Air travel with a guitar
April 30, 2013 6:23 PM Subscribe
I'm traveling (US Airways San Francisco to New Orleans, US Airways New Orleans to Wilmington NC, Delta from Wilmington to San Francisco) to play music at my sister's wedding. I'm hoping you can tell me how to fly with my guitar (including what to say, who to talk to) without it getting crushed.
What I've already been told is inside.
I have a hard case and a soft case. My guitar is a standard dreadnought Fender, 10 years old, nothing too fancy but I love it so much.
What I've been told (by the guy in the guitar store):
Loosen the strings and pad the headstock
Bring it in a hard case as carry-on
Ask for it to be put in the coat closet
Insist on this point!
Pray. (Guitar guy: "I've done this a bunch, just kick up a fuss if they won't let you.")
The dimensions of my (hard) case are 45" long, 18" wide at the widest point, and about 6.5" deep. I'm a personable, smiley, business-casual-clad young woman with a really good reason to ask for my guitar to be carried on with me (my sister will be crushed if my guitar is crushed!). But I'm having visions of being turned away at the gate and having to figure out what to do with my guitar/not being able to play music at the wedding. Can you tell me what I should do, up to and including language I should use (e.g., is it just called the coat closet?), to avoid running into trouble? I don't have special boarding privilege
I've done some basic due diligence Googling and also read this question, but as it's from 2004 and the airline industry seems to be constantly changing I thought I'd repost. If there's something I overlooked, please let me know!
I have a hard case and a soft case. My guitar is a standard dreadnought Fender, 10 years old, nothing too fancy but I love it so much.
What I've been told (by the guy in the guitar store):
Loosen the strings and pad the headstock
Bring it in a hard case as carry-on
Ask for it to be put in the coat closet
Insist on this point!
Pray. (Guitar guy: "I've done this a bunch, just kick up a fuss if they won't let you.")
The dimensions of my (hard) case are 45" long, 18" wide at the widest point, and about 6.5" deep. I'm a personable, smiley, business-casual-clad young woman with a really good reason to ask for my guitar to be carried on with me (my sister will be crushed if my guitar is crushed!). But I'm having visions of being turned away at the gate and having to figure out what to do with my guitar/not being able to play music at the wedding. Can you tell me what I should do, up to and including language I should use (e.g., is it just called the coat closet?), to avoid running into trouble? I don't have special boarding privilege
I've done some basic due diligence Googling and also read this question, but as it's from 2004 and the airline industry seems to be constantly changing I thought I'd repost. If there's something I overlooked, please let me know!
Why not ask the airlines in advance?
US Airways:
US Airways:
Musical instruments are considered a fragile item. Fragile items will be accepted as checked baggage if they are appropriately packaged in a container/case designed for shipping such items. Fragile items without appropriate packaging will be accepted upon the execution of a release furnished by US Airways relieving US Airways of liability for loss/damage of checked baggage.Delta:
Musical instruments are permitted as carry-on baggage as long as they can be safely stowed and have dimensions no greater than 75 in/190 cm (length + width + height).
Musical instruments and/or equipment are accepted as checked baggage, carry-on baggage or cabin-seat baggage — depending on its size and shape — on Delta and Delta Connection® carriers flights¹. Please help us to keep your instrument safe by bringing it in a hard-shell case.posted by John Cohen at 7:02 PM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
What Instruments Can I Check?
Musical instruments or equipment can be checked if the total linear dimension (length + width + height) does not exceed 115 inches (292 cm), and provided the weight, including the case, does not exceed 100 lbs. (45 kg).
See standard rules and fees for overweight and oversized baggage.
What Instruments Can I Carry On?
Guitars and other smaller musical instruments, such as violins, will be accepted as your free carry-on baggage item on Delta and Delta Connection® carriers flights¹. These items must easily fit in the overhead bin or other approved storage location in the cabin, based on available space at the time of boarding. Musical instruments may be gate claimed at the discretion of the passenger and as a result of limited overhead space.
I too recommend shipping it in a hard case. If you ship it ground or USPS parcel post it should be cheaper than an extra bag fee, and then you'll know if it arrived safely before you even get ON the plane. If something weird happens, you can arrange for a rental ahead of time.
Regardless, pack some anti-moisture silica packs in the case with it. I would detune the strings, but not completely loosen them. You don't want the neck to warp and let the frets work loose.
posted by gjc at 7:26 PM on April 30, 2013
Regardless, pack some anti-moisture silica packs in the case with it. I would detune the strings, but not completely loosen them. You don't want the neck to warp and let the frets work loose.
posted by gjc at 7:26 PM on April 30, 2013
When my husband and I traveled with his guitar, his hardshell case easily fit in the overhead compartments. This was a full-size jet; some overhead compartments are larger than others, but it ought to fit on anything except a small commuter plane. When we walked up to board, I had two carry-ons (okay, our daypack bag and a "personal item") and he was carrying nothing but the guitar, which probably helped. They didn't say a word about it, nor did we. The flight was full but not overbooked. You should make sure to book your seat in a earlier-boarding zone location, and stand to the front as soon as our zone was called, to make sure you aren't with the last people on (you know how on a full flight, the last people to board have to check roller-bags if the compartments fill up? You don't want that.)
posted by aimedwander at 8:19 PM on April 30, 2013
posted by aimedwander at 8:19 PM on April 30, 2013
I flew with a bunch of friends, 5 (FIVE) of them with guitars. There were some hard and some soft cases. All went in the overhead or in the coat closet. This was last year on Delta. I would not worry about it. Simply do as you were advised by the guitar shop guy. If they won't put it in the closet as you walk on, then put it overhead. If it were me, I would simply put it in the coat closet which will be on your right immediately as you board without asking or hesitating.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:36 PM on April 30, 2013
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:36 PM on April 30, 2013
I traveled with a hardshell guitar case on Continental from New York to San Francisco (and back) back when it still existed. I traveled with a backpacker guitar in a gig bag on Americal Airlines in March from Boston to Miami and from Miami to Exuma (and back). My guitars were fine.
In both cases, my guitar was my second carry-on (I also had a backpack) and fit in the overhead bin. I tried not to draw attention to myself and boarded as soon as I could so I'd have space for my guitar.
If your guitar does not fit in the overhead bin, or if the crew makes your guitar into an issue, the crew should be able to gate check it. Gate checking is supposed to be safer for guitars.
posted by topoisomerase at 11:07 PM on April 30, 2013
In both cases, my guitar was my second carry-on (I also had a backpack) and fit in the overhead bin. I tried not to draw attention to myself and boarded as soon as I could so I'd have space for my guitar.
If your guitar does not fit in the overhead bin, or if the crew makes your guitar into an issue, the crew should be able to gate check it. Gate checking is supposed to be safer for guitars.
posted by topoisomerase at 11:07 PM on April 30, 2013
You should use your hard case. I only used a gig bag in March because it was a beater guitar and because I needed to save on weight (I had to go on a boat with it and schlep it around a deserted island).
My guitars are not expensive guitars, so I don't keep them in climate controlled conditions or anything. I've never had a problem with my guitar necks or anything after a flight. Feel free to loosen your strings or add silica packs if it makes you feel better.
posted by topoisomerase at 11:15 PM on April 30, 2013
My guitars are not expensive guitars, so I don't keep them in climate controlled conditions or anything. I've never had a problem with my guitar necks or anything after a flight. Feel free to loosen your strings or add silica packs if it makes you feel better.
posted by topoisomerase at 11:15 PM on April 30, 2013
One code word that might help is, when you enter the plane, ask the steward(ess) if they have space for your guitar "up front."
"Up front" being code for anything in business/first among airline people.
posted by digitalprimate at 3:05 AM on May 1, 2013
"Up front" being code for anything in business/first among airline people.
posted by digitalprimate at 3:05 AM on May 1, 2013
Just as a data point, I've checked my guitar in its (fairly substantial) hard case several times, including one trans-Atlantic flight, and have never had any trouble. I don't bother loosening the strings or anything but it can't hurt. It clearly gets loaded last/unloaded first as it's generally been the first thing to come on the conveyor belt.
posted by SymphonyNumberNine at 5:32 AM on May 1, 2013
posted by SymphonyNumberNine at 5:32 AM on May 1, 2013
If you want to be 100% sure, buy a seat for it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:47 AM on May 1, 2013
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:47 AM on May 1, 2013
If you want to be 100% sure, buy a seat for it.
To give the OP a sense of perspective, the only people I know who do this have very, very valuable vintage guitars. I dated a professional musician who bought an extra seat for only his very best guitar - the others got stuck in the closet, and that was how he made his living.
And yes, saying "up front" is a good idea.
posted by ablazingsaddle at 10:20 AM on May 1, 2013
To give the OP a sense of perspective, the only people I know who do this have very, very valuable vintage guitars. I dated a professional musician who bought an extra seat for only his very best guitar - the others got stuck in the closet, and that was how he made his living.
And yes, saying "up front" is a good idea.
posted by ablazingsaddle at 10:20 AM on May 1, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ablazingsaddle at 6:54 PM on April 30, 2013