| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
 Posted - 01/13/2009 : 10:01:39 AM
|
Has anyone ever tried contacting TSA about maybe "registering" a guitar with them, so that one has some paperwork in order to carry a guitar on board instead of checking it in? In other words, is there a process in place that allows those TSA folks at the airport to recognize that this object has been verified as no threat to national security?
I am still particularly worried about checking in an invaluable vintage Fry Pan Rickenbacher and taking the chance of it disappearing somewhere. And because it is such a heavy metal object, there might be difficulty carrying it on board. Someone will think of it as weapon! I suppose one could use it as a baseball bat...
Julie
|
|
|
cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 10:55:08 AM
|
| My guitar is definitely a threat to national security. At least when I'm playing it. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
 |
|
|
wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 11:37:07 AM
|
| TSA web site considers traveling with musical instruments within the purview of each individual airline. The problem is not that it is a security problem, it is that it is a volume thing. They have no room in the overhead bins and they do not like to handle anything specially. Some airlines nokea. Az y hahd. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
|
|
|
Russell Letson
`Olu`olu
USA
504 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 7:08:12 PM
|
It's the gate personnel and the flight crew that need persuading, and not, generally, about security threats--though you should remove all tools, spare strings, and small pointy objects from your case and carry-on, since TSA does care about those. Airline people worry about storage space, and a lap steel in a reasonable-size case should present less challenge than a conventional rolling suitcase or duffel bag. I've gotten a full-size archtop aboard most Northwest flights--in a huge flight case that looks like it holds a cello. My Baby Taylor in its hard case is, by comparison, a piece of cake, and that's probably a bigger package than your steel. But always, always smile and be nice and (in my experience) the flight crew will return the favor. (And you're right to not want to check a valuable instrument--stealing happens, and so does incredible mishandling.)
|
|
|
|
slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 01/13/2009 : 10:12:24 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Julie H
Has anyone ever tried contacting TSA about maybe "registering" a guitar with them, so that one has some paperwork in order to carry a guitar on board instead of checking it in? In other words, is there a process in place that allows those TSA folks at the airport to recognize that this object has been verified as no threat to national security?
I am still particularly worried about checking in an invaluable vintage Fry Pan Rickenbacher and taking the chance of it disappearing somewhere. And because it is such a heavy metal object, there might be difficulty carrying it on board. Someone will think of it as weapon! I suppose one could use it as a baseball bat...
Julie
Eh, julie! Not to worry. Thumbs checks his Ovation (hard to destroy), and I carry my 8 string Dobro. and Thumbs carries my Jerry Byrd Frypan on in fairly sturdy gig bags. They fit in the overhead, the steel on top of the Dobro. No complaints to this arrangement on Northwest, Hawaiian and Alaska over the past 2 years. I believe it would be tougher if I used hard shell cases. I used to gate chack my instruments, but they won't give them back to me at the gate like they used to. The problems arise between baggage check and the airplane, in my experience. That's where the gorillas live! |
keaka |
|
|
|
alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2009 : 5:19:05 PM
|
| When I go to Hawai'i, I'll be taking my 'ukulele as a carry-on item. That's all I know. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
