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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | After what I observed from on-board the plane yesterday, I will NEVER check a guitar at the airport. I was seated in the very last window seat and watched as they pitched baggage, packages, dogs, and a guitar onto the belt to load the plane. WOW, no mercy and no regard for what they were handling. At one point, the guy unloading the cart had a tower of bags and proceeded to pull out the one on the bottom and they all came tumbling down. I doubt if every handler or airline is the same but it would only take one. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 176
Location: Denver Colorado | So... the million dollar question is ...
Do the airlines allow something large, fragile(relatively speaking) and precious (like a guitar) to go onboard to avoid this kind of handling?
(I'd hate to have to buy a seat for a guitar case. LOL .... just teasin') |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4071
Location: Utah | Willard, that really sucks! Seriously, I am an airline Captain and if I saw that with my passengers' baggage, there would be hell to pay. Please send a complaint to the airline in question. Complaints are tracked and are looked at.
At my airline, I've never seen willful carelessness. In fact, animals usually get very attentive care. If you bring a musical instrument, it will get placed in the baggage compartment last so it doesn't have things fall on it.
Of course, we are a non-union shop. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | (I'd hate to have to buy a seat for a guitar case. LOL .... just teasin')
When my daughter was bringing out the Les Paul from Cleveland, Delta refused to ship due the upgraded value - had to come out strapped in a coach seat at full fare. Funny/sad part of this is the case couldn't be on window or aisle. In the set of three seats, it was in the middle between a husband and wife for the whole trip. My daughter wasn't inconvenienced, she upgraded to 1st class. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1116
Location: Keller, TX | Just went to and from the tour. Had to check the Millenium both ways. I argued until I was blue in the face. Either check it or purchase a ticket. I even called before-hand and spoke with an AA customer-service rep. Told me "sure, no problem".
Luckily, got it home in one piece. Got the friendly "your package was inspected by the TSA" on the way home. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | I flew American the whole way. From Orange County to DFW, they hand carried the guitar on and off the plane (somebody at the check in counter told me I couldn't take it on --- I ignored her and got as far as the gate).
In DFW, Fred and I were told that the guitars would have to be checked. Fred made a stink, the flight crew was checked, and both guitars got in the overheads.
Going out, from Bradley, there were no problems and the guitar ended up in the front closet.
At DFW, I was told first, that there were FAA regs against the guitar going in the plane. Then a woman working around the gate, told me that she could carry it to the hold, but that in Orange County it would get off with the rest of the luggage (she had somebody else's guitar in a soft case that she had already taken --- that guitar is probably now toothpicks). When I insisted on checking with the flight crew, she wanted to play double or nothing --- "ok, but if there's no room, it won't be hand carried on by me". There was plenty of room and the flight crew was great.
I've never had to fight so much to get a guitar on an airplane. I could be real tempted next year to either ship a guitar ahead of time, or just not bring one.... |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | The VERY first time I travelled with the U681T (out of John Wayne), the lady at the ticket counter kept me from carrying it on. I was told to check it as "oversized" with the golf clubs and stuff, and that it would be hand loaded and unloaded. While I was waiting upstairs (our flight was VERY delayed) the lady at the counter was asking everybody if we'd checked bags because they were trying to get us on other flights if we needed to make connections, and I swear, she asked ME why I did'nt just carry it on, and tried to get somone in baggage to go get it for me, but our plane arrived and they loaded it (by hand, with the golf clubs and animals), so it flew by itself exactly once, and I had to into the luggage office to get it (where it was waiting for me with the golf clubs and and animals). I've really had no problems carrying on A guitar since. I'm not sure I could pull off two on one flight though by myself though... :D Here's my "secret": I Check in online and print my own boarding pass. If you MUST check a bag, check it at the curb. Don't even let them touch your guitar. The counter people are stupid, will try to charge you extra, and do not know the regs/size restrictions etc for carry-on's. All they know about is the overweight fees for CHECKED LUGAGE, which your guitar is not. The rule is this: If security lets it thruogh, it fits somewhere, and they have room, it's carry-on. I DID NOT make a stink in DFW. One lady said something about somone downstairs not even letting them in, and her meth-addict associate agreed, but when they asked how we got them on, I POLITELY said "I usually ask the crew, and If I have to gate check it, then that's OK". I then left poor Moody standing there alone with too many bags and guitars to carry by himself. He must have looked pathetic... When I got back from the head, they were already on the plane and the crew was holing mine at front because they didn't know where I was sitting. Way to Go Paul!! Paul got to SNA a litte later than me and his guitar got hand checked at the gate and brough back upstairs for him at DFW, where we both proceeded the carry them on. I suggest this: Be cool, remember it's a privilage, not a right, and the crew likes to serve us and feel appreciated so say PLEASE and THANK YOU, when you get on and off. If we all make a good impression, they will remember that guitarists are some of the nicest passengers, and do things like offer to let us stash them in the crew closet or the coat closet in first class. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | My 1537 came along with me inside the planes from Oakland to Dallas (to Huntsville) to Chicago to Hartford to Dallas to Oakland. The only leg it couldn't be inside the plane with me was Dallas to Huntsville where the plane was too small ... it was taken from me at the plane, carefully placed in the pressurized hold, and hand carried to me as I exited the plane. On all of the other legs, the guitar was stowed in the luggage closet at the front of the plane.
As Fred said ... politeness and manners go a long way.
Like Tom, Fred and Paul, I flew American on all legs. Never had one bit of trouble. Maybe it was the cowboy boots. ;) |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Go back to the first of March where I talked about hauling the wooden roundback to Phoenix and brought another one back. Southwest let me carry them on and put them in the overhead on all 4 legs. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I went to the Tour on the cheapest seats available and by United using an Eticket method.
Heading out I got to carry on and stow in the overhead from SEA to ORD and again from ORD to BDL.
Coming back on the Sardine Can from BDL to IAD (Dulles) for reprocessing it didn't fit in the overhead so it was stowed in a forward closet.
On the 757 from IAD to SEA I politely asked if they preferred that I used the ovehead or if a closet was available. The larger, bossier Attendent told me I needed to check it into the cargo. I demurely responded that I need to keep my instrument with me. Her next statement was that they would HAVE TO place it in the First Class Closet. Upon departure the nicer attendant handed it back to me and said she liked the sticker:
"One Woman, Many Guitars"
People are using the Carry-on quotient to the max and Airlines are packing flights. There will be issues in the near future.
I'm glad I went and I'm glad I'm home!
What day it is it? |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I only had one gatekeeper give me any trouble, telling me "if it won't fit in that display (the one showing how big carry-ons can be) it doesn't get carried one." I stated I had been assured by an AA rep (true) that the flight crew would be more than happy to accomodate me. She stuck a gate check tag on it, saying they usually charge $50 for this. Took it on the plane, the head stew looked at it and told me to stick it in the closet.
The gatekeepers like to think they're in charge, but the flight crew has final word. If you politely ask them if you can stow it in the closet, they will. One stew even emptied the closet to rearrange it so my guitar would fit.
Make sure you thank them! |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | I must say I cheated a bit. I decided to carry a cain with me to assist with the long walks thru the airports. I often use it after my total knee last year. I was allowed to pre-board on every flight and had my choice of overhead bins. Never a word from the crew or gate staff. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Great. I am leaving from Japan this weekend, and now I get to go through all this. I'm going to go with the courteouly-kissing-up attempt and try to dazzle them with my charm. If that doesn't work I'll just rely on my Marine Corps training and yell at them. (: |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Did I say courteouly? ... I meant to say courteously. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Bvince, you don't have to kiss-up. Just gently but firmly insist that the gatekeeper let you ask the flight crew. When you ask the flight crew (go for the head stew, if possible) do so politely, and chances are very good that they will go out of thier way to accomodate you.
Remember, the flight crew's job is to get the passengers to thier destination in as much safety and comfort as possible. They sometimes go to great lengths to insure this.
On the other hand, I've met some gate personnel who seem to think thier job is keeping you from getting on the plane at all... |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | For the first time ever I got a jobsworth who insisted that I check the Viper AND the tenor uke, which was in a gigbag. I told him no, I'd speak to the cabin crew and handload if neccesary. The queue was building up and I guess he got bored with my persistence. When I got to the aircraft, a triple 7 with tiny overheads, the crew could not have been more helpful and found a closet for both instruments.
On the way through the X-ray at JFK my carry-on bag set off an alarm. I was told that the bag had activated an explosive substance alert. I was taken to a room and everything was thoroughly checked. I got a little worried when both guys put on latex gloves. Fortunately I didn't get a cavity search but the guitar and uke did.
On the way in I'd brought a bunch of hand percussion for the lobby jam. When I got to Cliff's place I discovered that one of the Latin Percussion studio shakers had been deliberately snapped in half and my bag was full of microscopic shrapnel. I guess a couple of tubes full of metallic powder must have looked pretty suspicious on an X-ray |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | btw:
We're STILL finding errant bits of that stuff in the kitchen . . . . |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4071
Location: Utah | Originally posted by MWoody:
People are using the Carry-on quotient to the max and Airlines are packing flights. There will be issues in the near future. The FAA only permits one personal item (purse, laptop, etc) plus one carry on item. Be sure you don't try to carry on a bunch of bags plus a guitar. The FAA likes to fine airlines and employees, so you might find gate agents or ticket agents telling you to check your guitar if you have too many items. The TSA isn't a carry-on police force, so generally they will just screen everything you bring to the screening point. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 140
Location: Spain | Interesting that my current part number thred is a result of just such an incedent how the hell they damaged an ovation case and guitar this much is beyond me unless they used it as a c wheel chock!! |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Maybe it fell out of the plane upon landing :D :p |
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Never Check A Guitar
