Surfergirl

Does anyone know if you must check your guitar in with your other luggage, or if you can take it as a carry on? Also, if anyone has taken a guitar and checked it in, were there any issues regarding theft or damage? Thanks for your help.

MichelleY

Call the airline to find out their rules. If you do check, make sure to get a receipt for the guitar in case it "disappears" in transit.

Hirochei

If you can take guitar as carry on will you play it on plane?

Scarlett

My son always had his checked, it was in a metal case.

Surfergirl

Hirochei, I could, but I wouldn't want to ruin everyone's vacation before it even got started!

jor

If you play it on the plane I can't help but think of the scene in Animal House where Buluchi grabs the guitar and smashes it.

Surfergirl

That was good, but try doing it with a Fender Telecaster. Even Peter Townsend would have had trouble with that!

jenviolin

My brother always travels with a guitar (acoustic; sometimes full size, sometimes 'travel size') and always carries it on. Never more than a slight bit of trouble. When eyebrows are raised, he says he has a concert the day after he is arriving (sometimes true) and can't afford to have it lost in transit or damaged. Always works. He is, by the way, always charming and persuasive, and never loses his temper at check-in.

Owen_ONeill

INtersting thread. I suspect it's allowed (carry on) on a case by case basis only. One of my fave instrumental guitarists Adrian Legg plays a custom electric guitar in his touring shows. He often plays small venues and takes questions/requests from the audience. When asked about his guitar (which is shorter than a normal guitsar like a Fender or Gibson), he advised that it was custom built to fit into airline overhead carry on bins. I'm guessing that there must be flights on which it simply isn't allowed of he went to this length to be sure he could carry it on.

ira

Hi,

I'm curious as to why you want to bring a guitar with you.

Surfergirl

Ira,
American made guitars (i.e. Gibson and some Fenders) cost quite a bit more in England than they do in the States. Not that they're all that cheap here! It's a birthday present for a friend, although I do intend to play it at his home.
Years ago, I took an acoustic over when I was moving there, and it was destroyed in the belly of the plane.

ira

Thanks surfergirl,

I guess jenviolin has the right idea.