guitars on airplanes

cwilliams

Hey everyone,

I am here to ask for some advice in regards to taking my guitar with me on an airplane. I am heading to California (my first time there!) next week and want to bring my telecaster. I keep it in a heavily padded Mono gig bag. What are peoples experience with bringing guitars as carry on? I am taking Jet Blue one way and Alaskan Airlines on the way home. Thanks!

AdamLopez

I've taken my Tele in a Mono and put it in the overhead with no problems.

campinout

jet blue u should be ok if its a regular full size plane. if they ask you to "gate check it" just make a big fuss and ask to talk to a CRO (conflict resolution officer) there is a law if there is room overhead they have to let you take it on. and jetblue gives you one carry on overhead and one under your seat, so there is no reason you cant take it on a regular size Jet blue plane. If they say "there is no more room overhead we need to gate check it for free" you say " i want to speak with a CRO immediately" and that should be the end of it. If it were me and I paid for a ticket that gives me one bag overhead, that guitar is my bag...end of story. they would have some serious explaining to do, and I would cause quite a scene about it before checking a tele...i recently took a jet blue plane from Denver to New York and someone had a guitar in a gig bag on the plane, overhead.

can't tell u anything about Alaskan Airlines though, good luck there. have fun!

rasm0225

"ticket that gives me one bag overhead, that guitar is my bag"

I don't know if that argument is bulletproof, as most airlines specify the carry-on dimensions and guitars exceed those. But it's definitely worth asking and arguing.

The area that airplanes have to hang coats in first class can also be a good spot for a guitar too. That's were I've had the most luck.

BTW - I've flown with my guitar about 6 times and I've never had a problem or even needed to escalate to a manager.

cwilliams

I hear a lot of ppl with success stories of just bringing their gig bag as carry on, but online it does say that your instrument has to be 45in in total with length, width and height added. I told them that no guitar would meet that requirement and she said most planes do it on a case by case basis. Most planes have closet space where a guitar will fit but jet blue does not.

I am more inclined to just wait, I am only going for 5 days and I am going to do some factory tour and meeting with Bob Taylor, so I am sure there will be guitars to play.

campinout

Well I didn't say it was "bulletproof" and I've certainly left out some details such as getting there early, don't buy a ticket that makes u the last to board, don't say the word "ebola" or "terrorist" don't be a rude a-hole and a thousand other little things that should come as common sense to anyone trying to get a guitar on a plane...but If it were me getting on that JetBlue plane, the guitar would fly on board without much issue, if any at all

Jordan

I've often wondered about this, too. Many years ago, I carried one on and the stewardess stuck it in the closet. But I was a 14 year old kid, and I was so dorky they probably thought it was cute. Jim, what do you do?