Guitars on planes

[JimmyBob]

New to the forum but been using it as an excellent reference for some time.....

Anyone any experience in travelling on planes with acoustic guitars. I travel constantly (work in sales) and have carried a full size electric guitar on planes in recent years in a soft case. Initially I tried a hard case but had a few issues boarding with the hard case and switched to the soft case and have never had a problem since (except on budget airlines).......I switched to acoustic guitar after discovering Avalon and now frequently carry a cheaper acoustic in a hard case to practice on,this i put in the hold. Problem is the acoustic is outsize luggage and occasionally does not turn up with the rest of the luggage at the other end.

Does anyone consistently travel with an acoustic In a hard case on the plane......

[the greypicker]

Hi JimmyBob

Good to have you aboard! What model Avalon do you have?

Can't help with your query, I am afraid, but had fun surfing the topic! Two different approaches here:


http://www.acguitar.com/Gear/advice/flying.shtml
http://acousticguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=25801

Long may you strum!

John

[JimmyBob]

Many thanks John, confirmed my suspicions. Nervous about an acoustic guitar in a gig bag (which seems the surest way of being allowed a guitar on board) in the overhead locker. I see the way the lockers get packed and the contents abused by passengers trying to cram maximum luggage into an already full locker.

Guess I will stick to the hard case in the hold and keep my fingers crossed. No problems with damage so far, only loss for up to 11 days and that was due to the Heathrow terminal 5 opening fiasco.

Almost embarrassed to admit I have three Avalons now (acquired over a No of years)I first bought an A325c Auditorium and then wanted a jumbo and seen a L25C ex demo on the Avalon website, and yes I bought it. I justified buying one more on the basis that I spend a lot of time in Norway where I have a company flat. I took the A325C to Norway and replaced it with a L320C Jumbo with added justification (this was the sales pitch to my wife) that I need to explore the tonal qualities of the two different woods used for construction.

All guitars provide phenomenal projection and sound quality, build quality on all three are exquisite and interestingly I don't notice the diffence in body size moving from auditorium to jumbo.

Once again many thanks for the links.

Jim