra at all if you just had them install a pack of fresh strings with it.

Just pack all your soft clothing around the body and neck and use your guitar case for shoes, belts, devices, snacks or whatever.

 

[willddd]

I use an SKB bass safe, modified (bottom padding removed) to take my mono vertigo gig bag (which has huge amounts of rubber padding at the bottom). It's overkill no doubt but confidence inspiring, and easy to lug around (the bass safe is pretty light and has wheels).
I would not fly with only the mono. I know of quite a few who do though, but one who swore by it had a tuning key snap off recently.
I don't like the disassembly put it in your suitcase - reassembly thing for flying to gig, but as a one off international flight it's probably pretty reasonable.

 

[ajkula66]

Does the flight staff make you secure the basses in the seat? If so, how does that work? I assume they want them secured in case of emergency.

If it's in the seat, it's belted via standard belt with or without an extension. There are size limits for what can go in the seat, though.

This was a part of my move overseas last year, a double gigbag containing ~$7K of basses.

Now, for bigger stuff there's also an option of it going in front of the seat. I don't know how an instrument gets secured in this scenario, but people travel with six-figure-cellos all the time, so I'm certain that there's a way about it...

 

[Bushrod Johnson]

The only problem I've had flying with this is the airline losing it for a few hours.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[higain617]

If you go the flight case route, I would get a hard plastic SKB. The old school rectangular, metal-frame ones are a pain. You will have to check it, and it will survive (provided they don't lose it).

 

[Polfuste]

option 7: buy a cheap short scale bass, dismantle it and put parts in your regular luggages.
Enjoy this new bass during your trip.
And If there is a problem, damage, loss, your 3500$ bass will be safe, waiting for your comeback at home.

 

[2groggy]

Do you mean that this is a permanent move?

Maybe sell the base before you go and buy another in Auz.

 

[logdrum]

ATA flight case. Those things are tough. Touring musicians do it all the time.

 

[LowActionHero]

Yeah, man, I'd pack the heck out of it and ship it, with insurance. I have lugged heavy flight cases through airports, and it's no fun. You'll have way less to worry about if you just ship it with a pro service.

Yes, I would pack it well myself, Insure and document it, then let the same movers who are shipping your other stuff handle it. That's what they do.

 

[J Posega]

Does the flight staff make you secure the basses in the seat? If so, how does that work? I assume they want them secured in case of emergency.

If it were me, I'd probably ship it if it was just one instrument we're talking about.

The bass gets the window seat. You lift up the seat itself, slide the bass in there, and buckle it up.

 

[jam.majors]

I once accidentally drove over my stingray while in the hardshell case they used to supply. Bass was fine.
That's not really too much like an airline experience, maybe. But hopefully it can aid in your decision making.

 

[Bass Viking]

Maybe sell the base before you go and buy another in Auz.

I think bass prices are much higher in Oz and there’s less choice.

I vote for disassembling the bass. Remember to loosen the truss rod.

 

[Boundary Effect]

Reminds me of this ditty:

 

[Manticore]

Buying a seat for your bass will work, and it will be expensive. I fly with my bass frequently. I have a good flight case and check it. I've done this many, many times over the last 25 years 9r so, both domestically and international, and never had a problem. I would only risk taking it in a soft case, or trying to talk it into the cabin without a seat purchased for it if you don't really need the bass and don't mind losing it to damage.

 

[bigjames]

Some great suggestions from experienced travelers above...one other consideration (at least for me) is the woods the bass is made of. My Sadowsky has a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. I am 100% certain Roger acquired this wood legally, but I do not have the paperwork to prove that so this bass will likely never cross an international border just in case I get an overzealous customs agent. Not sure if this is an issue with the bass in question, but thought I would mention it.

 

[Fernando Costa]

Buy a used SKB ATA Bass Safe, it's cheap and light, it will protect your bass properly. I bought mine used for $100.

 

[mikeswals]

Carry it on. Be really (really) nice when you speak to the greeting crew member and ask them for help with your bass. It may not fit in every overhead bin but will definitely fit in a coat closet. Ask very politely.

International flight, probably not going to happen.

My only int'l flight with bass story; in 2018 I flew to England to pickup my new Wal. $9500. British Airways refused to let me take it onto the plane, there were no extra seats to purchase the flight was fully booked.
They said my only options is put the bass with the golf clubs to load last, or cancel my flight. I tried to plea with the gate people and they flat out turned me down.

 

[logdrum]

When I was backpacking in India, Nepal and Pakistan. and parts of Europe in my 20's - I carried my bass with me in a gig bag. It was even strapped on top of a bus a few times. It survived. Sometimes I got lucky on planes but most of the time, it was put underneath where it was cold (Aeroflot 1 day layover in Moscow in the winter LOL) . I still have that bass. The neck did crack around the second fret but I was already back for good in MN in 1996. Out of no-where probably the winter dryness was the culprit. Re-glued by Luthier and it is still around. Lately, I have Mono soft shell that they told me has to get below on my way to Manchester NH. Different bass. Nothing happened. Pedulla Buzz, neck through so I will SOL if it broke. On the way back they allowed me to carry it on the plane.

But I am me, so there is that. I think bass guitars are tough and I don't worry too much or maybe I am just stupid.

Cello, Doubles-bass and harp players are fine with just their cases.below on the cargo bay and they are worth more than most basses here, much more and more fragile. Before modern times, they would go to the orchestra pit with no ballistic cases possibly on horse carriages with no suspension on cobbled and dirt roads.

 

[MrLenny1]

Some airplanes do not have a closet space & some have small overheads.
Something to be aware of. I'd go gate check it in a HS case.

 

[Alper Yilmaz]

On another note, I would specifically avoid flying in an American carrier. I have experience with United, Delta and American, all of which were no-cooperative. European companies like Lufthansa seem to be a tad more accommodating. I would not know those flying to Australia...