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I finished an OM a couple of months ago for my brother that I want to deliver to him. Since I will be flying out to California this weekend, I thought this might be the ideal opportunity to do so. However, I haven't flown with a guitar in many years. I know that I don't want to check it as baggage, given the horror stories that I've heard about that. My flight (on Delta) is a non-stop from Cincinnati to SF, which means the plane should be of sufficient size that it should fit as a carry-on in the overhead compartment. Also, as a carry-on it would have to pass through TSA screening. Are there any potential problems there? Maybe this is all straightforward and nothing to be concerned about, but I have a recurrent terrible vision of being told that I have to check it at the gate, which would very likely diminish my traveling pleasure.

I'm hoping that the good folks here could share their recent experiences and any tips they might have.

Thanks,

John

Hi John,

It really depends on what airline you are flying - they do not all treat on-board instruments the same. Stefan Grossman started a thread on this on his forum concerning flying with guitars - may be worthwhile to check out. His best advice, is when told you have to gate check the guitar, smile, and ask them to ask the flight crew. Evidently, flight crews are the ones with final disposition:

http://stefangrossmansguitarworkshop.yuku.com/reply/19647/Traveling-by-Plane-with-my-Guitar#reply-19647

Glenn

As far as TSA screening, you could call TSA and ask. I would just not put anything else in the case but the guitar, e.g., extra strings.

If you're not high up in the Sky Miles frequent flyer program (ie Medallion member) you want to have a seat in the back few rows of the Jet. This allows you to board before all the overhead space is taken. Sit near the gate and be standing nearby when boarding is announced (~30 minuted prior to departure). If feel up to it, find another friendly passenger with a Medallion ticket (look for a worn out roll aboard) and ask if you can board with them so you have a chance to get an overhead space. Boarding is based on the earliest priority in a pair traveling together.

If you have to check at the gate make sure you have stuffed the space under the peghead with wadded up newspaper or styrofoam peanuts. Also make sure to ask about and demand to get it back at the door of the jet at your destination, not sent to the baggage claim conveyer.

Thanks for the replies and suggestions

John. In particular, I took the advice about being pleasant to heart (my Mom always said the same thing).

So here's what happened. At Security the guitar went through the X-ray machine and nothing else. None of the TSA agents even asked me to open the case. When I got to the gate, one of the pre-flight guys told me that the overhead space in the plane I was flying on wouldn't accommodate a guitar (retrospectively, I think he was right, BTW) and that closet space was extremely limited, and I would have to check it at the gate. Nevertheless, I waited until the actual crew was onboard, then approached the woman working the desk with my problem. Giving her my best smile and pleasant attitude, I told her that I was delivering a guitar I had hand built for my brother as a gift (both true), and that I was nervous about sending it into the hold. She called back to the crew to let them know the situation, then she told me I could pre-board before the first class passengers . When I got to the plane the attendant said there wasn't any room in the closet, but if I would let the pilots check inside the case it could ride up front with them. So I opened it up and we had a nice chat about what kinds of wood were used, etc. Then off we went, with the guitar having the best seat on board.

So I had a reverse "United breaks guitars" experience. A tip of the hat to the Delta crew for their customer service. As for taking a positive approach, did it make a difference? Who knows, but I'm sure it didn't hurt.

John

p.s. the guitar was a big hit, so it was all worth it.