Flight case recommendations?

[notCardio]

I want to take a cheapie guitar with me (in case something happens to it), but I still want it to arrive unscathed.

Any suggestions on a 'real' flight case as opposed to the 'looks like a' flight case?

 

[Light]

Calton. They are the only ones I'd use, if I had to check my guitar in baggage. However, I was just having a conversation with a couple of guys today who regularly fly with guitars, and they have both been able to carry guitars on to flights just about every time they try. This jibes with my experience, but my experience is 9 years out of date, so I wouldn't have brought it up without the conversation today. Basically, we are all of the same mind on how to do it -

1. Be polite to everyone in the airport who says anything about, "you can't bring that on the plane!"
2. Get there early
3. Get on the plane as early as possible - if they still have staggered seating, get a seat in the back so you can get on right away, other wise just make sure you are at the front of the line.
4. The only person who can actually tell you that you can't bring the guitar on is the lead flight attendant - be nice to the flight attendants AT ALL COSTS, NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!
5. Check the airline's website - Northwest has a policy on their website that musicians can carry on their instrument (as long as they fit in the overhead, of course) and one more carry on bag. Print that up and bring it with!
6. This is long past, but back in the `90's the Musician's Union appealed to the FAA on the issue, and the FAA issued a ruling that the airlines are supposed to allow musicians to carry on their instruments (I've either got, or used to have, a copy of the letter from the UMA). Unfortunately, it is not something the airlines have to obey, it is just a suggestion.
7. You are playing the odds when you do this - most of the time it will work out fine, but every now and then you might have to check it in the baggage. Even then, there is a real chance that the guitar will come through it alright, as long as it is in a good quality hardshell case.
8. If there isn't room in the overheads, ask a flight attendant if there is room in one of the closets. They might say yes, they might say no, but it's worth asking.
9. Most important, ALWAYS be polite to everyone at the airport. Honestly, this is WAY more important than anything else. Be nice, be polite, and never, ever loose your temper. If you loose your temper, your guitar is going to be in the baggage, and they will do whatever they can to mess it up. BE POLITE!
   

Particularly as this is a inexpensive guitar, I'd risk it. You'll probably be fine, but it's up to you.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[notCardio]

Thanks. It's inexpensive, but I still like it quite a lot, and I'd be hard pressed to replace it. I plan on doing a complete upgrade to it soon, now that APL's worked his magic on the fretboard.