Traveling with a guitar can be stressful, especially when you’re worried about its safety. As someone who flies frequently for gigs (around 40 dates per year for the past 9 years, totaling over 600 flights with a guitar!), I’ve learned a few tricks to help ensure your instrument arrives in one piece. This guide will provide practical advice on how to successfully travel with your guitar on an airplane, focusing on keeping it with you in the cabin.
Before we dive in, let’s address a crucial question: How valuable is your guitar? If it’s a pre-war Martin or an instrument you’d be devastated to lose or have damaged, seriously consider whether bringing it is the best option. Could you rent or borrow a guitar at your destination? Airlines aren’t always gentle, and damage is a real possibility. However, if you’re set on bringing your Stratocaster, here’s how to increase your chances of keeping it safe and sound.
Getting Your Guitar On Board: A Checklist
The ultimate goal is to avoid checking your guitar and subjecting it to the perils of baggage claim. Here’s a checklist to help you achieve that:
1. Travel Light (If Possible): Ideally, travel with just your guitar in a small, thin but sturdy case. Combining your guitar with a roller case packed with pedals, cables, tuners, extra strings, clothes, and a laptop can create baggage limit issues. Airlines are more likely to notice you with multiple items. While a guitar and a backpack are usually acceptable, be aware that it can raise eyebrows.
2. Bypass the Ticket Counter: Check in online and use your mobile boarding pass. Avoid the ticket counter if possible. Some airlines, particularly at busy airports like LAX or SFO, may force you to check an item if they see you with multiple bags.
Alt: Musician using a mobile phone to check in for a flight, bypassing the ticket counter to avoid baggage restrictions when traveling with a guitar.
3. Board Early: The earlier you board, the more likely there will be overhead bin space. As the plane fills up, staff may start forcing passengers to gate-check their bags. You can politely ask for an earlier boarding position, but be aware that some employees may see this as an opportunity to tag your bag.
4. The “Friend” Maneuver: If you’re in a late boarding group and the gate agents are tagging bags, ask a friend (or even a friendly stranger) without a carry-on to bring your bag on board for you.
5. The Tag Removal (Use with Caution): If they tag your roller bag but allow you to carry your guitar on board, you carry the bag down the jet bridge. Once you’re away from the gate agent, discreetly remove the tag and bring the bag on board. This is risky, but often there’s plenty of room, and gate agents may not notice.
6. Small Plane Considerations: If you’re flying on a smaller regional plane, even larger guitar cases can often fit in the overhead bins or the closets. Don’t take “no” for an answer until you’ve shown them that the case actually fits. The Breedlove Tour Mate Travel Bag is a great option for these situations.
Alt: Breedlove Tour Mate Travel Bag, a compact guitar case designed for airline travel, offering protection and fitting in overhead compartments.
7. The Closet Option: Even if there’s no overhead space, airplane closets often have plenty of room for guitars.
8. Gate Checking as a Last Resort: If all else fails and you’re forced to gate-check your guitar, make sure to loosen the strings to reduce tension on the neck. Ask the gate agent where the guitar will emerge upon landing and double-check the baggage claim stub. This ensures it comes out on the jet bridge and not baggage claim.
9. Be Polite and Prepared: Your chances of getting your guitar on board are heavily influenced by the availability of overhead bin space and how courteously you treat airline staff.
Legal Rights vs. Reality: DOT Regulations
While the Department of Transportation (DOT) has regulations regarding musical instruments on flights, enforcing them can be challenging. While some musicians have successfully cited DOT regulations to get their instruments on board, airline employees may not always comply, especially during full flights or when dealing with delays. Remember, even if you’re legally in the right, a disgruntled airline employee can make your travel experience miserable.
Case Considerations: Hard, Soft, or Semi-Hard?
The type of case you use is crucial. While hard cases offer the most protection for checked baggage, I believe that a small, streamlined semi-hard case, like the Breedlove Tour Mate, offers the best balance of protection and convenience for carry-on. A semi-hard case provides shock absorption that a hard case lacks, protecting the guitar from drops. It also offers better crush resistance than a soft case.
Alt: A guitar secured inside a semi-hard case, offering a balance of protection and portability for airline travel.
Guitar Choice: Not All Guitars Are Created Equal
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Gibsons, with their unique design and stress points, are more prone to neck cracks during travel than Fender electrics with bolt-on necks. Consider this when choosing which guitar to bring.
My Personal Approach: Fly-Date Guitars
I have three affordable, great-sounding guitars with upgraded parts that I use specifically for fly dates. I keep them in Breedlove Tour Mate cases, and I get them on board about 90% of the time. The rest of the time, I loosen the strings and gate-check them. If one breaks, it’s not a tragedy.
The Ultimate Guarantee: Buy a Seat
If your guitar is truly valuable and you want a guaranteed safe passage, buy a separate seat for it.
Conclusion
Traveling with a guitar on an airplane doesn’t have to be a nightmare. By following these tips, being polite, and choosing the right case, you can significantly increase your chances of getting your instrument safely to your destination. While there are no guarantees, preparation and a little bit of luck can go a long way. Remember to always be respectful to airline staff and prioritize the safety of your instrument. Now go make some music!
