Flying with an LP or SG?

[NotJeffBeck]

Has anybody successfully made it through the airline system with an SG or Les Paul? If you did, and it made it, what did you put it in? Hard case? Padded bag?
I'd love to take a nice guitar on my upcoming short tour but keep thinking I should just bring a Squier instead due to its hard maple neck.
What can you advise?

 

[TBurst Std]

My rule of thumb is value under 1500, hard case in storage (I’ll try to sneak it into wardrobe). Over, it’s hard case and wardrobe or I buy it a seat.

Had a person about a decade ago that wanted to change seats with my guit. They were all pissed off that I had a seat for a guitar, and wouldn’t change it. When pressure why I simply replied: it’s made me 20k so far this year, so far you’ve only pissed me off.

 

[Offshore Angler]

Charter flights remove this issue.

 

[garagemonkey]

Back in the late '80s/early '90s when I was young and dumb (and maybe when airlines cared a bit more) I would routinely check my acoustic and/or Les Paul Standard as baggage on Continental Airlines inside the factory Cali-Girl case without a second thought. Never had a single issue. I remember once or twice they even stuck my vintage White Falcon up in the First Class coat closet for me...but those days are no more.

Nowadays I carry a Les Paul (or Melody Maker) in the cabin when I have to fly with it and put it in the overhead inside a Mono Classic case with a Pedaltrain Nano Plus attached to it. Around town I prefer the Gibson hard cases, but the backpack straps, multiple internal pockets, and ability to clip the pedalboard to the Mono make it a lot easier navigating between gates while carrying straps and cords and junk for a fly gig. In the outside pocket of the case, I keep a copy of 14 CFR Part 251 stating carriers must permit musical instruments as carry-ons as long as there is available room and they fit.

They're not going to pull bags out of the overhead to accommodate your instrument, but if there is space for your guitar and it fits, that space is yours so I always book with premier boarding to ensure I'm on the plane early before the overheads fill up. I've had to have words a time or two with flight attendants while boarding ("this is a full flight, you'll have to check that") but once you show then you know the law there's not much they can do. Most know the drill, though and don't hassle you.....or ask with genuine curiosity, "what kind of guitar is in the case?".

 

[Xpensive Wino]

Has anybody successfully made it through the airline system with an SG or Les Paul? If you did, and it made it, what did you put it in? Hard case? Padded bag?
I'd love to take a nice guitar on my upcoming short tour but keep thinking I should just bring a Squier instead due to its hard maple neck.
What can you advise?

I carry 'em in gig bags and they occupy the seat next to mine as "Mr. Gibson". Since they don't eat or drink, I get their airline liquor and in-flight meals, too. You'll need a seatbelt extended. Hope that helps.

 

[Offshore Angler]

You need to buy a seat for the Les Pauls. That's the only safe way to do it and required by the FAR.. The FAR explicitly states you need to buy a seat for all but "small" instruments.

Sometimes we just use Telecasters, remove the necks and shove them in backpacks in the overhead. You can do the same with the Squier.

Out of curiosity, what's your backline plan? The Quad Cortex is becoming extremely popular with working players for fly gigs. No need for amps and effects, slides into the overhead no problem and sounds great.

As far as the FAR, yes, but the instrument is still required to meet the overhead storage size requirements per the FAR and these are completely up to the aircraft's operator, i.e., just because you have a copy of the FAR doesn't mean it's allowed. That's why they have that little cage gauge by the gate to check the size of your carry-on bags. If it don't fit, you get the red tag of shame. Yes, you can use the overhead for your piccolo but not your Tuba

If the flight isn't full and you give them puppy-dog eyes they usually don't give you any guff and let you slide, sometimes even offer to put it in the crew closet, but on a full flight with a tired staff at the desk flashing the FAR and being belligerent will probably get you an all-expenses paid trip to the airport security office.

And be careful, because some regional jets don't allow any carry-ons, you have to deposit them in the jetway and pick them up after the flight.

In any case be prepared for an extended process when you go through security so get there early.

If you do plan to carry it on, make sure you have your ID tag on it just in case.

Like I said, buy it a seat.

Further warning, if the flight is international be prepared to do a lot of 'splainin at the customs desk, and make sure the rosewood neck is not verboten.

Chuck

 

[NotJeffBeck]

Charter flights remove this issue.

Thanks... I guess.

 

[NotJeffBeck]

Back in the late '80s/early '90s when I was young and dumb (and maybe when airlines cared a bit more) I would routinely check my acoustic and/or Les Paul Standard as baggage on Continental Airlines inside the factory Cali-Girl case without a second thought. Never had a single issue. I remember once or twice they even stuck my vintage White Falcon up in the First Class coat closet for me...but those days are no more.

Nowadays I carry a Les Paul (or Melody Maker) in the cabin when I have to fly with it and put it in the overhead inside a Mono Classic case with a Pedaltrain Nano Plus attached to it. Around town I prefer the Gibson hard cases, but the backpack straps, multiple internal pockets, and ability to clip the pedalboard to the Mono make it a lot easier navigating between gates while carrying straps and cords and junk for a fly gig. In the outside pocket of the case, I keep a copy of 14 CFR Part 251 stating carriers must permit musical instruments as carry-ons as long as there is available room and they fit.

They're not going to pull bags out of the overhead to accommodate your instrument, but if there is space for your guitar and it fits, that space is yours so I always book with premier boarding to ensure I'm on the plane early before the overheads fill up. I've had to have words a time or two with flight attendants while boarding ("this is a full flight, you'll have to check that") but once you show then you know the law there's not much they can do. Most know the drill, though and don't hassle you.....or ask with genuine curiosity, "what kind of guitar is in the case?".

So you fly with that Special? Gator now makes a high-end case, the Icon; it's a tossup between the two brands for me.
I may just get an inexpensive Tele or similar, something with a maple neck and not worry much. Thanks for the good advice including the idea to cite the law.
Luckily, for this band's set, I only need three sounds and can probably get all three with either a Valeton GP5 or my Blackstone Mosfet Overdrive.

 

[NotJeffBeck]

I carry 'em in gig bags and they occupy the seat next to mine as "Mr. Gibson". Since they don't eat or drink, I get their airline liquor and in-flight meals, too. You'll need a seatbelt extended. Hope that helps.

That is not anywhere near being in my budget, but thanks for the option.

 

[NotJeffBeck]

You need to buy a seat for the Les Pauls. That's the only safe way to do it and required by the FAR.. The FAR explicitly states you need to buy a seat for all but "small" instruments.

Sometimes we just use Telecasters, remove the necks and shove them in backpacks in the overhead. You can do the same with the Squier.

Out of curiosity, what's your backline plan? The Quad Cortex is becoming extremely popular with working players for fly gigs. No need for amps and effects, slides into the overhead no problem and sounds great.

As far as the FAR, yes, but the instrument is still required to meet the overhead storage size requirements per the FAR and these are completely up to the aircraft's operator, i.e., just because you have a copy of the FAR doesn't mean it's allowed. That's why they have that little cage gauge by the gate to check the size of your carry-on bags. If it don't fit, you get the red tag of shame. Yes, you can use the overhead for your piccolo but not your Tuba

If the flight isn't full and you give them puppy-dog eyes they usually don't give you any guff and let you slide, sometimes even offer to put it in the crew closet, but on a full flight with a tired staff at the desk flashing the FAR and being belligerent will probably get you an all-expenses paid trip to the airport security office.

And be careful, because some regional jets don't allow any carry-ons, you have to deposit them in the jetway and pick them up after the flight.

In any case be prepared for an extended process when you go through security so get there early.

If you do plan to carry it on, make sure you have your ID tag on it just in case.

Like I said, buy it a seat.

Further warning, if the flight is international be prepared to do a lot of 'splainin at the customs desk, and make sure the rosewood neck is not verboten.

Chuck

Hi Chuck, I won't be flying with a Les Paul and there is not any budget to blow a whole ticket on a guitar seat, so it's going to have to be an alternate guitar that can take it like a Tele with a humbucker sort of thing. The backline will be venue provided and I only need three major sounds for this band which I can get with either a Valeton GP5 or my Blackstone Mosfet Overdrive. I actually own a Fractal FM3 and VP4 but both are overkill for this domestic mini tour. I expect I'll be confronted with a Fender DeVille of some kind or a Blackstar or something like that. A decent slightly gritty setting and I'm good to go. It's looking dim for bringing along anything nice, so I'm just going to avoid that and bring something not very valuable but durable.

 

[GreenBurst]

Charter flights remove this issue.

Same with owning your own airplane.

 

[Offshore Angler]

Same with owning your own airplane.

i can tell you from personal experience it’s orders of magnitude cheaper to just buy a seat.

 

[Maguchi]

Can't post a pic on this forum, so I deleted my post. Have you considered moving this thread to another forum on this site.

 

[NickiC]

I’ve gate checked my Gator ata/tsa when I was flying a lot. No problems, breaks or damage from gate checking. Next time you are in an airport, take notice on what instrument cases are being carried around. Mono, Gator, Calton. And a lot of Ovation hard cases. From my observations.
Avoid bag checking.
A guitar in a gig bag, in the overhead can get damage from passengers ramming hard case carry-on luggage into the compartment. And, unless you have early priority boarding, you will have to gate check.

 

[Offshore Angler]

I've checked a lot too, just make sure your case has TSA locks. Or simply have it shipped ahead of you. That is the easiest way to get the job done (well, unless you have a tour manager and then it's not your problem). Saves all the hassle of schlepping it through the airport and you may have to pay for baggage, and it can always get lost. I had one go on a tour of a few states without me but it all ended up OK.

IF you are international you can have it customs inspected and sealed before you leave. You get the big orange sticker on it all is well.

Chuck

 

[Amp360]

Many times checked through in a regular Gibson case. Most of the time if I have to fly I check a Clapton Strat, though. It's versatile and indestructible.