787-10 Overhead Bin Dimensions? Guitar as a carry-on?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Israel
Programs: UA Platinum, LY Silver
Posts: 630
787-10 Overhead Bin Dimensions? Guitar as a carry-on?
Hello fellow FTers,
I'm considering flying with an acoustic guitar in a hardshell case and would love to hear about recent experiences. I know that UA policy is that a guitar can be brought on board as a carry-on. I am pretty sure it is not going to fit in an overhead bin, I am concerned they'll gate check it, and I am naturally averse to purchasing a separate ticket for it. After "United Breaks Guitars" a few years back, I saw a lot of forum posts suggesting flight attendants were generous and accommodating, often putting guitars in the closet. However, I can't find posts from the last year relating experiences. Are they still fairly relaxed and accommodating? Any chance that, given Covid conditions resulting in non-full flights, they'll let me store it in an empty seat?
Thanks!
I'm considering flying with an acoustic guitar in a hardshell case and would love to hear about recent experiences. I know that UA policy is that a guitar can be brought on board as a carry-on. I am pretty sure it is not going to fit in an overhead bin, I am concerned they'll gate check it, and I am naturally averse to purchasing a separate ticket for it. After "United Breaks Guitars" a few years back, I saw a lot of forum posts suggesting flight attendants were generous and accommodating, often putting guitars in the closet. However, I can't find posts from the last year relating experiences. Are they still fairly relaxed and accommodating? Any chance that, given Covid conditions resulting in non-full flights, they'll let me store it in an empty seat?
Thanks!
#2
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,344
first, check whether your aircraft has a closet.
even with a closet, likely J passengers have priority
even if it has a closet, aircraft could swap to another aircraft without a closet
then check how full the plane is (which could be misleading T>0-24 due to BE)
UA policy is to accept small musical instruments as carryon in a hard case
if you don't like these risks, pay for an extraseat - How to buy an extra seat? "EXTRASEAT" for paid or award flights
#3
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,138
Here is the page which covers musical instruments.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...calinstruments
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...calinstruments
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Israel
Programs: UA Platinum, LY Silver
Posts: 630
Here is the page which covers musical instruments.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...calinstruments
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...calinstruments
I'm hoping to fly on the 787 for both legs of my journey, so hopefully there'll be a closet.
#5
Most FAs are rather caring with instruments. Most (all?) mainline overhead bins will fit a standard hard case (though not a case + a roller bag) so it'd be best to get onboard early.
All of this, however, is during normal times. I can't/won't guess how your particular crew will decide to handle guitars and moving them to a closet. Things are weird right now, and that certainly extends to crew.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,251
board first and just put it in the overhead bin. it's an ... move because you're taking up 3-4 suitcase spots, i don't like it and probably 1/5 people also won't like it but also it's a musical instrument and we know united breaks guitars so whatever, that's the way she goes. but i guess a stickler could force a gate check and then the care of that guitar is entirely out of your control
if you're on a wide body you will be fine, tons of room in the cabin
if you're on a wide body you will be fine, tons of room in the cabin
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Israel
Programs: UA Platinum, LY Silver
Posts: 630
787-10 Overhead Bin Dimensions?
Hello everyone,
Does anyone know where I can find the dimensions of the overhead bins on UA's 787-10? I'm trying to assess if my hard shell guitar case will fit up there or if I'll have to ask to put it in a closet.
Thanks in advance!
Does anyone know where I can find the dimensions of the overhead bins on UA's 787-10? I'm trying to assess if my hard shell guitar case will fit up there or if I'll have to ask to put it in a closet.
Thanks in advance!
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,351
Not sure of the exact dimensions, but the width is less than about 42", so you won't be able to fit a guitar in the overhead.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Israel
Programs: UA Platinum, LY Silver
Posts: 630
Thanks. Wish I could find the actual dimensions - my case is 45" long, so at an angle it may indeed fit. Hopefully they won't give me a hard time taking it on board - given load factors, I'm guessing they won't have a problem with putting it in a closet for me. Any tips & advice appreciated, as well as any pointers to where I might find the actual bin dimensions.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Posts: 12,277
Thanks. Wish I could find the actual dimensions - my case is 45" long, so at an angle it may indeed fit. Hopefully they won't give me a hard time taking it on board - given load factors, I'm guessing they won't have a problem with putting it in a closet for me. Any tips & advice appreciated, as well as any pointers to where I might find the actual bin dimensions.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Israel
Programs: UA Platinum, LY Silver
Posts: 630
I assume the guitar case will fit through the TSA X-day machine. My son has no issue with bringing the guitar case on board of the 777 and 737, but his guitar case could not fit into the bins, so the FA find closet space on both planes for the guitar. Sorry no experience on the 787.