CHOOSE YOUR AIRLINE WISELY WHEN FLYING WITH YOUR RICK!

[DanJ]

If you think a Taylor user got upset that the airline busted his axe, just think what woulda happened if they had busted someone's Rick!

[johnallg]

If you think a Taylor user got upset that the airline busted his axe, just think what woulda happened if they had busted someone's Rick!

Blood would have been spilled!

[kiramdear]

If you think a Taylor user got upset that the airline busted his axe, just think what woulda happened if they had busted someone's Rick!

Blood would have been spilled!

If it had been my rick you could bank on that, John!

United should be glad they didn't upset a punk band. They wouldn't be training their handlers with that video, I betcha.

[paologregorio]

I carry mine up to the aircraft's door before letting them fragile/red tag it and take it away from me.

[johnallg]

I carry mine up to the aircraft's door before letting them fragile/red tag it and take it away from me.

Unfortunately bass cases are too big for that treatment.

[rickenbrother]

I carry mine up to the aircraft's door before letting them fragile/red tag it and take it away from me.

Unfortunately bass cases are too big for that treatment.

Nope, that's what I've always done also and I've usually gotten it back the same way when I've arrived at my destination.

[johnallg]

I carry mine up to the aircraft's door before letting them fragile/red tag it and take it away from me.

Unfortunately bass cases are too big for that treatment.

Nope, that's what I've always done also and I've usually gotten it back the same way when I've arrived at my destination.

How do you get past the gate with it? We've all read the horror stories here of the instrument being taken away before the boarding pass is honored.

[rickenbrother]

Unfortunately bass cases are too big for that treatment.

Nope, that's what I've always done also and I've usually gotten it back the same way when I've arrived at my destination.

How do you get past the gate with it? We've all read the horror stories here of the instrument being taken away before the boarding pass is honored.

You have to be as pleasant and cooperative as possible. That's how I've always done it. I've never been able to take a bass guitar into the cabin, even though on the same flights my guitarist was able to! But I've carried basses on to the jetway and just before I get on the plane, one of the baggage handlers takes it from me and puts in on the plane with baggage. That baggage handler gives me a special claim ticket to meet a baggage handler on the jetway of my destination. Maybe not all airlines will do this for you, but the ones I have used did.

[wints]

As I've mentioned before, if you really care about your instruments, then get an ATA case. This vitually elimantes the problem of airline muppets who couldn't care less about your pride and joy. You can lessen risk, as Joey mentions in the previous post, and if I didn't have one that's what I would do.

But, for peace of mind, it's got to be the case.

[Tarrbot]

The video was posted July 6 and it already has over 7,000 comments and 1,200,000 views.

I hate to view it this way because the incident is abhorent but this band has made out like bandits on the advertising alone over this.

I'm sure I wouldn't view it that way if it were my guitar, though.

[seyesbass]

Anyone remember the Bud song saluting baggage handlers?
Seriously though if you want advice on how to travel by air with your Rickenbacker.......
I am a loading supervisor/team leader on the ramp at Manchester Airport here in England.
I could write a book on the do's and dont's of checking in,consigning freight,taking delicate items on board etc. etc.
Rule number one for a musical instrument in the hold... get a good quality flightcase!..Here endeth the First lesson as Sean Connery would say.
I cant count the number of Les Pauls Strats Ricks and countless acoustics including Martin Fylde and Taylor that punters bring to the airport in stock fibre cases (or worse such as bin bags!)and its usually the casual punter with a poor case that has the most problems.We try our best to place guitars out of the way of the rest of the bags but busy flights on 757s with 235 bags are crammed full so theres every chance your guitar is stacked among the bags.
As for cabin baggage,the crew locker space on most narrow body a/c (757,A320,737) is only able to accomodate one or two guitars at most (it usually has coats and stuff in it in the cold weather so bear that in mind) and it is up to the number one flight attendant and the captain to allow "Limited release" items in the cabin.If they dont fit in the lockers these items go in the hold and thats the ticket stub you get to claim the item at the other end.Try and arrange "Deliver At Aircraft" with the airline. DAC means the handlers will have to bring the case to you on arrival at the door of the a/c. and its the best guarantee of getting your instrument before it has a chance of getting lost at baggage claim. DAC is not always possible so check with the airline. If you are going by air with your instrument you should always contact the airline prior to travelling to arrange any special handling like DAC and also get to the airport early to organise the handling reqirements with the handling agent (thats us) for the airline.If travelling on a short commuter flight try and get details of the type of a/c the airlines use on that route.On commuter a/c like Embraer, Dash8,CRJ etc. it isnt unusual to see passengers offloaded because their baggage is too big for the flt. You get all the free ticket stuff but its no fun being bumped late in the evening so make sure again that you know what kind of plane the airlines use on that route before travelling.
Containerised widebodied a/c (767 A330 A340 A380 747 777) have larger lockers in the cabin and on long haul flights you might have more chance of stowing your bass or guitar but again use all the above but also as mentioned courtesey and patience at check in is vital and thats what usually gets you the best treatment.
One of the problems with baggage containers (ULDs..unit load device) is that the smaller ones LD2 and LD3 ( commonly used on Delta 767,Continental 777 etc) are very tight for space on full flights and getting a guitar case the size of bass in one is not always possible.
These items end up in what we call the "bulk" hold at the rear of the a/c and basically "bulk" is what we use to describe any loose non containerised baggage.
So if you want half a dozen wheelchairs buggys and dogs and cats and catering stuff crammed next to your instrument make sure you use Rule One.
Finally about actual baggage handling.
Look out of the terminal window at the weather we work in the equipment we use and the height of the hold doors from the ground.
Put a few Samsonites on a baggage belt in the rain and wind then a guitar case and watch one of the suitcases slip because the passenger put a strap around it (which you shouldnt do) and the thing gets caught on the conveyer belt. A logjam ensues and the guitar gets pushed off the belt by the bags and falls twelve feet to the ground. Thats why stuff gets damaged and not because of the handlers wrecking the luggage.
Bags are stacked five deep in the hold on full flts and a guitar case could have ten on top of it....again Rule One.
Special Handling labels are heeded and its my job to make sure they are. From the a/c to baggage hall and vice versa can be a couple of miles so imagine your guitar is in the back of a pick up truck unsecured bcause all that bouncing around on the ramp is like that. Stuff falls out from time to time and thats where Rule One comes in again.We work in a time orientated environment and its tight because everyone wants everything done in an instant and delays cost money so pack well and use good luggage.

One thing....empty the case of all your bits of **** so there are no security issues.If you want to get your case in the cabin you had better take the pen knife and neck wrench etc out .Once checked you can gaffa tape the case.Dont forget that Customs have to check stuff so be accomodating otherwise they will give you a very hard time.
Have a pleasant flight y'all!

[8mileshigher]

I found SouthWest Airlines to be accomodating for guitarists ... better than United or Alaska or American airlines. SW actually had some intelligent customer service folks who were happy to talk about bringing a guitar on board.

Having confirmed the type of aircraft beforehand, I had my Ric in the OSHC, with bubble wrap protection, espcecially around the headstock, as a precaution....which I packed in the original Ric cardboard carton for 300 series, (the ones marked Fragile - Glass) and used packing tape and string to make a "handle" for carrying the cardboard carton like it was a guitar case. No problem at Airport Security... TSA just screened it and didn't make me open the box up. I had brought the packing tape with me, in case TSA wanted to open/inspect it and then I could re-package it.

Got myself boarded early on SW and had the pick of all the empty overhead compartments. This model plane had very long overhead compartment doors, so I knew it would easily be able to accomodate the size of the Ric cardboard carton. I puffed up my jacket to fill the gap between the Ric cardboard carton and the "ceiling" within the overhead compartment (so that protected about half the guitar) and staged a shopping bag with lightweight stuff on top to cover/protect the ceiling -gap on the other half. I think I put a wide brimmed hat strategically in the middle. These three items were my offensive linemen who job was to "block off" any inconsiderate person from trying to cram his 50 pounds of luggage on top of my Ric.

It worked fine and my Ric was under my watchful eye the whole trip which included a way-stop in between.

[rictified]

I used to fly back and forth to Lima, Peru with two Ricks in their normal cases, the only problem I ever had was one took a week long vacation to Brazil (I think). I got it back a week later. These were both 4001's. I also flew home with two single 15" Ampeg cabs and an SVT head (believe it or not) this was before the new weight restrictions. They let me slide on the extra weight too in Lima, saved several hundred bucks, if you're an ounce over here in the US, you're paying though.
Oh this was AA to Lan Peru, Lan Peru were the ones who let me slide on the overweight things. They went under unfortunately, I guess the owner was making more money on white powder than he was on the airline and he got busted, that was the end of that. I used to like that airline.

[wints]

Great post Pete. and thanks for the insight. That is a must read for everyone who travels with an instrument here.

I remember years ago at Gatwick I was taking my green RM1999 out to the States. This was before I had the ATA case, and had already called ahead to get permission from BA to take the bass in the cabin. At check in, they point blank refused, and sent me to the oversized baggage guy, who turned out to be a super nice bloke who played a bit himself. When I told him what it was, he said he'd love to see it, so I opened the case. He told me he'd load it personally into the hold, but there's no way he could guarantee what happened at the other end, and if if was his bass he'd be very reluctant to put it there.

That was my cue to call my lift, who had to turn around on the M25 and come back and get it!

It can be a minefield out there, so everyone read Pete's post again!

[Tarrbot]

2,500,000 views now with over 12,000 comments.

It's a burner of a clip apparently.

Also, I believe the UK picked this up on the wire and is running with it too (on Friday).