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“How do I safely take my guitar abroad with me?”

A step by step guide to getting your guitar safely on the plane in the seat next to you without spending a fortune on a second ticket
One of the biggest worries for us musicians is that when we travel with our beloved instruments they will either be mishandled and damaged by uncaring baggage handlers as soon as they are out of our sight, the airline will lose it somehow (that’s happened to me) or, to be able to keep it by your side, you have to buy a whole extra plane ticket so your guitar can have its own seat (which I’ve never needed to do)

I have been travelling abroad with my guitar for around 8 years now and I have a few tips up my sleeve which I think will help you out.
"If I could only keep 3 of my possessions these would be the first 2. The passport for my freedom and my guitar to earn money/food and water...

The third thing I can't decide on yet. I'd probably panic and just grab a tin of beans"

- Ryan Inglis 2017

Getting your guitar on the plane

I flew from the UK back to Munich yesterday and it got me thinking about all the times I've travelled with my guitar over the last 8 years. Since 2013 I've played all over the world and I've taken the same guitar with me every time; my trusty Takamine EN40C. The case it came with broke a few years ago so I now use the hard case from my Cole Clark FL3AC when travelling.

Be Careful!

I remember seeing a post from the Red Hot Chili Peppers saying "We are very disappointed with the baggage handlers at Edinburgh Airport for our EasyJet flight to Milan this weekend. Nick's prized USA Fender Telecaster arrived in Milan airport completely destroyed."

I didn't want that to happen to me so I looked up some tips and gathered a few of my own along the way.

TIP #1 - Softcase or Hardcase?

As you can see from the picture above even a hardcase won't withstand being run over by airport vehicles but here is my advice:

Softcase: This really depends on the SIZE of your guitar. (I have a Tanglewood TWRT E 86cm x 30cms) If you actually have travel guitar it is better to put it in a soft case that it probably came with and treat it as carry-on. It will likely fit in the overhead compartment just as it is. You do run a higher risk of damage if it’s not in a hardcase and the airline insist you can’t take it on the plane with you, but generally you will not encounter any resistance from the flight crew or at the checking desk.

Hardcase: If, however, you have a full sized guitar I would definitely recommend a high quality hard-case. If you got one with the guitar when you bought it then you’re good to go. In fact I would make sure that you stipulate you want a guitar with hardcase included when you are buying. Also be sure you have one that locks with a small key.

If you do have to buy one specially, it’s just a matter of getting one that fits really well. Take a trip to your local guitar shop and ask them to find a suitable one for your guitar. There is absolutely no way you would want your guitar banging around in the underbelly of the plane surrounded by thin, soft padding alone *shudder
“We may safely say Hiscox cases provide the best thermal protection, crush resistance and puncture resistance of any case in its weight or price range. They are simply excellent value for money”

HISCOX cases are generally considered to be the best but at a price of around €150-200 It can feel tempting to avoid shelling out the extra cash. If I bought a guitar that already cost €200 and saw the case was the same price I would think twice too. If your guitar is worth more however, higher than the €500 price range, it really is a necessary investment. Your guitar is your baby and you can’t put a price on keeping it safe.

My Travel Guitar

In 2015 I flew to Spain together with my backpack and Tanglewood TWRT guitar. Both as carry-on luggage. I was there to walk the Camino/Jakobsweg. I walked over 900km in 1 month. During that time I asked the people I met along the way to write their favourite inspirational quotes.

While I was there I wrote a song on this small guitar about the freedom I felt and the happiness that came with it.

TIP #2 - Checking in your hardcase

You have 3 options here:
Option 1 is you hand it over at the same place as your suitcase. They will ask you to take it to ‘bulky luggage’
Option 2 is to check it at the plane much like they do with prams and pushchairs.
Option 3 is getting it on the plane with you, which is my preference every time.

OPTION 1:

Check-in your guitar at the same time as your suitcase, they will tag it and tell you to take it over to 'bulky luggage' where you will part ways until your destination.

Saying goodbye to your guitar until you see it on the other side can make most people feel very nervous. Especially if it is valuable (either in cost or sentimental value). Make sure the guitar is insured and in its good quality hard case. I also recommend taking a video or photo of it in its current condition as you deliver it to bulky luggage. If you can ask for a ‘FRAGILE’ sticker that would be a good idea too. When you pick it up at your destination film yourself opening it up straight from the luggage belt to check for damage. You may need this proof for insurance purposes.

Another problem to be aware of is when you have connecting flights. The guitar can get lost in the middle of the journey somewhere. When it happened to me it was because the handle broke on my guitar case and the label fell off which meant it stayed in Amsterdam while I ran around Bristol like a mother searching for her lost child.

When this happens, go to lost luggage to file a missing luggage form. You will have to leave the airport empty-handed but they will deliver it to your home address as soon as they can. To avoid this in the first place try option #2

OPTION 2:

Carry the guitar past the boarding gate and give it to an attendant directly before boarding the plane.

This is my go-to option which normally leads onto option 3 if you are lucky. If you prefer to hand the guitar to someone just before you get on the plane and pick it up again as you get off this is a great way to keep the guitar from getting lost between connecting flights and if you don’t even have a suitcase with you it saves searching for it at the bulky luggage section and you can just head straight for the exit when you land.

Ask to ‘gate check’ the guitar or drop it outside the plane. If it is completely not possible see option 1 again. Normally there will be no issue and if that works you can then try option 3

If you have gotten this far and there is no one at the foot of the plane taking luggage, you will almost certainly get the guitar on the plane.

OPTION 3:

Carry the guitar onto the plane and have it in the seat next to yours or in an available empty seat

Please be aware that this option won’t work if the flight is fully booked. When you gate-check the guitar be one of the last people to board the plane. This way the steward or stewardess has a better idea of how much room is actually available. 

I then politely ask if there is enough room to bring the guitar on with me. 9 times out of 10 they have been very nice and allowed me to do so. If they seem annoyed it's best not to be too pushy. Keep smiling and stay courteous, If it doesn’t work, stick with option 2. 

TIP #3 - Business or Economy

These 3 options have always worked for me on economy flights.

More recently I have taken business class flights which have definitely made this process much smoother. I had no problems whatsoever taking the guitar onto the plane and sitting it right next to me, but to do that you don’t actually have to spend hundreds of euros more!

When searching for flights you can compare prices with other airlines. Once you’re done and you found the best price, switch to another browser (if you were using Safari first switch to Google Chrome for example) and search again for the best option and book from there.

I almost always find the cheapest flights on Skyscanner but this is only really useful for when you don’t have a tight schedule or if you don’t mind stopping off in another country for several hours before the connecting flight.

Lufthansa at least offer business class flights for around €50 more than economy (for as little as €5! by the time you consider all the add ons for economy) but with the added bonus that you don’t have to pay for extras like baggage allowance, seat reservation, food and drink etc… plus you can board early, avoid queueing and get access to the business lounges where you can get free food and drink and a peaceful place to sit and charge your devices
Your guitar could be placed somewhere at the front of the plane if there are no other options but in all cases, it should be secured during take-off and landing

One last word of warning

I’d like to tell you a little story:

I normally travel light; just my backpack with a few clothes and my guitar, sometimes if I’m staying abroad for longer I will pay for the extra baggage allowance and take a suitcase. I was at the check-in getting my boarding pass (on a flight from Munich to Greece) and the attendant asked me about my guitar. “Is that for checked luggage?“ 

“Can I take it on the plane or check it at the plane please?” I asked.

“No it will have to go with bulky luggage but first I need you to sign a waiver”

I asked what the waiver was for and she told me I would have to sign it to absolve the airline of any responsibility should it get damaged in transit… I looked at her for a second and replied with a hint of sarcasm “Why would I sign that then?”.

“Well, If you don’t sign it you can’t get on the plane”

I could feel the anger swelling in my soul… I remember asking her what kind of airline adopts such a bullshit policy and asked for the manager like a total Karen. The supervisor came over, looked at the screen and simply said “No, it’s fine you don’t have to sign anything it's already part of your baggage allowance”

If this ever happens to you too. NEVER sign that waiver. It would be totally unacceptable for an airline to force you to do that under threat of cancelling your flight. No one wants the hassle of missing a flight but imagine getting to your destination and finding your guitar in broken pieces.

In any and every case, please make sure your guitar is INSURED!