Author Topic: Serious Travel HELP! (Read 22990 times)

Dakine · « **on:** May 24, 2006, 03:24:27 PM »

OK,
try and make a loooong story short.
My Father has terminal cancer so am moving back to UK after many years in Texas.
All going ok, shipping company booked etc.

However, my mum is going in hospital in two weeks for eye surgery and I am going over to UK next week so I can look after my dad and her whilst she recovers (I am slated for perm. move in about 2 months, once things here are "hopefully/fingers crossed/praying" sorted, inc. my puppy getting clearance to enter UK).

Anyway, my Dad is getting bad it now seems and my stress levels are through the roof!

Now, the MAIN thing that is holding me together is playing guitar. It soothes/calms etc.

So, for my trip next week. How do I travel with a guitar so I can play over there?

All are in hardcases but thats probably not good enough.

Should I chance a hard case (all guitars are insured but still...), should I leave it (flightcase is too much expense right now and probably would be "overweight baggage" cost too)?
Or, do I take the neck off my Axiss SS and carry it on, "GASP"?
NEVER done this and it concerns me alot.
I will not have easy access to a Luthier when in UK so will re-attachment be an issue? (i.e. truss rod etc.)
has anyone taken neck off before? How was it to re-assemble?

Any and ALL advice will be greatly appreciated.

You are a great bunch of guys and your kind regards go without saying.

Basically I am stressed and need some advice :)

Thanks,
Nick

p.s. as am a USA resident, Customs should leave me alone right (guitar wise)? As I don't need a fist fight with them as well :)

Bird · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:06:08 PM »

These cases might be worth looking at
http://www.skbcases.com/product/musical_instrument/guitars.html

Dakine · « **Reply #2 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:10:14 PM »

Thanks Bird.
I would take the Axis, which is IN an SKB case.
UPS cracked the case corner just delivering the darn guitar!

I basically need thoughts on,

A. Checking guitar in hold (with heavily wrapped "towels or summit" guitar inside hardcase).

B. Removing neck and carrying on guitar (NO experience with this idea!!!!).

sambo · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:12:00 PM »

i dunno... i would have though hard case would be enough... but then i know NOTHING about this...

hmmmmm

you could quite easily dismantle it... depends how much luggage your taking with you? you could even wrap the body up in OODLES of bubble wrap and the like... and stick that in your hand luggage (maybe) if it aint too big and if you arent carrying much else at all...

but the dismantling option just seems like a lot of hassle...

if it were me id just pack the hard-case chock full of bubble wrap, loo paper, anything squidgy, and leave it at that....

Dakine · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:13:48 PM »

Yeah, decisions decisions.
Checking the guitar also means one less piece of luggage allowed too!

Not happy with My Cosmos right this minute :(

Bird · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:14:29 PM »

my guess is that it would be ok in the case. It's only going from the terminal to the plane and off again. There's not as much opportunity to abuse it as there is with a courier company, as I worked for the big one in Canada for almost 15 years I've got some experience there.

sambo · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:18:49 PM »

oh shitee just read your dads condition worsening... :o :(

Dakine · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:21:02 PM »

My Mum says his cancer has spread and he is now wasting away :(

Life can SUCK!

sambo · « **Reply #8 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:25:14 PM »

shite....

damn man dunno what to say...

Dakine · « **Reply #9 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:26:24 PM »

you just did Sam :)

carlaz · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:31:01 PM »

When I've flown with my guitar and/or bass, I've always padded them within the case as best I can and tried to keep them as close as possible on the journey. They've always left my hands at the door of the plane, at least, but so far I've made it through. I think I remember Phil saying BA was better behaved than most towards people flying with instruments.

Still, my wife and I are planning to move to South America towards the end of the year, and I don't think it will be practical for me to hit the plane with multiple guitars (whilst juggling cat carriers and normal luggage). I'm going to have a go, I think, at express shipping perhaps via DHL. I did that with my bass from US to UK once and the bass was fine, though I got roasted (probably unjustly) with import tax. I'm going to have to see if I can dodge that this time! (In any case, if it gets there safely, then I'm not so worried about the one-time cost. It'll end up small in the overall scheme of things!)

jt · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:32:41 PM »

:D Very sorry to hear about your dad. Hope he & your mum get well real quick ! :D

As for the guitar issue you should be allowed to have hand luggage. Phone the airline & ask/confirm that you can take your guitar as hand luggage. If you can`t do it as hand luggage then it should be ok to go in the houled of the plane Birds right it won`t be there long enough to get damaged. Is the case a fitted case ? so the guitar fits snug. if it`s an open hard case were the guitar just fits in & is surrounded by open space with a lid then use towels etc to pad it out & help protect it.

:D 8)

Dakine · « **Reply #12 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:38:42 PM »

Thanks Carlaz and JT.

Continental (whom I have over 90,000 mile points with) are NOT helpful at all!

Shipping will be costly (got enough money issues right now) and as am moving back after over 6 years in US I refuse to pay an import tax on "used items", which is why all my stuff is getting shipped by a bonded shipping company come time.

Carrying on is not an option unless I take it apart (neck off, which as I have said have never done, am unsure of, but will keep it closest to me).

The Axis is in a proper case (made for it and shipped with it). The case is ABS plastic with fur covered plastic cr@p interior. Padding this out may be ok, just dunno.
As I said, they are insured but helps me not if it gets busted by baggage "footballer" handlers!

This aint easy!

Searcher · « **Reply #13 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:39:42 PM »

Hey Nick, I'm sorry your dad is going through this cr@p, man. I feel for you.

As for your guitars, I fly about 10,000 kms per year, on average, and I often take at least one guitar. ;) I've never had any damage yet--to the guitars or the cases. A hard case should be sufficient. Of course, with airlines that isn't guaranteed, but so far so good for me. I have travelled with a Baby Taylor that was small enough to take as a carry-on (you have to be tricky about it though) and my old Ibanez S540, which I sold and am now pining for.

I did have the Ibanez take a holiday without me once. It flew to Sydney with Qantas for a few days, while I waited for it in Queensland, but we were happily reunited in the end.

jt · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:44:39 PM »

Quote from: Searcher

I did have the Ibanez take a holiday without me once. It flew to Sydney with Qantas for a few days, while I waited for it in Queensland, but we were happily reunited in the end.

:D Did it have a sun tan ? :lol:

:D 8)