Flying With A Guitar- Advice Wanted

[TSJMajesty]

I know we have several here who do "fly gigs", so I'm looking for any helpful advice, as I've never done this before.

I'll be taking one of my prized EBMM guitars to John Petrucci's Guitar Universe, and my first choice would be to carry on. I'm currently checking the various airlines' policies on this, but what else should I be aware of?

Any particular airlines to avoid? Flight case recommendations? Ever had any problems with TSA? That sort of thing.

TIA!

 

[JiveTurkey]

@JerEvil perhaps? Congrats on that clinic. I'm pretty confident in the fact that you will love it!

 

[TSJMajesty]

Ok, it looks like carry-on is out, so, flight cases... Are they all pretty much the same quality, or...?

 

[Warmart]

Do you have one of the newer Mono cases? Personally think they would work as well as anything.

 

[JerEvil]

Fuck mono. I use that budget brand GC bag for my Gretsch Malcolm all the time, and always carry on. FAA states airlines are supposed to let you carry it on as a personal item as long as it fits overhead and it does. Out of 60 fly dates last year, it only got gate checked twice.

It holds:
• guitar
• cables
• wireless (Shure GX whatever)
• HXStomp/QC Nano/ToneX One (depending on my mood)
• Cioks power supply
• strap
• 2 days of clothes
• wig(s)

On one flight it had to be gate checked, which really pissed me off, and a fucking luggage cart dropped it AND ran over it. Bunch of people on the plane were like “ooooohhh shit! That guitar got run over!!!”

It was juts fine.

It’s this one here. Highly recommend. Had more sturdy padding then the Mono when I compared side-by-side in the store and way les expensive.

Gig Bag