flying politely / successfully with a guitar?
 

I've been traveling domestically for years - most of the time I'm able to FedEx my guitar ahead of me for tours, but I'm traveling to Berlin next week and need to know the ettiquette / challenges for carrying on my beloved six-string. It'll be my first try at it internationally...
For me, it's not realistic to check a $5K instrument, and I don't have the scratch to buy an extra ticket. I've seen plenty of guitars in overheads... so I know it's possible.
BUT< what problems will I run into? what should i do to smooth the process at the airport and while boarding?
Any general advice? If it makes a difference, I'll be on US [A333] and LH [A300-600].

long time lurker, but first-time poster, please go easy... :)

Hardshell case or gig bag, what kind of instrument are we talking about?

I've actually broken down the body/neck in my Fender Custom Shop Strat and made it fit in a rollaboard. But I also know how to set up and repair my instruments (I do my own refrets!) and the cost of 1 set of strings is negligible.

However when I've taken my SG or my Parker, which are not coming apart, I will carry it either in a gig bag or a slimmer hard case. The second I board, I place it in the overhead, or ask an FA to place it in the Coat Closet... usually I approach the FA with something to entice their cooperation :)

If you're flying with a Hollowbody or an acoustic, I'd use the same strategy I use for my SG. It's amazing what you can get a Flight Attendant to do when you approach them nicely and kindly, and are prepared to fork over $20 or some nice chocolates.

I'll be carrying an acoustic, so a hard shell is necessary -- my Taylor in a gig bag gives me the willies!
Any suggestions on what enticements would be appropriate for the FA's?

One of our favorite HA pilots, always walks on with his in an over the shoulder carry case. We haven't heard the tunes coming from the cockpit or through the intercom, yet.

I've succesfully done cash, expensive chocolates, and theme park passes (I have a stack of comp passes to Universal Orlando that I'll never use)

I like Taylors... I always have since I first tried one. But I'm ultimately a Martin guy when it comes to my acoustics :) No regular Martins though, I have an X series :)

Please don't play it. I had a woman in front of me on a red eye LAS- EWR a few years ago who, when she couldn't sleep, decided that she would play for awhile.

Ouch! No plans to play to on board... I'll save that for the bars.
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I'm still nervous about getting the heave-ho and having to check it once in process, but I need it there, so I don't have much choice but to gamble!

Also, get the guitar insured. Make sure it's insured for the collectible value (ie- real market) instead of the depreciated value.

My brother had no problems taking his collectible acoustic guitar onboard last year. This was on AA MIA-LHR in F.

He was pretty nervous before the trip it'd end up in the hold. He had it in a soft case. Sorry I don't know the model or details of the case.

Not on DL
 

I know it doesn't apply here, but worth mentioning in this thread, in my experience Delta is very strict with the no instruments in the cabin policy.

The horn players and guitarists in a band that I'm associated with are boycotting Delta because of this. They also mentioned something about one of the NY professional musicians' unions leading the boycott.

I got hit on the head by a falling violin case a couple years ago on DL. Fortunately, the owner was a cute girl with an irresistible French accent. I didn't complain, so don't blame me for the ban.

To the OP; if you're a well known music-maker, you probably don't have to offer anything more than a smile. If not, I've seen folks offer a twenty to get something stored in the front closet. Of course, I'd also make sure it was LIFO. Is there really room in any a/c overhead for a hard case?

I've flown with guitars on various flights for a number of years. In general, if you have a smaller "travel" guitar they will fit in overheads or the closet easily. I only fly with a full-size acoustic once in a while, and usually it's one of my lower end (fender acoustic, $300 type) ones -- and that one, I just check.

To the OP, here's what I'd do:

1. Get a really good solid case - the taylor cases are good. Use some bubble wrap to pack around the head and in any gaps in the case.

2. Detune -- it can get cold on planes and if you end up having to check it the neck can snap if you don't really significantly loosen the strings.

3. Fly F or C if possible -- airlines are usually more lenient on the carryon rules if you're in a premium cabin. Being an elite/top-tier FF helps too.

4. Don't know about the bribery, but courtesy -- almost to the point of being obsequious -- will serve you well.

The bottom line is, plan as if you have to check it, then try your best not to have to. I would also say that if you are really concerned, pack the guitar just as you would to FedEx it, and check it that way -- in a hard case and put that inside a bigger box with padding/foam peanuts.

I was on an RJ recently IAD-DFW where a guy was made to gate check a big ol' gibson (looked like an es-335 or somesuch) in a gig bag! It was pretty well padded, but wow. The pax looked really dubious - I for one would have either insisted it go in the closet or taken a later flight. I didn't stick around on landing to see what happened.

And finally, I've played portable/traveler guitars with built in amps on a few flights, usually in F and always with headphones (Fernandes Nomad, Pignose, Aria Sinsonido). Reactions ranged from mockery from the FA ("I didn't know we were having a sing-along") to amazement from a TG FA. I worried after a few times that the pick-on-strings sound was probably pretty annoying so I stopped onboard playing after 3 or four trips.

-C

The AFM has lifted the musicians' boycott of DL per an e-mail I received
from it last week; apparently DL has liberalized its requirements regarding
carrying instruments onboard.

I never had a problem with DL in this regard (violins have been exempt
from the start, and if one carries a viola one can just claim that it is a
large violin), but there are other reasons to hate the airline, I'm sure.

Does anyone know if LHR, or U.K. airports in general, apply their carry-on size limits to musical instruments? They can be pretty anal about that when it comes to "regular" baggage. (Wouldn't be a problem for the OP since s/he isn't connecting through there, but reportedly the same limits will be extended to the rest of Europe not too far down the road.)

Did she play Kumbayah like in the Airplane movie? And was she a nun?