How does one travel via airplane with an electric guitar? I'm thinking I need to purchase an Anvil ATA type case. I would only be using such a case once a year tops, but I do plan on owning the strat I have until I keel over, so such a case would probably see twenty flights over the next twenty years or so. If I really do need an Anvil case to guarantee that my guitar arrives in perfect shape, how thick should the plywood of the case be? 1/4"? 3/8"? 1/2"? Is it feasible for me to show up at the airport with my guitar in a gig bag and expect the airline to let me take it on board as carry on? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

_________________
"Go wash an elephant, if you wanna do something big."

65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue
2006 American Deluxe Strat
2009 National Steel Body Tricone Cutaway
2009 Highway One Texas Telecaster
Mustang III amp
Fulltone Gold Standard Cables

Dont take my word for it, but I traveled from Melbourne, Aust. to Auckland, NZ (4hrs) with my strat in its case, I took it to the fragile baggage section and no worries at all. If I was travelling long haul (ie Auckl to London) it would be a different story.

I guess do what ever it takes to give you piece of mind. If you didnt protect yourself and something happens, you will never forgive yourself. Better to be safe than sorry.

I know you cannot take a guitar in the cabin, well- leats not with our local carriers anyway.

_________________

I brought a 1978 Strat back from Canada with me this past September. It was no problem at all, on one flight I "air checked" it and on the second flight, that couldn't check it at the gate, I talked the flight attendants into sticking it their personal closet. No problem going through customs, I just put it on he x-ray machine and that was that.

_________________
Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

I used this for overseas gigs



Airtight, strong and durable. I watched italian baggage handlers literaly throw it accross the runway and land splat on the tarmac. The guitar was totaly undamaged it hadnt even slipped out of tune (tune down to D for any flight over 2 hours).

Available here
http://www.brandoniguitars.co.uk/cases.asp

Also its worth getting some of that white thin foamy blanket stuff they wrap guitars from the far east in before shipping them. Ask at your local guitar shop, they usually have loads that they just bin.

_________________
No no and no

The video on this page about Hiscox LiteFlite cases is nearly half an hour long, it is very slow and desperately needs a script and an editor:

http://www.hiscoxcases.com/products_hiscox.htm

Luckily for you, I have watched it for you (I have no life) and whether or not it persuades us to buy Hiscox cases it sure convinced me never to use a case with plywood in it for serious travel, let alone on an airline.

Remember that guy who's Taylor was smashed in it's traditional type case by United Airlines, for instance... (YouTube for more on that.)

I'm reasonably convinced by what Brynn Hiscox has to say about the deficiencies of other manufacturers' cases that look like his, too...

Cheers - C

I use an Anvil case in that situation. Anvil Cases are rugged, heavy-duty transit ATA cases. ATA stands for Air Transportation Association Spec 300, meaning you're getting a heavy case intended to protect a delicate instrument under real air baggage abuse - the case is built with sturdy plywood under durable outer shell, thick metal corners and bullet-proof hinges.

Both Anvil and Calzone specialize in these kinds of tour-ready applications...you'll pay for the quality, but if you're taking your main axe on air travel it's the way to go.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

If you guys had seen the case I brought my '78 home in your jaws would have hit the floor. The vinyl covering was stripped away on all the edges and the plywood had seperated from the bottom all along the side with the latches.

_________________
Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Thought you might find this interesting...had to travel from So Florida to Boston with 2 guitars...1 electric, 1 acoustic, both expensive. Had a tough time with the baggage thing. Decided to buy a ticket for the guitars. $212.00 round trip. Every person at the airport stopped me to tell me that I had to check the guitars...oh contrare...they have a seat was my reply. The flight attendants even stopped me at the door of the plane, until I showed them the ticket. 2 worry free flights were worth the ticket price to me.

Just a little OCD
Noodles

I can vouch for Hiscox cases I have two for my acoustic guitars and they're great at a relatively affordable price compared to Carlton cases.

_________________
Member # 85477

"Remember"

I unfortunately have to fly a lot with the band i play with especially during the summer ...Because we do the country fair tour and Motorcycle and car shows with an odd casino mixed in..If i know that im flying my more valuable guitars stay at home..But even then i went ahead and invested the $150 to $200 for a ATA approved case..I also always contact the airline prior so my gear can be marked as Fragile /valuable ...
If you do not use an ATA approved case if there is damage done they will not pay for it..I also suggest that you open your guitar case right there at the carousal and inspect for damage..I also have seen guys do like a previous poster said and buy an extra seat for there guitar..This would probably be the safest way to transport your guitar but like myself in the course of a summer i will fly 10 plus times and that extra seat would get real expensive..

I'm not sure how it works exactly, but I've seen a band of guys at the airport, each with a padded gig bag on their back. I've been thinking about getting a squier or MIM strat to take back and forth when I visit my friends at different schools, getting a solid case, and just hoping for the best.

Like others have said, I think your best bet is a nice case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

make sure you dont travel united.

I was flying from Toronto to Boston this past year and I saw a couple of guys with guitars storing them in overhead... Air Canada. If it makes any difference, I think they were acoustics.

Thanks for the advice! SD

_________________
"Go wash an elephant, if you wanna do something big."

65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue
2006 American Deluxe Strat
2009 National Steel Body Tricone Cutaway
2009 Highway One Texas Telecaster
Mustang III amp
Fulltone Gold Standard Cables

My old bassist used to do something similar. He'd take the neck off his bass, wrap it and the body seperately in towels and clothes then stuff it in his suitcase. Nothing ever went wrong, it could have easily. He did cause it to get pulled in by customs a lot. Effects pedals always get you pulled in too, if their in hand luggage. I even got swabbed for semtex one time for taking a pod and floorboard in my hand luggage. That wasnt pleasant. I'm wholly convinced that airports and guitars dont mix well.

_________________
No no and no