[HANASHIR:5782] Re: Plane Travel With a Guitar

[NBudin <NBudin...>]

I ALWAYS carry my guitar on board. I NEVER let them check it through. I don't 
know what size your guitar or case is, but mine has always fit into an 
overhead with room for one or two more small items -- even on oversold 
flights. The best thing to do is try to get a seat as far back in the 
aircraft as you can, You'll be among the first passengers on board and you're 
guaranteed to have some empty overheads to from which to choose. 

The second option is to have them 'gate check' it. They'll take it from you 
right at your gate of departure as you board, and hand it back to you at your 
destination as you deplane. This beats your instrument going thorough baggage 
check. I've never even done this, although they've threatened to take it from 
me because it LOOKS like it will not fit in an overhead. 

Also, it differs from airline to airline, Southwest tends to give me the most 
grief about this, but mostly at the check in desk. Once you're at the gate 
they're usually fine. Although the guy taking my ticket one time did have a 
little screaming hissy fit as I carried it onto the plane.

Whenever possible, I drive.
Good luck. See you at HN.

Noah Budin
Singer/songwriter
Cleveland, OH
NBudin (at) aol(dot)com

------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+