Can I take a guitar in the cabin?

Thinking about buying a very nice guitar from Manny's in Manhattan, and taking it home to the UK. But the crucuial question is what happens on the flight. Do I get to take it through security, and take it on board as hand luggage? I am flying Upper. Or would it have to suffer the hold? (And if the latter, I am unlikely to purchase..)

[Scrooge]

My guess is you would either have to check it as luggage or buy a seat for it.

Link kind of on topic

bugger.

[Scrooge]

Give the FC a call see what they say,I have been known to be wrong once and a while

I have travelled with a guitar many times and I stick it in the hold. I have been advised by a couple of guitar techs who worked for various bands that you should loosen the string tension off. Apparantly it has been known for the truss-rod to snap on guitars turning them in to expensive kindling.

Decent cases help too!

i have taken a guitar onboard with me. i took it to san francisco. i flew with virgin and they advised put it in the overhead lockers.

I bought a very nice lefty from Manny's a few years ago, and it was so ridiculously cheap compared to Europe that I also opted to buy a lightweight rigid flight-case for it at the same time. Checked it in as baggage and it was fine when I got back to LHR.

A word of warning, if you walk through customs with a guitar of pretty well any type, you're almost certain to get pulled for a full search (can't imagine why...) - forewarned is forearmed. Don't carry anything you shouldn't be carrying....

Cheers.

[fozzyo]

Am I the only one with images from Airplane in their mind now?

Couldn't you check it in the hold as a Large / Breakable item? Much like surf boards and ski's and alike.

Mat xxx

When I flew to JFK last year, I was sitting behind a double bass. It had its own seat and even required a seat belt extension. What really annoyed me the most, was that it even reclined its seat.

I assume though that the owner had to purchase an additional seat. Although it was not a full flight, so perhaps that might have an impact.

quote:Originally posted by fozzyoAm I the only one with images from Airplane in their mind now?

Couldn't you check it in the hold as a Large / Breakable item? Much like surf boards and ski's and alike.

Mat xxx
[/quote]

I have airplane in mind too now!!

What was that song ? Went something like "we are only one people " and ended we are one!

With regards to the guitar I'd give FC a call as they will know the answer! - you could also take it to the gate and ask the FSM - sometimes my wheelchair gos in the cabin - sometimes gets checked it depends on space..

Hi

Really timely thread this as I've promised the Daught a guitar if she does well in her GCSEs, but as we're in California for a month before the results come out I was thinking about buying one there on pure economics. I'd be OK putting it in as hold baggage on the VS SFO-LHR leg but then would be flying back to MAN on BA where our allowance for checked baggage is just one piece each, albeit up to 32kg. Any idea on what they might charge me?

Regards

Pat

Patjohnson.
I have been on charter flights with a guitar case and luggage and have never been charged. With regard to buying a guitar in America you are so right. My son is studying over there at the moment and he is just about to buy one and on both of us checking in the states its is the same in dollars as it is in pounds so that makes it about 35% cheaper.

Thanks for all the advice... spoke to a guitarist friend of mine who travels a lot with his guitar on tour, and he checks his guitar into the hold.. albeit in a case-inside-a-case type affair.
However, as vizbiz pointed out, when I arrive back at LHR, they will want tax and duty and import tax and gawd knows what paid.. so perhaps making the purchase less of a bargain.

But it is such a nice guitar - a top-end Larrivee acoustic - and at such a bargain price.

*sigh*

I took 5 guitars to Tokyo when I helped out a band on tour over their - they travel OK in the hold as long as hey are well packed or in a flight case. If you do put it in the hold then loosent the strings as this will take all the pressure off the nexk and headstock during tarvel and changes in temperature/pressure.

If it's in a hard case, it needs to be checked in.

Soft cases are ok for the cabin, especially J.

You only need to buy another seat if you are travelling with a cello.

[Decker]

Cool lemme buy a Double Bass quickly

Originally posted by McCoy
However, as vizbiz pointed out, when I arrive back at LHR, they will want tax and duty and import tax and gawd knows what paid.. so perhaps making the purchase less of a bargain.

But it is such a nice guitar - a top-end Larrivee acoustic - and at such a bargain price.

*sigh*

When I moved back from china I ambled through customs with three suitcases, a kit bag and a guitar. Happily didn't get stopped.... though I'd owned everything for the required period of time of course

My cheap acoustic travelled in a soft case with a fragile sticker without damage! Beat up the case you put it in and make it look a little used and claim you've cherished it for many years!

You will be fine to take it on board and I would strongly suggest it!!

Once onboard there is plenty of space to stow it!! the wedding dress wardrobe is the biggest and best place for it!!

Very fragile so best to take onboard.

Originally posted by PVGSLF
Beat up the case you put it in and make it look a little used and claim you've cherished it for many years!

I have been there and done that. I got confused looks from some residents of my fathers apartment complex when I visited him in US and was seen kicking a guitar case around the parking lot [:I]

Stickers help too. My case (currently in my hotel room with me) has stickers from just about every band I have ever really admired

Originally posted by Ongen
I got confused looks from some residents of my fathers apartment complex when I visited him in US and was seen kicking a guitar case around the parking lot [:I]

LOL [oo]