Checking in acoustic guitars on flights.

[xklusivly4u]

I fly between Singapore, UK and US all the time and oftenly take SQ. But most of the time I use Gig bag. You can't put a guitar in overhead compartment, depends on your seat. Some compartments are not long enough to put a guitar. So just give it to flight attendant and you will be fine. Dont loosen the strings like other advice. But you can't carry a guitar when you fly out from Healthrow airport

 

[DjThugs]

hey elaine...its DjThugs not DjThungs la...haha..well u hand it to them when u enter the plane...just when they are checking your ticket to tell you where u are sitting..and request them to use the First Class or Raffles class coat closet..cos the economy class closet normally full of other stuff...and u must only handcarry the guitar..no other bags..if not very tough..she says try to nego with the ground staff also..when checking in..that will depend on their mood already...hope this helps

 

[JiveB]

Thank you everyone!!! If i manage to bring my Martin over to UK (in one piece) its all cos of your generous help and advice

DjThugs: I sure hope your gf is the stewardess of the flight i'm taking. Just to confirm with you, when u say hand carry the guitar, it means in a hard case right? Cos my dad insists I can only bring it up to store if its in a soft case.
Oh can u help me ask your gf when she means no other bags, issit hand carry baggages? Because i read somewhere that laptop n lady's handbag are considered as free baggage not hand carry baggage. But in this case will it cause trouble if i carry may guitar and laptop etc?


xklusivly4u and DJ Thugs and everyone: Is there a higher chance bringing the guitar one board if its in a gig bag? cos in that case u can never check it in?


Thank you and i hope i spelt your name correctly!

 

[theblueark]

I would think that if you carry ABSOLUTELY NOTHING apart from your guitar, they'll more inclined to allow you to bring that aboard, since everybody brings something onto the plane, and if they don't even allow you to bring that one thing you're carrying, they'll be a bit paiseh themselves.

Good tip there from Dj. Working on the psychology of folks.

 

[JiveB]

Thanks for the tip

Will u recommend hard case or soft padded case when bringing it on board? Cos my hard case is kinda heavy and i'm scared they don't allow. Plus unfortunately i have to carry my laptop etc cos i am going there for studies.

 

[unsane]

But you can't carry a guitar when you fly out from Healthrow airport

same goes for melbourne tullamarine airport. two of the worst airports in the world..no surprise there.

 

[xklusivly4u]

Hard case with laptop bag will be difficult for you plus you cannot carry your hard case on your back. I carry gig bag on my back and use two hands for laptop, alcohols, cigarette etc. By the way, if you are smoker, makes sure you bring two carton of cigarette from duty free otherwise 18S$ per pack

 

[ChanMin]

checked one guitar in a coffin case ( packed with shoes , clothes and very random stuff bought from vegas , disney land and other tourist killzones)

hand carried the other onboard in a gigbag

both reached singapore intact and playable.

just bring your martin. and demand they stow it in the coat compartment. tell them its worth $10,000 and very sensitive to sudden temperature changes and condensation. Paste no less then 3 "Fragile"stickers on the case.

 

[DjThugs]

well..preferably in a hard case...unless your gigbag is as padded as the 1 that comes with the john mayer strat..i dun think she is on the flgiht you'll be in..haha...she doesn't have any to UK..she just cam back from there though..

 

[j_m_s]

Make sure you paste a coupla of fragile stickers on the case. When i travel with an instrument. I put like 4 or 5 fragile stickers. looks quite cool and more professional too :lol: