Airline Costs

Ed Iarusso · Post by **Ed Iarusso** » 24 Mar 2010 2:02 pm

Didn't know where to post this. I'm traveling from Connecticut to California for a gig next month and will be flying with my guitar. Anybody got a handle on the cost? I'm going on American Airlines and according to their Baggage FAQ's page it appears that it may cost me upwards of $300.00 for my steel round trip. Anybody got any experience in this matter? Seems rather pricey to say the least. I'm not paying, a friend who's putting on the show that I'll be part of is picking up the tab but I would like to give him a heads up on the cost. I've yet to call the airline directly as I usually don't have a hour to throw away while I'm put on hold. I'm sure we've all had experience with that. Anyway...if anyone can shed a little light on this subject I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks, Ed

Jonathan Cullifer · Post by **Jonathan Cullifer** » 24 Mar 2010 2:15 pm

Depending on the airline, the people that I know that fly their guitars have told me that it usually costs between $50 and $100 each way. Southwest and United are the airlines of choice, I believe.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Mar 2010 2:18 pm

Yeah, try Southwest. They don't charge for the 1st or 2nd bag you check, though I think they (like the others) charge if it's over 50 lbs. If you have a single neck and your case isn't too heavy (and you put the legs and/or pedal rack and rods in your luggage instead of with the steel), perhaps you can get yours under the 50 lb overweight limit? That would save about $50 each way, I think.

My MSA Millenium D-10 is under 50 lbs in the WheelEZE case when I put the pedal rack in my suitcase, so I fly it free a lot of the time.

Good luck!

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 24 Mar 2010 2:48 pm

Jim's got it figured out.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 24 Mar 2010 2:55 pm

American Airlines baggage is very expensive. You might want to look into shipping the steel or renting one if you need to save a little money.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 24 Mar 2010 3:52 pm

Just the bodies of my D-12s are over 50 pounds, so I won't be flying with my guitars anytime soon.

Where do you guys even find a suitcase long enough to hold your pedal bar? And if you do, wouldn't it be too big for carry on? Then you end up paying for it as baggage anyway.

Merle Record · Post by **Merle Record** » 24 Mar 2010 4:58 pm

I just flew my D10 Emmons LL to Dallas for the show and it weighed in at 63 lbs. I flew out by United and it was $25 + $125, but I flew back Delta and it was $25 + $90. I wish I had put a little more thought into it like you are. I was a little surprised it was only 63lbs.(at my age it feels more like 93lbs)

and the lady at the check in said if it was a little closer maybe she could have let it go. So, like Jim said, if I had seperated out the legs, rods, and pedal board, I might have saved a bunch. Even checking those things seperatly would have only been $25 each way. Definitely weigh your steel and see what you're up against. Anything over 50lbs is a killer. Merle

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 24 Mar 2010 5:16 pm

I dunno.......

I saw a video on YOU TUBE about "UNITED BREAKS GUITARS".

If it's on the internet, is it not to be believed?

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 24 Mar 2010 5:17 pm

I flew American from Dallas to LA ...connecting international of course, but I flew with a Carter D10 and a Beard Dobro and my standard case of clothes and stuff ... i took the leg bag out of the steel case and popped it in my suitcase.... all up it cost me $88.00 US for having an extra bag -- not overweight, but the extra bag --- and that was for the flight all the way home to NZ !

if you can keep your steel case as light as poss you might get away with not paying much at all.

Josh Cho · Post by **Josh Cho** » 24 Mar 2010 7:15 pm

Stuffing the legs and the pedal bar into a separate luggage bag seems practical to avoid baggage costs...but how many of you have had airlines put your bags on different flights, which either delays the bags or loses them???

In other words, what good is it if you show up at the gig with your necks .... and no legs to stand them on????

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 24 Mar 2010 8:20 pm

I keep a large hockey duffel bag on hand to consolidate bags and gear. I wrap things in bubble wrap to protect them. I put my pac seat (with the steel stuff I need) in the duffel bag along with clothing. My pedal bar and legs fit with no problem if needed. The way things are now the check in guys have basicly no leeway so read the particular airline fees and regulations and plan ahead.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Mar 2010 9:07 pm

Jim Smith,
You're right that the trick is finding a suitcase large enough for the pedal rack. It took me a long time of searching until finally Earnest Bovine suggested one particular model in which my rack fits diagonally. Yes, technically it is over-sized, so they could nail me for that instead of overweight, if they wanted to. But so far, none of the airlines are really doing that. They let the (slightly) over-sized go through, whereas they don't let overweight go through. I like this solution better than Bob's idea of a duffel bag, because my clothes end up in better shape on the other side of the trip, plus it better protects my CDs, etc. that I carry in the suitcase too.

Ed Iarusso · Post by **Ed Iarusso** » 25 Mar 2010 4:58 am

Everyone, thanks for your thoughts and ideas. My airline tix are already purchased by my friend who's putting on the show I'm part of, so I'm hooked into American Airlines. He is also paying all the costs for shipping my guitar and gear. I just wanted to give him a heads up on these additional costs. My biggest concern is that my guitar and gear get there when I do and undamaged. If any of you California folks are enterested I'll be part of a CSNY tribute called "Almost Cut My Hair". We'll be putting the show on in Santa Cruz on May 1st. Thanks everyone, Ed

Josh Cho · Post by **Josh Cho** » 25 Mar 2010 4:09 pm

Ray Montee wrote:I dunno.......

I saw a video on YOU TUBE about "UNITED BREAKS GUITARS".

If it's on the internet, is it not to be believed?

I dunno, if United broke your steel, would you react like this?

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 25 Mar 2010 7:55 pm

In 1976 I flew Pan American from London to San Francisco with a lute in a case. They refused to accept it as checked luggage unless I signed a release saying they would not be responsible for any damage. I signed the release. Lutes are delicate instruments. In this instance the lute came through unscathed, but one of the friction pegs was broken.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 25 Mar 2010 7:57 pm

Well, I guess you got the last laugh, Alan: You still have your lute, and Pan Am is outta business!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 26 Mar 2010 6:07 am

...I glued the peg back together and it still works, but there's no way to glue Pan American back together.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 Mar 2010 6:25 am

Funny, the other day I was in an airport, and a guy walked past me carrying one of those little blue Pan Am shoulder bags that I haven't seen since the 60's. I did a double-take...

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 26 Mar 2010 7:27 pm

Jim he's been wandering around the airport for the last 5 years looking for his flight !!

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 26 Mar 2010 7:46 pm

FWIW...
I flew from Toronto to London Heathrow last August with Air Canada.
I had a pedal steel in its case, which weighed 2 pounds over (the limit is 50 lbs) The pedal rack, legs and rods were packed diagonally in my large suitcase. I sent the steel away on the Fragile conveyor
When we got to baggage pickup at Heathrow, the steel case was standing neatly beside the conveyor.
Not a scratch.
I was not charged for the 2 pounds, which, by rights, would have cost me $75 US.

I'd do it again any day.

Danny Naccarato · Post by **Danny Naccarato** » 26 Mar 2010 8:11 pm

Lat month, I flew my MSA Studio Pro, weight 65 lbs in a flight case, on AA, for $50. They also told me it would be the same $$ when I take it to Europe in May. That was the over 50 lb, under 70 lb price. I don't pay checked baggage fees on AA so I can't help you on that one.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 26 Mar 2010 8:15 pm

I got to play guitar with Fred Newell last summer and he had the smallest lightest pedal steel guitar I've ever seen.He had a keyless GFI that he told me was a 22"scale and he said that it weighed about 32 Lbs. in the case and fits in the overheads,I was sitting next to him and sure enough the scale was shorter than most.I assume this was made custom for him...That way he gets to keep an eye on his guitar inside the plane.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 27 Mar 2010 9:32 am

In those long-off days when there were no scanners I used to get on the plane with a long overcoat and all sorts of things in the pockets, from bottles of cider to bottles of whiskey. On one occasion I had a long-necked banjo under my coat, which I then put in the overhead rack.

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