| Author | Message | ||
| alembic83
New Username: alembic83 Post Number: 4 Registered: 9-2004 |
Hello, just a quick question: has anyone taken their bass on flights before, as carry-on luggage? Just wondering if this is possible... Thanks Jason | ||
| hogslug
New Username: hogslug Post Number: 7 Registered: 7-2004 |
I couldn't say that you for sure can't,but, The planes I usually fly on (737's and smaller) won't let you take a case as a carry on-- And ,so far, I haven't had any problems with the baggage handlers--(I know it's really hard to lose sight of your bass for that long ) I lock and tape my case shut before any flight also. I hope that helps you a little. CHEERS! Brad | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 366 Registered: 11-2003 |
Careful about locking, if somebody with security gets a wild hair, they have authority to pry open any locked cases. (taping yes, locking no). | ||
| dannobasso
Intermediate Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 145 Registered: 3-2004 |
Do not lock your case and do not put any tools in it! I packaged "Kay" in the case ans form fitted a cardboard box around it with a cut for the handle. It was open and inspected twice. The second time the folks also took apart the small Korg tuner and dumped out my allen keys for adjusting the bridge. It bounced around and scratched the lower horn of my custom black Excel. Our lead guitarist actually watched as the baggage apes threw, yes threw his rack case and busted his TC Electronics effects unit. That's metal boys, bot plastic!Cracked the ear right off! So get insurance and put it in God's hands. Danno | ||
| alembic83
New Username: alembic83 Post Number: 5 Registered: 9-2004 |
Danno - I think I'll just leave it at HOME after your story. haha. So I guess a gig bag carry on is out of the question? Jason | ||
| wcv
Junior Username: wcv Post Number: 12 Registered: 4-2004 |
When checking your bass, I believe that you can request that the instument be stowed in the "fragile items" compartment, which is a section that is treated with extra care. Items are not just tossed onto a conveyor, they are hand loaded and unloaded. Also, a good flight case helps prevent damage, should a "gorilla" get a hold of it. Good Luck! Bill | ||
| poor_nigel
Intermediate Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 200 Registered: 7-2003 |
$0.02 coming up. Might I suggest buying a case made to fly with. This person is at Calzone and can make you a great deal on either a 3/8th inch ATA, custom form fit to your bass case, or their 1/2 Touring model. Linda.Tilson@CalZoneCase.com If you get the 1/2" touring case, you can also have the pleasure of knowing a baggage ape or two will probably go home that day with a hernia. Those are heavy puppies! Made for great abuse, and their fasteners will not pop open accidently, so no need to lock them. I believe you can also order them with wheels at the bottom edge so you don't give yourself a hernia. Note: There is absolutely no way one of these can be carryon luggage. But they gets things there in good order. One last possibility, stencil Property of Hells Angels on the side of your cases and maybe they will be nicer to your stuff. Plus, insure, insure, insure! | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1602 Registered: 9-2002 |
There have been a thread going along here some 1000 posts ago. I think they said that carrying the bass with you in the flight department in a gig bag was not so bad. And if you can pop up AT THE RIGHT MOMENT with the natural bass-players-charm-and-smile (a problem for guitarplayers but hey can always fake being low frequencied HA) to the cabin personel they let you keep the bass in the locker where they keep valuable stuff (LARK cloth bags of business-people). Although you have TO KEEP AN EYE on it because a gig bag is easily taken away. I always wonder if it wouldn't be cheaper to just buy an extra tickte for the bass and starp it in the chair next to you. NO JOKE ...I seriously wonder. Paul the bad one | ||
| dean_m
Advanced Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 340 Registered: 7-2002 |
I've been flying with my bass since 1990. Before 9-11, it was no problem carrying it on in a gig bag with a hanger. If the garment compartments were empty, you could hang it in there. If not, it would fit in the overhead. And on some rare occassions, with some sweet talking, the flight attendants would put it in their own compartments. Since 9-11, all bets are off. The AFM(American Federation of Musicians) has been in talks with the FAA and the airline industry to make it easier for musicians to carry their instruments on planes but they are still worlds apart. You can take the chance of trying to carry your bass on a flight but you always run the risk of them making you check it. Now you have two choices, check it or miss the flight. The thought of leaving a bass in a gig bag to the hands of airline baggage handlers is just too risky. The safest bet now is to just check it in a good flight case. Theft can still be an issue here but at least you've eliminated all the other possibilities of disaster. As Danno and Hollis say too, do not lock the case. They will break the locks if they need to get into it. There are special locks that you can buy at the airport where the security at the airports have a master key to get in but they are pretty expensive too and they really won't deter theft of the bass. Brother Paul, I know a lot of guys that would buy an extra seat for their uprights. The airlines won't even let you do that anymore. Plus as Nigel says insure, insure, insure!!!!!! Peace, Dino | ||
| gare
Junior Username: gare Post Number: 42 Registered: 11-2003 |
I haven't traveled on an aircraft with an instrument for awhile. But I have spent the better part of 30 yrs in the airline/airfreight business. Getting something that size into the cabin will only become progressively harder..Homeland Security etc. And it's time they did some of these things. As far as checking as baggage or shipping, I always remind people of the old Samsonite commercial with the gorilla in the cage. That's about how things get handled. You must also consider that baggage compartments a good deal of the time are neither heated nor pressurized, although the top deck on a freight aircraft generally are. Your best protection is an ATA type flight case. Unfortunately not cheap, but worth it if you travel alot. Locks, doesnt matter, if they want or need to get into them, they will..security,customs, or whom ever. And as stated several times already..insure insure insure..and be sure to insure for the replacement value..what it will cost you to replace it. And leave your box cutter at home ! Happy travels ! G | ||
| ox_junior
Intermediate Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 159 Registered: 3-2004 |
Top Reco: ATA Flight Case. Secondary Reco (as suggested by Mica): Keep the original box and packing materials your bass came with. Repack it the same way it came. Third Reco: Throw out the box and get an ATA flight case as suggested. Also, beware of little singers with swinging microphones. Throw your body across your bass. Take a bullet for your Alembic. Mike | ||
| dannobasso
Intermediate Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 146 Registered: 3-2004 |
I have a calzone flight case that resembles a coffin in size. I chose not to use it because someone could take the contents with not much notice in the weight as well as the extra charge for the weight. I bought an incase bag before I found out that carry on was a no go. I will do the cardboard box over the case again but this time no tools what-so-ever. Danno | ||
| poor_nigel
Advanced Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 206 Registered: 7-2003 |
Another point to consider on ATA flight cases. I ordered my first Alembic with an Anvil flight case, back in the late seventies. It was sitting in the case in my living room when I am some friends got home from a bar to continue the 'party' there. A drummer friend grabbed the bass and put it in my bedroom, as he did not want it getting messed with. About 30 to 45 minutes later, we all went nutz, as the living room was filling with smoke. It seems the drummer had put it next to the wall, where there was an inserted electric heater - common in older Washington homes in that area. My baby was on fire - as in flames! We got pans of water and put out the fire. I was very depressed. The plastic was burned through in about a 1.5' x 1' area, and the wood in that area was charcoal. When I opened the case, the drummer knew his life was to be spared, as to all our surprise, the bass was in perfect order. No blistering or finish checking at all, and it was still pretty cool to the touch. Amazing! We had obviously got to it in the nick of time. Had it have been a regular case, I am sure the story would have been much sadder. Therefore, I always buy a good ATA case for basses I definitely want to keep. Added bonus is that the fasteners confuse little kids that come a visiting, so they give up trying to open the big, mysterious box to play with its contents. To get back on track, the main point to consider about the above story is that finish checking occurs not because an instrument was exposed to a temperature that was too cold or hot, but that its finish and wood were exposed to a change in temperature too quickly. The wood and finish expand at different rates, therefore the finish cracks in hairline fractures. A good flight case not only protects the instrument from hard knocks, but it helps insulate it from quick temperature changes. This is the reason I do not get too concerned about putting my bass through a trip on a plane. Except, what if the plane crashes?!?!?! | ||
| jet_powers
Intermediate Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 186 Registered: 2-2003 |
Another option would be to gate check your bass. Bring it to the gate with you and it can be checked below on the jetway at the door to the plane along with all the baby strollers and such. Oh, and if the plane crashes.... you've got other things to be concerned about than your bass, haven't you? JP (Message edited by Jet_powers on September 23, 2004) | ||
| gare
Junior Username: gare Post Number: 44 Registered: 11-2003 |
You could always put a Mae West and a parachute on the bass and push it out the door as the plane is going down..save the bass ! One must have priorities. But,while we're discussing cases etc, has anybody seen or own an SKB Bass Safe ? I've only seen advertisements so far. Definately doesnt look as durable as an Anvil or Calazone case, or fire resistant as Nigel attested to. But it does look like it will take knocks better than standard hardshell case. Kinda curious.. G | ||
| wideload
Junior Username: wideload Post Number: 50 Registered: 6-2003 |
I'll have to look up the particulars about the SKB case. If its like their other cases, I HATE THEM because they are too slick and don't stay where you set them. Give me a case with some traction, please! Larry | ||
| jacko
Junior Username: jacko Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2002 |
in reply to Paul TBO, Steve Howe of YES always used to buy a ticket for his guitar under the name of 'Mr Gibson'. Don't know if he still does. graeme |
