Hand carry or checked in?

[Snazer]

Hey wanna ask if anyone bought guitars overseas and hand carried or checked in back to spore. I though of buying guitars from japan but im not sure if the airline allows guitars to be hand carried. Anyone with experiences?

 

[imkeith]

in the past that's alot of discussion regarding this.. and what they do is that they insist that their guitar had to be carried in or something like that.. basically kick up a fuss :/

 

[dodgethis]

If I were you, prepare your guitar to be checked in. Don't assume. Different airlines, different policy. For better information, call and ask for their policy.

 

[imkeith]

i believe you can notify the stall that your gona buy the guitar from to add foam and stuff like that to prevent any damages

 

[Snazer]

Alrite thanks for all the advice. I do not wish to check in the guitar as i have heard many stories about hard cases crack and stuff.

 

[zairo]

A few years ago, I bought a guitar in Japan and comes with a hard case. They had it checked-in and when I reached Changi, it was among with other luggage on the conveyor belt. No damages so far. This trip is by way of SIA.

And again, just recently, I bought a guitar from Japan and brought it here in Singapore last week. I had them hand carried but inside the plane, the stewardess asked me to put it in an "extra" overhead compartment (the one on top of the changing table for babies) but the guitar was not able to fit. So we put it in a compartment used by the plane's crew thus my guitar was standing on top of a luggage and it's position is being stabilized by the guitars neck leaning towards a clothes bar and we did not have a smooth landing. sheeesh...

Anyway, once I got home, I inspected for any damage but so far found none. This is my experience for JAL and by the way, my guitar was in a thin padded case.

 

[loldude333]

I've heard nightmare stories of new 4k guitars coming back with cracks and warped necks due to the dryness and low temperature of the cargo hold, its only semi-pressurised and not climate-controlled. Even a hardcase wouldn't do much good. IMHO best to carry it onboard to be absolutely safe.

 

[lokiregnarok]

I prefer to carry it onboard rather than checking in. Even if u stick a "fragile" sticker on ur case, they might still throw ur stuffs. But again, sometimes u cant bring it onboard especially when the plane is crowded. I m not sure if u can even bring it with its strings on it. Once (and only tat one time), i was asked to unstring my guitar. "Why?" i asked. "To prevent the danger of hijack" said the person. =.=

 

[dodgethis]

It's not for you guys to decide whether you get to hand carry it into the cabin, it's the cabin crew and ground crew to decide. They have the final say. You can ask, request and demand but in the end, it's their call. In fact, it's stated in most T&Cs on the airline's policy on muscial instruments. You buy the ticket, never read and still demand the treatment? You poor, poor sod.

Best thing you can do? Be prepared to check in the guitar. You threaten to take another airline but in the end, you lose out.

 

[justheretolook]

before going on board the plane, hand carried or not, loosen the strings and put extra foam, or t shirt along the neck, and bottom of the body.

 

[imkeith]

why t shirt?

 

[loldude333]

Cheap form of cushioning lor......it does work y'know.

 

[fgl]

hand carry then ask cabin crew to stow it in the special jackets & stuff compartment.

NEVER - REPEAT NEVER CHECK IN GUITARS ...

risk of broken, damaged, lost, stolen ... etc etc ..... I work in the airline industry ... TRUST ME ....

 

[Jumpin'Jellybean]

Maybe if it's a bolt on can seperate also. More compact.

 

[faekildare]

I took NWA when i came back from japan. They allowed me to carry on board. Last time i went to America (2008), they also allowed me to carry the guitar onboard. Even tho the service isnt the best, i'll stick with NWA just for that (that is if i am carry a guitar everytime i go japan.)