The Consolidated "Flying UA With a Guitar" Thread [Merged]
Aug 7, 2006 | 9:18 am
#46
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ORD - BKK - MDL etc.
Programs: Star Alliance, UA 1p, SkyTeam
Posts: 249
Originally Posted by elliscm
My SIL is a professional violist. Her instrument is worth thousands of dollars. She would never in a million years check it, nor let anyone touch it! TSA nearly dropped the thing once, and she talked about it for weeks. I honestly have wondered how professional cellists travel with their instruments, though.
Aug 7, 2006 | 10:24 am
#47
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: UA 1K MM+, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 252
They let me take my harmonica on board. 
Aug 7, 2006 | 11:25 am
#48
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: UA 1MM Gold AA Gold NW Silver Marriott Plat. SPG Plat. Hilton Gold Hertz 5 Star
Posts: 3,250
Originally Posted by elliscm
My SIL is a professional violist. Her instrument is worth thousands of dollars. She would never in a million years check it, nor let anyone touch it! TSA nearly dropped the thing once, and she talked about it for weeks. I honestly have wondered how professional cellists travel with their instruments, though.
Aug 7, 2006 | 11:28 am
#49
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS Titanium, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,581
Originally Posted by ual1k
They let me take my harmonica on board.
Aug 7, 2006 | 12:24 pm
#50
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA GLD 1.3MM, WN A+/CP, HH DIA, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, National Exec Elite, Hertz 5*
Posts: 381
Originally Posted by chichow
what's a SIL
May 30, 2007 | 5:59 pm
#51
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 28
Does UA allow an electric guitar as hand luggage?
I will be leaving tomorrow for a 5 day vacation to Hawaii and would like to bring my electric guitar along. Would it be a problem to bring it on board as a hand carry in a light gig bag? The weight is only about 6 to 7 pounds. I am a 1K and am hoping that UA would make an allowance for me.
May 30, 2007 | 7:09 pm
#52
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1.5 Million Mile flyer, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz 5* and PC since 1985
Posts: 5,611
I will be leaving tomorrow for a 5 day vacation to Hawaii and would like to bring my electric guitar along. Would it be a problem to bring it on board as a hand carry in a light gig bag? The weight is only about 6 to 7 pounds. I am a 1K and am hoping that UA would make an allowance for me.
May 30, 2007 | 7:30 pm
#53
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,227
I have never had trouble when my friend brings his on. He has a large acoustic guitar and usually brings it in the hard case. He vowed to never check it again, after a mishap several years ago. Even when he has been seated in Y he boards quickly and asks if they can store it in the F closet. Sometimes they even put it up in the cockpit if there is limited room.
May 30, 2007 | 8:10 pm
#54
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1.5 Million Mile flyer, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz 5* and PC since 1985
Posts: 5,611
I have never had trouble when my friend brings his on. He has a large acoustic guitar and usually brings it in the hard case. He vowed to never check it again, after a mishap several years ago. Even when he has been seated in Y he boards quickly and asks if they can store it in the F closet. Sometimes they even put it up in the cockpit if there is limited room.
might even be a fellow flyer talker that has a tale or two. 
May 30, 2007 | 8:44 pm
#55
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,123
I'd agree with the above, but a thought occurs to me - if you purchase a seat for your instrument, do you get the miles for it??
May 30, 2007 | 9:27 pm
#56
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
Are you an AFM member? If so, there are a number of documents you can print from their web site to show to airline/TSA staff about what is allowed re: musical instruments in the cabin.
May 30, 2007 | 9:49 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United/Star Alliance - 1K
Posts: 2,176
Eric Bloom, of Blue Oyster Cult, had a guitar lost last weekend - his was the only one in the band that didn't make it. He usually flies CO but flew UA this time. I'm pretty embarrassed. 
May 30, 2007 | 10:38 pm
#58
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,491
I would say that I see some guy carry on a guitar in a case on at least half my flights. The FA usually stores it in the F cabin closet, regardless of where he is seated. The last time was on Sunday. They are always very courteous and ask the FA if they have space for it somewhere. The FAs on the Hawaii routes are a pretty terrific.
May 30, 2007 | 10:41 pm
#59
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Out and about..
Posts: 1,102
"You can play your electric guitar but it ain't going to change the world." - E6
May 31, 2007 | 6:56 am
#60
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Frankfurt, Germany/Washington DC
Programs: HH Silver, Eurostar CarteBlanche
Posts: 244
Guitars being brought onboard are not at all uncommon. If there is room in the FC closet, we are usually happy to store it there, but bear in mind that AC like 757 have smaller closets, you might have to stow in in an overhead bin. 767 and 777 should easily be able to accomodate a guitar in the closet.