Airplane Travel since 9/11

Todd Pertll · From: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Has anyone travelled by plane with there steel in the last few months? I can only imagine what my U-12 will look like under the x-ray machine, not to mention a case full of chords, pedals, and assorted other steel effects.

Let me know if you have any advice.

Todd

Rex Thomas · From: Thompson's Station, TN

Allow me. Yes, I indeed traveled about 3 wks. ago to San Diego for a recording session. What was odd & a total relief was I had NO problems whatsoever, & I was shown consideration I've never been shown in the 20 yrs. I've flown with music gear when I had to. I'm giving honorable mention to Southwest (hope that's ok) because they were showing me consideration as a musician with "Can I help you with this, can I help you with that", instead of, "What's that thing? I don't know about that. Is that a gun?" etc., what I'm used to hearing. Honestly Todd, I was NOT expecting all the thoughtfullness & respect I was shown. So I'd climb back on, no problem.
Now I do have a little advice that works now as it did before 9/11: As a rule (exceptions noted) the latches on steel cases stick out a bit & can come unlatched if something bumps the underneath of the "lip" of the latch. Duck tape the latches, be sure to "bunch" the tape around them & extend the tape to the flat side top & bottom of the case, but you don't need to go all the way around the case as that would be overkill. Just enough duck (duct) tape to hold the latches in place. I've found that when you're checking your steel, ticket agents LIKE to see that because you've gone to the extra effort to secure your instrument, & they're less likely to slap a "limited release" tag on your steel because you've packed it well. But I would also advise leaving it untaped & standing by with tape in hand to allow inspection if asked. But I haven't had to do that. They see that I've got the latches secure, then it's been good to go. Hope this helps.

[This message was edited by Rex Thomas on 03 April 2002 at 07:36 AM.]

Glenn Suchan · From: Austin, Texas

Todd,

I've flown twice with my steel since 9/11. Once to LA and once to Nashville. On both occasions there were no problems as the steel flew as baggage. A little note about the logistics. My steel in the flight case is 94 lbs. This made for a humorus event.

When I flew to LA I had the opportunity to watch the ramp agent from the window of the plane. My steel had not been loaded into the cargo bay yet. I watched as the burley looking agent was about to "toss" the flight case on the plane. I think his arm stretched 6" when he yanked on the handle...He then, carefully hugged the case and pushed it up on the plane.

BTW: My case was built by Keal Cases in Round Rock TX. It has three recessed spring-handles, two recessed, spring-loaded latches, heavy duty, recessed casters and a plate lock to secure the lid. It's built like a Sherman tank and does an excellent job of protecting my Sierra S14. I highly recommend Keal Cases.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

[This message was edited by Glenn Suchan on 03 April 2002 at 08:28 AM.]

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

Glenn Suchan · From: Austin, Texas

Jim,

It cost me $75 each way to LA on American Airlines and $45 each way to Nashville on Southwest Airlines. I don't know if the difference is due to the destination or the airline. The charge hits if the baggage weighs over 70 lbs. per piece.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

[This message was edited by Glenn Suchan on 03 April 2002 at 09:10 AM.]

[This message was edited by Glenn Suchan on 03 April 2002 at 09:12 AM.]

Glenn Suchan · From: Austin, Texas

Jim,

Let me add, it used to be before 9/11 you could check the baggage at the curb and slip the "Sky Cap" a tip to get the overweight baggage on the plane. After 9/11 the curbside check-ins were eliminated for the most part. I say for the most part because I flew out of La Guardia in New York on March 24th and checked my baggage (no steel this time) with the "Sky Cap" and just proceeded to the security check and the gate.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Rex Thomas · From: Thompson's Station, TN

Oh yeah, on overweight charge, I got hit $45 going out, but coming back the ticket agent who happened to be a musician said to me, "Hmmm... this looks more like a "sporting" item to me". I said, "Well yes, it's very sporty." & he let it thru. That's nice when that happens every now & then. And I'm with Glenn on the case, if U can do recessed latches then that's the way to go.

Todd Pertll · From: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Can you rent flight cases?

Rex Thomas · From: Thompson's Station, TN

Dunno, maybe Glenn, Jim, & other folks may have insight for that. If U flew your steel frequently, it would probably be a wise investment & a good tax deduction to have one built for your steel. I had a flight case built for one of my steels a few yrs. back. But it only fit a certain steel, & I didn't fly as often & sold it, but I don't regret buying the custom flight case. And if I start flying again more often, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another one.

Emmett Roch · From: Texas Hill Country

During the first 3 weeks of March I flew from Austin to Washington DC, to Amsterdam, to Madrid, to Barcelona, then basically the reverse order at the end of the tour. At the Austin airport prior to our departure, I was made to remove my boots and sit in a chair while security experts examined my money clip because it had a 1 1/4" fingernail file attached to it. Once they confiscated said dangerous device, I was allowed to board the plane.

At the airport in Madrid I was charged $10 because of the weight of my pedal steel, and because I was shipping 3 pieces of luggage. This was avoided the rest of the tour by having one of the other band members claim one of my items as theirs, and nobody got charged again.

At the airport in Amsterdam on our way back home, they even X-rayed our luggage we were going to ship; I'm sure they saw my Swiss Army knife in my suitcase, but they didn't hassle me about it.

While we were touring Spain, someone gave me a money clip with a 1 1/4" fingernail file attached to it, and the officials at the European airports passed it through their security checkpoints without raising an eyebrow...

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___________________
GFI S-12 extended E9

[This message was edited by Emmett Roch on 03 April 2002 at 05:27 PM.]

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

I've only flown once since 9/11, and didn't have any problems except for the usual weight issue. I have had a quite a few problems dealing with that in the past though. I can't seem to get the weight of my D10 Shobud Professional down below 75 Llbs, so I've had to put the pedal rack, legs & rods in my suitcase. The bad news is that I've had the airlines loose my suitcase 3 times (with the steel parts) on my way to the gigs I'm flying to. Big bummer

BTW, are they allowing gig bags with electric 6 strings & basses through carry on now?

[This message was edited by Rick Schmidt on 03 April 2002 at 06:16 PM.]

Jay Jessup · From: Charlottesville, VA, USA

I would be interested if you folks with steel flying experience would think the risks are minimal to use a standard steel case rather than a flight case (as long as the latches were taped) if you were only going to fly with the steel very rarely?

Rex Thomas · From: Thompson's Station, TN

Jay; yes, that's the way I'd do it as right now I'm not working enough jobs requiring flight to warrant investing in a flight case. With flying rarely as U said, I've had no problems checking a regular steel case with taped latches other than an occasional overweight charge as my rig has been a borderline case (no pun intended) depending on the airline. But if you're going to fly a LOT, I think a flight case is a good idea as I've done that before.

Brian Willey · From: Chicago, IL, USA

The week after 9/11 I flew to Germany to play. I didn't know if our flight would leave at all, but they did let our flight go. At Chicago o'Hare they didn't even make us open a single case or carry on(we had samplers and other misc. suspicious looking electronic goodies), which I found rather disturbing actually. We were still late in taking off. In Germany on the other hand, we were searched at every airport, they plugged our equipment into test equipment, went over everything with gun powder detecting agents, and still we got on the plane RIGHT ON TIME without delay, after passing through gates with armed soldiers. Our tram to the plane was escorted in front AND in back by armed escort jeeps. Honestly I preferred the thorough going over - I knew there was no bomb on THAT plane. So... to answer your question, I had no trouble taking gear, even overseas, even the week after.

Glenn Suchan · From: Austin, Texas

Todd:
I don't know of anyone or any business that rents flight cases. I suppose there is always the possibility of rental. You might want to do some checking. However, flight cases, for the most part, are a lot like a suit. They require "tailoring" to fit the equipment they protect. Many steel guitars have a similar basic "geometery". To that end, maybe a case for one may work with another. If you find a source for the rental of a PSG flight case, check to make sure the interior dimensions will fit right and truly protect your guitar. Then let the rest of the forum know.

Jay:
In regard to risk assessment of a standard case. Here's how I look at it. Even if I were to fly the steel once: If you have your "standard" case all secure with the latches duct-taped (if neccessary). Would you feel your guitar is adequately protected if it was dropped one foot to the ground? How about two feet or even four feet? A good flight case will compromise it's own integrity before it will compromise the integrity of the gear inside. In other words, a good flight case should be able to sustain damage while keeping it's contents damage-free. Will your standard case do that?

I had my flight case built before for my first flight with the steel. I didn't know if I would fly the steel beyond that. The case was very expensive but, compared to the anguish and expense of the loss of the steel to damage, that cost pales.

I play with a band that travels alot. Mostly by tour bus. The flight case gives me ease of mind that I wouldn't have otherwise.

I hope this answers your questions.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

seldomfed · From: Colorado

How about a pack-a-seat? Can it be flown?
I've never flown to a gig yet - and may have to.

thanks,
Chris

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"We can't afford to let Nature Run Wild" - govt. offical - Alaska

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

I just flew roundtrip from Philly to Grand Rapids for the steel show there, and took the advice above not to duct tape my case until after they'd had a chance to peek inside (and ask me about all those knee levers... yeah right). Well, as it turns out, they didn't even ask me what was in the case; they just tagged it and started to put it on the belt when I stopped them so I could wrap it good with the ol' tape of duck. But, of course, had I done so in advance, Murphy's Law states that only then would they have asked me to open it up!

I'll probably do the same this weekend when I fly to Chattanooger.

FWIW (Stop, hey, what's that sound?)
Jimbeaux

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The "Master of Acceptable Tone"
www.jimcohen.com

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

I don't have a bit of trouble, I don't even put my guitar in a case!

Bobbe "plane crazy" Seymour

Rex Thomas · From: Thompson's Station, TN

Yeah, I saw how you wrap your guitar, with your name on the side, but since when did you change it to J.C. Penney?

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