Musical instrument/carry on?

Anybody carried on a musical instrument lately with no problems? I just saw on FaceBook that an AA pilot refused to allow a famous violinist with a 250+ year old violin to carry the instrument on board a flight. The pilot told her that the violin was too big for carry on. She has been flying for years with no problem until now. Have policies changed? I've seen people put full size acoustic guitars in hard cases into the overhead bin. I carry on a small bodied travel guitar with a removable neck and it fits easily under the seat and I have had no problems for the six trips I have made since I ordered it, hand made, from Switzerland. It wasn't cheap, but it is not worth a forturne, like the violin. I really don't want to go to VG for three weeks without a guitar, I'm a musician, I need the playing time. Any info or recent experience appreciated. Oh, we are flying Delta this time from Richmond, VA to Atlanta to St. Thomas. Soon... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

No consistency in my experience. On recent flights (a few different airlines) I've seen people carry on what looks to be guitars and other small musical instruments and on other flights the Gate Agents and/or Flight Attendants made the owners gate check the instruments. I get the impression it's rather arbitrary.

I tried to bring a mini Martin onboard a Seaborne flight two years ago. No way they would let me take it into the cabin. And it would surely have fit with no problem.

Just took a local flight from LAX to Sacramento on AA and they made a young lady gate check her guitar. Who knows?

The rule requires that each U.S. carrier subject to this regulation allow a passenger to carry into the cabin and stow a small musical instrument, such as a violin or a guitar, in a suitable baggage compartment, such as the overhead bin or a closet, or under the seats, in accordance with FAA safety regulations and the carrier’s FAA-approved carry-on baggage program.

Carriers must allow passengers to stow their small musical instruments in an approved stowage area in the cabin if at the time the passenger boards the aircraft such stowage space is available. Under the rule, musical instruments as carry-on items are treated no differently from other carry-on items and the stowage space should be made available for all carry-on items on a “first come, first served” basis. Carriers are not required to give musical instruments priority over other carry-on baggage, therefore passengers traveling with musical instruments may want to buy the pre-boarding option offered by many carriers to ensure that space will be available for them to safely stow their instruments in the cabin.

For some musical instruments that are too large to fit in the cabin stowage areas described in the carrier’s FAA-approved carry-on baggage program (e.g., an overhead bin or under a seat), it is sometimes possible to secure them to a seat as “seat baggage” or “cargo in passenger cabin.” Carriers are required to carry large musical instruments in the cabin if the passenger wishing to carry the instrument in the aircraft cabin has purchased an additional seat to accommodate the instrument and the instrument is contained in a case or cover to avoid injury to other passengers, the weight of the instrument does not exceed 165 pounds or applicable weight restrictions for the aircraft, and the instrument can be stowed in accordance with the requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage or cargo established by the FAA. Carriers are not required to provide for this process in their carry-on baggage programs; however the Department encourages carriers that do not currently allow such stowage to amend their programs to allow it, provided that all safety requirements are met.

- See more at: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-...h.1Z3vIjob.dpuf


https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/air-travel-musical-instruments

Find, print out, and carry with you the airline policy on instruments....some gate agents have been known to become a little zealous in over enforcing regs...thus armed I have had no major issues (I carry a travel size martin (not backpacker) in a hard case - it fits every known overhead bin (except the Dash 8 and Emb 145)

And one other thing: So you manage to place your guitar in the overhead bin. DON'T just sit down and forget it. Some duffus will happily jam his oversized carryon into the guitar with nary a thought that he might be crushing it.

By "oversized carryon" are you referring to another guitar?

The would definitely be an oversized carryon.

706jim- that is why I switched from a soft bag to a hard shell case

It's better to ask the flight attendant if you can place a guitar in one of the coat closets. People will cram stuff on top if it's in the overhead.
G

No, just the usual over large duffel or suitcase that people insist on dragging onto planes. If your guitar is there first they would happily crush it to get their bag stored. A hard case would help for sure, but would tend to be more bulky.

Okay.....I have to ask. Baby Martin or Baby Taylor? I am debating between the two <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I think the baby Taylor has an easily removable neck. Just remove two screws around the 14th fret. With the neck off, you could easily transport the body in a hardshell suitcase. As to which one sounds better, I don't know. Neither of them will have a lot of bass with the short strings and tiny body.
FWIW, the mini Martin can be bought with an on board amp and tuner which is handy if you would like to boost the volume through an amp.

I always travel with my Martin Baby Guitar which is about 36-38 inches long in a soft shell case. The guitar I think is smaller than the travel Taylor guitar (the Martin I own is not real wood but a High Pressure Laminate which is a sort of plastic made to look like wood). The action and sound is surprisingly good. I have looked at picking up a Travel Taylor but it is a little larger.

I have not had an issue with carry on and I have travelled to STT with United, American/US Air and Air Canada. My luggage is also carry on and I put that first in the overhead bin and then lay the guitar over it so the neck is on top of my (small) backpack. I skycheck the guitar when on one of the feeder flights -- I live in Ottawa and start my trip on an Embraer so by the time I reach the hub (Newark, Philly or Toronto) I'm in the system and don't get hassled at the gate. However since you do run the risk of someone giving you an attitude, I sprung for a first class seat on my last trip which gives me priority boarding (a good suggestion that was made above) and fewer people fighting over overhead space. On a side note, if you know your sailing dates in advance (I am on another flotilla next February and the dates are set), airfares are a lot cheaper than they will be by September. My first class ticket for next year was the same price a month ago as the economy fare ticket I usually buy in October-November.

cs

Little Martin (with on board electronics) Love it - it will never replace the full size but travels really well and the neck feels like a 'real' guitar...the sound....it's deeper than a Uke or the backpacker.

Ended up with a Taylor GS Mini -- it won't be traveling anywhere.....spent way more than I should have but it has Koa wood from Hawaii and the look and sound is just gorgeous...

Just bought the Baby Taylor. Sounds great. Looking forward to bringing to bvi for my 33 day charter.
WHEELS UP IN TWO DAYS

Though I have traveled with a Little Martin, I very much recommend looking into the Journey Overhead guitar. The neck removes in about 5 seconds, and the disassembled guitar fits into their specially designed case that meets TSA standards for carryon. Their basic model sounds pretty good (I even use it as a couch guitar at home), but they also have upgrades, including carbon fiber models.

One of the reasons I initially bought the Martin was to be able to play it sitting on a couch. Most standard sized guitars are too bulky to do this.