007
C.O.G.
Posts: 2,601
My main instrument is: 1965 Hagstrom H45E
|
Post by 007 on Dec 28, 2017 14:59:32 GMT
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on Dec 28, 2017 22:22:04 GMT
Same is true in Europe care of that horrible EU!
|
|
|
Post by dreadnought28 on Dec 29, 2017 5:58:20 GMT
That’s been the situation since 2011, see the date of this article. However with the advent of charging for hold baggage flights in the USA tend to have full overhead lockers and thus refusals to allow guitars to be carried on are common. I take mine to the gate and get them to take it by hand and give it back to me as I leave the plane.
I’m currently in Austin having flown from Manchester to Houston with Singapore Airlines on an A350-900. Second trip using this flight. The overhead drop down bins are too small for a guitar case so I’ve had no option but to check mine in. Glad I have Calton cases and well insured guitars.
|
|
|
Post by arturo on Dec 30, 2017 18:58:45 GMT
I recently flew Virgin from Washington Dulles to Heathrow with an ageing Martin 00-16 DBRL. At the check in I was first told that as the guitar was in a hard case I needed to check it in. After politely refusing they agreed that I could check it at the departure point and have it put in the hold from there. So we got to the departure gate and a member of Virgin staff came straight over and asked if I wanted to check the guitar into the hold. I told him I'd prefer to take it into the cabin and put it in the wardrobe, but I'd put it in the hold if necessary. He said he'd check with the flight crew. 10 minutes later we were ushered through departure before any other passengers and I put the guitar in the flight staff wardrobe by the galley (it was an Airbus A330)and we found our seats as the first class passengers boarded. At Heathrow I was presented with my guitar by a smiling cabin crew and walked through immigration....
Throughout all of this experience Virgin Atlantic's staff were accomodating and pro-active and I reccomend them. Getting the guitar through US immigration at Seattle on the way out (on a tourist visa) was another matter altogether, but that's another story.
|
|
|
Post by dreadnought28 on Dec 31, 2017 13:14:49 GMT
I recently flew Virgin from Washington Dulles to Heathrow with an ageing Martin 00-16 DBRL. At the check in I was first told that as the guitar was in a hard case I needed to check it in. After politely refusing they agreed that I could check it at the departure point and have it put in the hold from there. So we got to the departure gate and a member of Virgin staff came straight over and asked if I wanted to check the guitar into the hold. I told him I'd prefer to take it into the cabin and put it in the wardrobe, but I'd put it in the hold if necessary. He said he'd check with the flight crew. 10 minutes later we were ushered through departure before any other passengers and I put the guitar in the flight staff wardrobe by the galley (it was an Airbus A330)and we found our seats as the first class passengers boarded. At Heathrow I was presented with my guitar by a smiling cabin crew and walked through immigration.... Throughout all of this experience Virgin Atlantic's staff were accomodating and pro-active and I reccomend them. Getting the guitar through US immigration at Seattle on the way out (on a tourist visa) was another matter altogether, but that's another story. That is my experience with most airlines. A couple of years ago I carried a guitar and a banjo on board a BA 747 from JFK to LHR. Both in Calton cases. The guitar went in the front closet and the banjo at the rear.
|
|
|
Post by arturo on Dec 31, 2017 13:39:57 GMT
Smile and be politely firm seems to be the key
|
|
|
Post by dreadnought28 on Jan 1, 2018 7:27:33 GMT
Smile and be politely firm seems to be the key Yes it is.
|
|
|
Post by andyc on Jan 23, 2018 17:47:16 GMT
Flew with Virgin to Florida from Manchester recently, and there was no problem at all taking a guitar on board in both directions.
|
|