[Harp-L] Re: Flying with Pedal Board

["Steve Power" <stevepower@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

If for any reason you didn't want to go the route of taking apart your pedal 
board and reconfiguring into a soft case I would suggest gate checking the 
road case.  You might get some delay with a hard case at security but that's 
a crap shoot regardless.

On the off chance you're not familar with gate checking, at the gate when 
you go to board tell the staff there you wish to gate check your piece and 
they will give you a claim ticket and attach another to the case. Sometimes 
this is done at the door of the aircraft. The ticket is usually red. You 
then take it yourself to the door of the aircraft and leave it along with 
baby strollers, wheel chairs and other things being gate checked.  It is 
then walked to the baggage hold and put on the plane by hand.  At the other 
end it is walked back to the door of the aircraft and you pick it up when 
you disembark.  I've done this many times with acoustic guitars when the 
plane did not have overheads large enough with never a problem.

A somewhat more complicated route to actually take it on the plane starts 
with when you book your ticket.  Many airlines allow you to reserve your 
seat at the time of booking.  Reserve a seat in the back of the aircraft. I 
usually take the last row so no kid is going to be kicking the seat and 
raising hell.  Economy seats board starting from the back of the plane. You 
board in sections so you want to position yourself at the gate at the head 
of the line so you are first on when they start to board Economy, assuming 
your a normal musician.   This allows two options. If the plane has decent 
size overheads, you'll have first access. International flights are almost 
always fine but city hoppers can be small. If you don't know ask the flight 
attendent when you first board if the case will fit.  DO NOT ASK FOR 
PERMISSION EVER.  If they say the overheads are too small they will usually 
offer to put it in the closet behind first class and you can retrieve it on 
the way out. If they don't offer, ask.  Being first in line is critical. I 
once had my guitar put in the closet and the guy right behind me also had a 
guitar but had to gate check because after mine there was no more room.  If 
the plane is so small there isn't any room anywhere you're back to gate 
checking.