The Worst Airlines to fly with a Guitar...

2011-06-19T21:46:00.002-04:00

For a long time I've been meaning to compile a list of all the airlines you should never fly when carrying a guitar (or similar sized instrument) on board an airplane. The reason I carry my guitar on board is because I am trying to avoid using flight cases which are cumbersome and costly to travel with-- especially since I already have to check my effects pedals and suitcase. However, carrying on guitars seems to be getting harder and harder by the minute, despite that fact that my tiny travel guitar fits in overhead bins 95% of the time (and the other 5% of the time there is always an available coat closet or two). I've tried everything from arguing to threatening to crying, to flashing this letter from the TSA. Sometimes these methods work and sometimes they don't. The most foolproof method I've used so far is carrying my gig back upside-down on my back, so that the airline people don't see the neck and think it's just a backpack (Thank you for this brilliant idea, Taylor Ho Bynum)!

Maybe I'll start with the best airline. Delta, which used to be one of the worst airlines for allowing musical instruments on board, was boycotted by the American Federation of Musicians several years ago, and have since changed their policies. Now I find them to be the coolest when it comes to carrying a guitar on board. They even have a section of their website which states that carrying on guitars is OK, provided there is space. How refreshing. And unusual. I hope the same policy changes will take place with other airlines in the future.

A flight attendant on another airline (I think it was KLM) once offered to have my guitar ride in the cockpit with the pilot! Many other nice employees from various airlines have also helped fight for my guitar, yet the vast majority of experiences are still negative. I feel there is a general lack of respect for musicians traveling with musical instruments. Traveling with golf clubs? No problem.

So, here we go.... in order from first worst to fifth worse. Please let me know if there are other airlines you've had horrible experiences with.

1. Ryan Air

Not only is this the most unforgiving airline in terms of carrying instruments on board, it is also the worst airline to fly in pretty much every other way. I flew Ryan air once, not knowing what it was. They made me check my guitar, and by some miracle the thing survived. Never again.

2. Jet Star

Pretty much any airline with the word "jet" in it is bad news, with the exception of Jet Blue who I have found to be reasonably cool. Jet Star made me check my guitar in a gig bag, even though the plane was less than half full and the overhead bins were enormous and empty. They also told me it was not an option to buy a seat for my guitar, however if it was a cello I would be able to buy a seat (where do they come up with these policies)?

3. Easy Jet

The word "Jet", again. No good.

4. Qantas

Although Qantas is a cool airline to fly in other ways, they have a "no guitars on board" policy. When I flew Qantas, I somehow I managed to slip past the ticket guy and run onto the plane without him noticing, but I was lucky.

5. Singapore Air

Like Qantas, Singapore Airlines is generally a pleasant airline to fly. However, when I flew Singapore Air last year, the person I spoke with at the check-in counter told me they have a "no musical instrument" policy. That means, if you speak to the wrong person at the ticket desk, not only will they forbid you from carrying on a guitar, but also a trumpet or a saxophone.

Thanks for listening to my rant. Here are some links to fun related videos:
--the incredible United Breaks Guitars youtube video. If you haven't seen it, check it out!
--A video of my favorite gig bag company, Reunion Blues, throwing guitars off the tops of buildings in their gig bags (I just bought one of these bags).

snowshoeing in Boston

2010-12-31T17:52:00.000-05:00

new pedal! (thanks Owen)

2010-09-04T18:06:00.000-04:00

I just got a new, custom designed ring modulator from my good friend Owen Osborn at Critter and Guitari. Owen and I have been friends since we were five, which I think might officially classify him as my oldest friend. He builds all sorts of insane synthesizers, instruments and pedals which you can see here. I'm very excited because this is the first new effect pedal I've gotten in over ten years. I just tried attaching an mp3 of what this thing sounds like, but kept getting error messages so I gave up. Oh well...
I do plan on trying it out at Barbes this Tuesday and Wednesday.

breau day!

2010-02-10T15:28:00.000-05:00

new guitar

2010-02-01T22:37:00.000-05:00

I finally found the perfect travel guitar! It sounds great and fits nicely in most overhead bins. Just what I needed as the airline restrictions are getting worse and worse. It's an old United Code from 1958, with a Premier body and a Guild headstock. Thanks to my friend Robbie who found it for me and helped me immensely through the whole search process. And thanks to Elliott for all his help as well! I don't know much about gear, but I've learned quite a bit in the past few months.

The guitar is with me in Vancouver right now, and it's first two gigs were the Anthony Braxton 12+1 tet and Sonic Genome project. Both mind blowing experiences...

Left: mapping out "war" strategies during Sonic Genome. Mine was group 10...

Mary Halvorson

The Worst Airlines to fly with a Guitar...

snowshoeing in Boston

new pedal! (thanks Owen)

breau day!

new guitar