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Posted by: Gert1973 Feb 16 2023, 02:04 PM

Hi GMC members,

What are your experiences with travelling with an acoutic guitar on a plane? I want to take mine (full size dreadnought) as my only hand luggage.

After some research I already found out it depends on what flight company you're flying with. Also I read many company's don't allow it anymore and made it obligatory to pay for an extra seat or it has to go as checked luggage (means in the cargo space of the plane and I don't want that).

I'm flying with Austrian. Already send an email to inform but they will probably send standard respons I have to buy additional seat. But I have never seen a guitar sitting on an airplane seat before

So if anyone has tips, tricks and/or experiences to share, let's hear them!

Thanks!

Cheers,
Gert

Posted by: klasaine Feb 16 2023, 04:23 PM

Get a good quality, hard case and check it.
How far are you flying?

Posted by: Gert1973 Feb 16 2023, 04:58 PM

QUOTE (klasaine @ Feb 16 2023, 04:23 PM)

Get a good quality, hard case and check it.
How far are you flying?

Flight is 13 hours total with a stop over. Not a direct flight. My acoustic guitar is a cheap one. A flight case will probably cost more. But still, I'm afraid of using a hard case and let it check in. Because I already heard many stories about instruments getting damaged when they get checked in. Even with a hard case.

But thanks for getting back to me.

Posted by: Gert1973 Feb 16 2023, 06:11 PM

QUOTE (Gert1973 @ Feb 16 2023, 04:58 PM)

Flight is 13 hours total with a stop over. Not a direct flight. My acoustic guitar is a cheap one. A flight case will probably cost more. But still, I'm afraid of using a hard case and let it check in. Because I already heard many stories about instruments getting damaged when they get checked in. Even with a hard case.

But thanks for getting back to me.

Already had a very quick response from the airline company. I can not take my guitar as hand luggage. So I will need to check it in.

I will have to think about it if I will take the risk of checking my guitar in...

Posted by: klasaine Feb 16 2023, 07:11 PM

I fly with guitars a lot.
My advice would be to fly with a solid body in a form-fitting (small) 'gigbag'. They will fit in any overhead storage on any of the long-haul planes. Also, do not inform them that you want to do this. Just sling that bag over your shoulder and don't call attention to it. Make it seem like "you do this every day".

Another advantage of taking a solid body in a gigbag is that it will also fit upright in the flight crew's coat closet. When you enter the aircraft, mention that to the first flight attendant you see. They will now trust that you are experienced with this and they'll take care of you.

Posted by: Gert1973 Feb 17 2023, 05:13 PM

QUOTE (klasaine @ Feb 16 2023, 07:11 PM)

I fly with guitars a lot.
My advice would be to fly with a solid body in a form-fitting (small) 'gigbag'. They will fit in any overhead storage on any of the long-haul planes. Also, do not inform them that you want to do this. Just sling that bag over your shoulder and don't call attention to it. Make it seem like "you do this every day".

Another advantage of taking a solid body in a gigbag is that it will also fit upright in the flight crew's coat closet. When you enter the aircraft, mention that to the first flight attendant you see. They will now trust that you are experienced with this and they'll take care of you.

Ok, thanks for getting back to me. This was my initial plan but if it does not work, I have a problem because in a gigbag, it can not go in as checked luggage bacause it will destroy my guitar. And as I'm going by train to the airport, no option either to return back home.

I know many airlines flying to the west (USA/Canada/...) don't make problem with a guitar as hand luggage.

You have experience with flying to the South East? Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, ...?

Posted by: klasaine Feb 17 2023, 10:44 PM

Japan and Singapore.
No issues for me but I've also done it dozens of times over a few decades.
Your personal demeanor makes all the difference.
I can also tell the ticket counter person exactly how big, how many, and what different types of personal storage spaces are available on most of the jets that fly intercontinental. If a counter person tells me that the storage isn't big enough, I can tell them that I absolutely know that it is in fact big enough because I do it all the time w/o issue.

Posted by: Gert1973 Apr 10 2023, 11:24 AM

QUOTE (klasaine @ Feb 17 2023, 10:44 PM)

Japan and Singapore.
No issues for me but I've also done it dozens of times over a few decades.
Your personal demeanor makes all the difference.
I can also tell the ticket counter person exactly how big, how many, and what different types of personal storage spaces are available on most of the jets that fly intercontinental. If a counter person tells me that the storage isn't big enough, I can tell them that I absolutely know that it is in fact big enough because I do it all the time w/o issue.

Hi,

Some feedback after trip to Malaysia including 6 flights total...

No issues at all and everything went smooth

Posted by: klasaine Apr 10 2023, 03:23 PM

QUOTE (Gert1973 @ Apr 10 2023, 03:24 AM)