Carrying a Guitar back from overseas

[Apot_red]

Hello Softies,

I might need a little help here.
I had seen a few postings here and there and I am getting really worried.

I want to carry back a guitar from the US.
This is to fulfill my dream of doing so......

However I am left with no choice other than to check the guitar in (with its orginal Hard Case)....

What are the precautions you need to take?

Please kindly enlighten....

Thank you many many....

Cheers!

Philip

 

[fgl]

GET A GOOD WELL PADDED SOFT CASE - HANDCARRY - INTO CABIN - ASK CABIN CREW TO STOW IT AWAY IN THE COAT CLOSET... I tried before.

I also ever 3 or 4 times carried the entire hard case with me into cabin & put in overhead compartment - it will fit, tight squueze but will fit. troublesome though

If you wana check in your guitar - you need a flight case which is heavy, costly

normal hardcase you check in - SAY YOUR PRAYERS DUDE ...

 

[Apot_red]

Arh!!...I think i will choose the second option...
But if during the check in the officer ask me to check in the Guitar then finish liao....

I was thinking if I use extra caution like loosen all strings and put in extra foam to pack it up nice and tight...(with the Hardcase) then if lan lan check in then boh bian...

 

[Tattoo_Guitar]

What flight are you taking? If u r taking SQ u can just carry in with soft case and hand carry in.. NEVER CHECK IN YOUR GUITAR

 

[gkinsingapore]

Not up to the airline...up to local security regulations. Security regs have changed a lot and they are getting more and more anal. I travel with guitars between Sg and BKK all the time and now have to be checked in. They always take good care. A normal hardcase is fine.

American baggage handlers not so careful but after the 'United broke my Taylor Guitar' thing maybe things have changed.

I dont think you have so much to worry about. Not as much as the guys that ship guitars form the US through UPS/Fedex etc where they pass through so many hands on the way here but still arrive in one piece.....

 

[psyence4]

I carried guitars back 2 times from US, no problems. Yeah buying guitars there is the way to go because people are selling high end gear on ebay/craigslist for cheap because of the economy... Plus the favourable exchange rate and lack of MONOPOLY and PRICE CONTROLS on CERTAIN BRANDS!

First experience with Northwest (2009):

Carried in PRS softcase (strongly padded). fit into overhead with no incident. But there was a girl 2 seats away with a taylor in a acoustic case going to sg, and some guy was trying to shove her guitar around to make space and also trying to convince her to let him stack some luggage on top of the case. I told the guy that that wasn't cool... if he tried to do that to my guitar I would have blown up

2nd experience with United (2010):
Awesome, they let you carry a guitar + hand luggage + personal item if you can manage (i.e. guitar is not counted as personal item)
Guitar was carried in cheapo $30 gigbag. There wasn't space in the overhead so they put it in the coat closet =D

From personal experience, I have seen people carry Gibson hardcases and
PRS original hardcases on the plane, should be no problem... In the worst case, they will take it from you when you board the plane and stash it somewhere, they won't delay the plane just to make you check it in haha... If you are REALLY worried then try to keep the guitar out of sight when checking in. But I doubt there's any risk.

One of my friends checked in an ibanez in a hardcase and it survived the trip there and back... with a LOT of foam bubble wrap duct tape etc... mummified to the max. Not recommended though.

 

[kerplunk182]

What flight are you taking? If u r taking SQ u can just carry in with soft case and hand carry in.. NEVER CHECK IN YOUR GUITAR

Not entirely true. I just came back from Japan by SQ and carried a well padded soft case with me but i got stopped by one of their staff during check in. The staff even called in the cabin captain and my parents talked to them for like 20 minutes and they still didn't allow us to bring it onboard because it was a full flight. The agreement between SQ and us was to bring it onboard and see if the cabin attendants would allow us to keep it in the business class closet.

In the end, they allowed us to keep it in the business class closet. When i boarded the plane, the cabin crew knew my name and i had to hope and pray that they wouldn't spit and poison my food for being such a stubborn customer.

I guess in these situations, you have to be very stubborn for the sake of your guitar. I've heard of cases where guitars were checked in and stolen at the luggage collection belts. So yeah, i'll NEVER ever check in my guitars.

 

[ZedsMeds]

I would not recommend using the standard hard case and checking it in. I have had a case and guitar destroyed by SQ doing exactly that.

If you can fight and scream and argue to carry it on board and have it stored in business class closet this is the best way to go. Those closets can take full size electric or acoustic cases. (Loosen the strings anyway).

If you cannot carry it onboard and you don't want to fight and you want to keep the original case then ask the guitar store - if buying new of visit a reputable dealer and ask them to pack for air travel.


Good luck

 

[Anirudh]

GET A GOOD WELL PADDED SOFT CASE - HANDCARRY - INTO CABIN - ASK CABIN CREW TO STOW IT AWAY IN THE COAT CLOSET...

Tried and tested many times by myself on many carriers. Don't worry so much man, many people carry their guitars while travelling. I even checked-in my guitar in a hardcase, thankfully it came out fine.

 

[lordie]

usually hand carry my bass + pedalboard on the flight i did it with both SQ, CX and AirAsia. they make noise but than if u talk to them nicely it is usually ok, but if they lansi and raise a storm, u raise a storm bigger than them. coz its funny when every flight got different policy, told them u did it before in other flight and its ok and bla bla bla bla bla. aka raise hell. usually they let it slip.

 

[theunknown]

lordie: Bro, I think they look at you, scared already la... Haha..

 

[junkiemanxl]

I hand carried a guitar back on a SQ flight before. I was told i had to check in so i put it in a soft case and there was a packing dept at the airport. I have it packed and checked it in. no problems.

BTW, the packing which they offered at the airport was hard as a rock. remember to check it in as fragile item and you should be fine.

 

[shinobi]

the question is what precautions to take if checking in a hardcase

the answer is to loosen the strings and truss rod during transport. basic

 

[Pennyman]

I've checked guitars in standard hard cases numerous times, cross-Canada, trans-Pacific, and have never had a problem. You can - SHOULD - pad all around your guitar with small towels, socks, undies, t-shirts, whatever you can find, especially around the lower bouts, 'cause that's the spot that's going to take the worst of the hits. If you don't already have a hard case, try to find one that's just a little bigger than your guitar. Pack it well, make sure nothing's moving around in there, and you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[sheddie]

if i may share my opinion, i fly from sg to jakarta, checked-in a greco with its harcase, pad with shirts and socks, jetsar serve some green plastic wrap, stick it as fragile, came out safe and sound

 

[squirrel]

I've Checked in Guitars many many times and nothing ever happens, just make sure you remind the counter staff that it's fragile.

 

[Cheez]

Some airlines will never let you check them in no matter what. I've checked mine in a couple of times without problems. Make sure hard case is really good. Fragile stickers help but they really don't work. Some airlines make you sign a form saying that if the guitar is damaged, the airline is in no way responsible. Which effectively made the fragile stickers useless...

I would still make sure I got a good hardcase. Then try to hand-carry. In the event that the airline refuses, at least there's some kind of protection when the guitar is checked in. You don't want to end up checking in the guitar in a softcase.

 

[ImNotFish]

I've carried my guitar back and forth between Sg and Msia several times, in cheapo $17 gig bag, and one time in hardcase. There should be some kind of policies for music instrument, that within the cabin weight and dimension it can be hand carried, but it does count as one personal belonging (I brought my laptop aboard too). If you're still worried maybe you can print out the policy and show them if they insisted to check in you guitar.

If you are going hardcase, you should pad your guitar in the hardcase with towel, clothes etc.. especially when you know how they handle all the luggages..

 

[irvinzj]

if u want to check it in. get a hard case, or even a soft case, head into the music shop and ask for a box. pack it in. don't have to put too much padding etc.

thats how martins are shipped from factory, taylor, larrivee, breedlove, fender etc etc. even the samicks!

 

[Valentinoz]

last time i use hand carry my guitar alot whereas, now its not a choice. hence, you'll have to check it in. i've just came back from overseas with a guitar and they said its too long for a hand lugguage so they checked it in. come on lah, they have a 'Fragile' sticker for it. but still, you have to remember to say your prayers.