Re: [Harp-L] Flying Your Gear

[Mark Beckles Willson <t_model@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I can’t speak for US airports but, having watched Spanish baggage 
handlers last weekend carefully passing our guitars and saxes down from 
the hold rather than putting them on the conveyor, I live in hope. Harps 
and mics come with me and occasionally cause some excitement at the 
scanner but pedals and leads go in with my clothes and my guitar takes 
its chance in the hold too. I would never travel with a ’32 Duolian or 
even a nice electric, mind you: I have an easily replaceable, Japanese 
made Telecaster in a flightcase for flying. I should love to take an amp 
but it simply isn’t practical for a band of our size.

Our guitarist has an interesting approach: he takes his guitar as far as 
the gate where it is put straight in the hold, rather than being exposed 
to the airport’s mechanical handling system and the scrutiny of baggage 
handlers.



Mark

On 16/10/2012 03:19, Shirley Rowe wrote:
> For those of you that fly to gigs and events, how do you fly your gear?  You harps?  Your amp if you use one?  Carry on?  Baggage check?  How does TSA treat you at US airports?
>
> I have two friends that suffered major losses this year by what I believe to be felonious baggage handlers. One is a former women's national champion skeet shooter that checked her $30,000 Krieghoff shotgun on a flight from Dallas to Jacksonville. The other is a country blues guitarist that checked his '32 National Duolian resonator guitar on Delta, never to be seen again.
>
> Are you aware that this happens all the time?  How do you guard against it?  Do you take any special precautions to ensure your gear arrives with you?