Re: Flying with a guitar... or not

[Tim Mungenast <tmungenast@verizon.net>]

Cool. Well, I suppose they're like most people, in that if you treat them 
like human beings they are more likely to return the favor.



--- On Tue, 8/7/12, Daniel Thomas <danielthomas4@mac.com> wrote:

> From: Daniel Thomas <danielthomas4@mac.com>
> Subject: Re: Flying with a guitar... or not
> To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
> Date: Tuesday, August 7, 2012, 5:17 PM
> On a related note-  When I have
> to check my instruments, I keep one of those "TSA
> inspection" tags inside the case.  (they leave one
> whenever they open a bag.)  That way, when a TSA'r
> opens the case, they see that someone else from TSA has
> already been there.  This has greatly reduced the
> number of times that my overpacking gets mangled. 
> Similarly, I leave a very polite note explaining that the
> instrument must be packed properly in order to ensure its
> safety and that I appreciate how focused on safety the TSA
> is!  :)
> 
> Daniel 
> 
> 
> 
> On Aug 7, 2012, at 1:26 PM, Tim Mungenast wrote:
> 
> > Thank you, Sylvain.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- On Mon, 8/6/12, Sylvain Poitras <sylvain.trombone@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > 
> >> From: Sylvain Poitras <sylvain.trombone@gmail.com>
> >> Subject: Re: Flying with a guitar... or not
> >> To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
> >> Date: Monday, August 6, 2012, 2:37 PM
> >> In my experience, it depends on both
> >> the carrier and the actual plane
> >> you're flying.  Check you carrier's policy
> regarding
> >> musical
> >> instruments and book a flight on the biggest plane
> you can
> >> get.  I
> >> like to fly with Air Canada, because their policy
> is let me
> >> carry my
> >> instrument on board if it fits in the overhead
> bin.  My
> >> trombone
> >> always fit in the overhead bin of the airbus 319 or
> 320, so
> >> that's
> >> what I'm flying on when I go to Santa Cruz later
> this
> >> year.  Last week
> >> I flew to Moncton and back to Ottawa on a small
> regional
> >> jet.  My horn
> >> did not fit in the overhead bin and I could only
> slide it
> >> partly under
> >> the seat in front of me (and side ways, taking room
> away
> >> from my
> >> fellow traveler).  The flight attendant didn't
> even
> >> mention it on both
> >> flights.  Getting on the good side of the
> flight crew
> >> can save your
> >> ass...
> >> 
> >> My advice is to pack your smallest guitar in the
> smallest
> >> and
> >> strongest case you can find and book a flight on
> the biggest
> >> plane you
> >> can get.  Plan to take it on board as carry-on
> and be
> >> prepared to
> >> gate-check if necessary.  Most damage occurs
> when the
> >> instrument moves
> >> around inside the case (or other objects move
> within the
> >> case, banging
> >> on the instrument).  Remove everything but
> the
> >> instrument from the
> >> case and secure it with packing foam or bubble
> wrap.
> >> 
> >> Never check your instrument.  They will
> destroy it (as
> >> we've already
> >> heard, the most likely scenario is a TSA agent
> screwing up
> >> your
> >> packing).  Always carry-on or
> gate-check.  If you
> >> must check your
> >> instrument, insist on being present when the TSA
> opens the
> >> case (this
> >> is in accordance with their policy:
> >> http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1235.shtm
> >> )
> >> 
> >> Sylvain
> >> 
> >> 
> > 
> 
>