Can you bring guitars on planes

While there is a slight chance that this brings attention to a guitar that would have otherwise snuck past, the peace of mind and open communication will pay off more times than not. Once the luggage is on the plane, flight attendants usually work with you to find ways to make it fit, as long as a solution can be safely arrived at.

While the crew is in no way obligated to make this accommodation, there is always the chance that you may get an attendant who is sensitive to your situation and obliges. If you are traveling outside of the United States, there is really no standard policy for instrument travel. As such, it comes down to the individual airline and, often, will differ from one employee to the other. Therefore, when planning your international trips, it is best to do extensive research on the various airlines and see what each allows.

Look into additional factors such as the size of the plane and usable storage space. Speak with as many people as possible within the airline to get confirmation, trying to get examples of precedent on how that airline has dealt with guitar carry in the past.

Whether past experience tells you it is not possible, or you are just an ultra-conservative person who does not believe that you will be able to sweet-talk your guitar into the cabin without buying a separate ticket, there are ways that you can go about protecting your favorite fiddle when traveling.

If you are concerned that the possibility of checking your favorite guitar will put it on the fast track to ruin, look into a backup guitar that can be used for travel purposes. While this is not a universal cure-all, and there will definitely be times when you need to travel with your main instrument, those musicians who fly frequently may benefit from the peace of mind of knowing that it is a lesser guitar clanging around in the cargo hold.

The next time you are ready to make a guitar purchase, see if you can get a custom guitar with a detachable handle. This way, your guitar can be taken apart to fit into a normal size carry-on bag, guaranteeing that your instrument is always with you.

When dealing with oversized luggage that will not fit in cabin stowage, you are likely to hear two different phrases that sound the same but can have a vast difference in your guitar reaching its destination safely:. You want to avoid having your guitar gate checked. This will come with an orange tag and lead to your guitar being thrown into the muck of checked baggage, available for pickup at the baggage claim area.

If an agent says your guitar needs to be tagged, confirm that it will be a green tag and not an orange tag. A green label means that your oversized item will be placed in the cargo hold after all other carry-on bags have been loaded. Upon arrival, it will be waiting for you at the top of the jet bridge.

This limits the potential damage that your instrument will be exposed to. If you plan on flying with your guitar, it is best to drive a personal vehicle. To be clear, this does not mean the airline is required to allow you to have the guitar in the cabin with you. There may be some instances in which it is not possible to bring the guitar in the cabin and you will need to gate check your instrument.

Most airlines will try to accommodate you but if the plane you are flying on is particularly small, most passengers will need to check their overhead carry-on bag, including your guitar, if there is nowhere to store it within the cabin. Most large commercial flights will have coat closets on board that is typically used by the crew. Be sure to politely ask a flight attendant if there is closet space available within the cabin. To keep your beloved instrument safe on your travels, here are a few tips to help you fly with your guitar.

If you plan on checking your guitar, you should absolutely have a hard-shell case. Checking your guitar in a gig bag is a recipe for disaster. If you want to carry on your guitar—which tends to be the safest bet—a gig bag makes it easier to fit into the overhead compartments or, if the compartments are full, in front of you in the very limited leg space.

Gig bags are also good for avoiding the attention of flight crews. Flight attendants are always looking for oversized luggage to send down below. Never, ever, ever try to fly without a guitar case. The headstock is under the most stress of the entire guitar.

A decent shock could snap it off completely! Be sure to add plenty of padding under the headstock to give it some support.

Flying puts a lot of stress on your guitar. No, not just with the bumps and bangs. The temperature, humidity, and pressure changes can also cause the wood to expand and contract. Your guitar will be more prepared to withstand the changes.

That will help regulate the humidity changes and protect your guitar—especially if you have an acoustic. Before you take your guitar on a flight, make sure you secure the case with more than just the latches. Many musicians actually tape their cases shut to prevent them from opening during flight.

Packing tape and Scotch tape are ideal. If you do feel the need to lock your case, attach the key to the case in an obvious way, so agents can get in if necessary. Remove Non-Essential Gear from the Case. Even electronics like tuners and pedals should go in your carry-on bag rather than in the guitar case.

The last thing you want is for you to end up in one city, while your guitar ends up in another. Even so, flying with a guitar still poses a number of complications and risks for traveling musicians. Utilize some simple strategies to avoid problematic scenarios. The TSA recommends checking with airlines before booking flights to find out carriers' exact policies regarding instruments.

Figure out your guitar's size, including the case, in linear inches. You can do this by taking the sum of your case's length, width and height dimensions, according to Taylor Guitars. So, for instance, a guitar case 20 inches long, 15 inches wide and 10 inches high would have a total size of 45 linear inches.

Print out a copy of the airline's policy to take with you to the airport on the day of travel. This way you have proof of the facts if there is any hassle over your guitar's dimensions. TSA guidelines stipulate passengers may bring only one musical instrument as a carry-on. Be prepared to have your guitar and its case inspected by airport security. When booking, speak to an airlines representative when booking to make sure your particular aircraft has enough room in its overhead bins for the dimensions of your guitar case.

Flight attendants may force you to check the guitar in the hold if you don't get confirmation to bring it on board when arranging your flight.