I Love Rock N Roll
My name is Greg Piper, (aka
RockNRollDude) and I have flown around the globe extensively for the
past 25+ years as a professional guitarist and bassist, which gives me
new meaning to the expression; time flies! It seems like just
yesterday, 1987 to be exact, when I notified my soon-to-be wife that I
was going to be traveling the road with my rock show, thus being away
from home more than the average person. Fortunately, she was cool with
this and, lo and behold, it happened! My gig had me performing one-off
evening performances from city to far away city on consecutive nights,
flying from Los Angeles to Atlanta to NYC, to Japan, China, India, you
get the picture. I have taken hundreds of airline flights with my
guitars carried on by back and have flown well over a million miles.
I'm here to share some airline tips to my fellow traveling musicians who
travel with their guitars.
Don't you Love Rock N Roll?
The
excitement and thrill of being a high flying, world traveling "Rock
Star" can be dampened very quickly when the airlines take your
instrument away from you before boarding the plane. They'll
erroneously tell you "it doesn't fit", which is generally not the case
at all. When that happens they often place your guitar under the belly
of the plane with the other luggage. This creates the possibility of the
guitars either being broken, delayed or even lost! I know some
musicians prefer to check their instruments in at the ticket counter
having their guitars in anvil cases, but that sometimes cost a
substantial fee and does not guarantee their safety or arrival to your
final destination. Try sleeping if that happens!
We Love Rock N Roll
There
are three main obstacles for musicians bringing guitars with them on
flights; the ticket counter, the TSA security check, and the gate agent,
where you actually board the plane. These three areas often could care
less about you and your guitar and their attitudes often show it! If
you can get past them, you've made it and you can breath a sigh of
relief. The flight attendants on board are usually very friendly,
cooperative, caring, helpful and understanding.
Peace + Love Rock N Roll
Here's
what to do. When you first arrive at the airport you initially go to
the ticket counter. This is where to get your tickets, seat assignments
and check in your bigger luggage. It is best not to flaunt your
stringed instruments because if you do the agent may try to have you
check them in with your larger luggage. By doing so your guitars will
be handled by the same baggage handlers who throw your suitcases all
over the place. You don't want this to happen! If the ticket counter
person asks you to check your guitar with your baggage, kindly tell
them, "This is my very fragile and expensive guitar that I need for my
job tomorrow. It's my livelihood, not a hobby and I cannot afford to
have it damaged, delayed or lost. I would like to see if I can fit it
in the overhead on the plane, which usually fits, and if it doesn't I'll
let the boarding Agent "gate-check" it there" (Gate checking is when
they take your luggage and hand delivers it to a special place under the
plane, separate from the bigger bags. Your hand checked item is
usually brought back to you as you immediately depart the craft, and not
put on the conveyor belts with the larger luggage.) This request on
your part lets the ticket agent know that you are aware of the
limitations of baggage space and that you are very willing to corporate
and that you understand the situation. I've never had my 6-string taken
away at that point after this explanation.
Love Rock N Roll
Next,
you have to deal with the TSA, whose job is supposed to be about
security and airline safety. Sometimes the TSA goes beyond their call
of duty, much to a musician's detriment. If TSA says your guitar is too
big to advance to the boarding gate you have no other choice but to
return to the ticket counter agent and ask for assistance in dealing
with the TSA. Fortunately, this almost never happens. Make sure you
only are carrying one instrument and maybe a laptop roller bag or a bag
that is somewhat small. If you have more than 2 items, you are
definitely asking for problems!
Doesn't everybody Love Rock N Roll?
If
you get past both the ticket counter and the TSA, you're left with the
final and usually biggest hurdle, the gate agent :( Gate agents are a
breed of their own and they aren't paid to help you. They're the ones
who make the repeated announcements over the PA about allowed carry-ons
and size requirements, etc. The gate agents will almost always say your
guitars won't fit. They are trained to tell you that. What you have
to do, in a professional and friendly way, is simply tell them the same
thing you told the ticket counter agent earlier, "This is my very
fragile and expensive instrument that I need for my job. It's my
livelihood and I cannot afford to have it damaged, delayed or lost. I
would like to see if I can fit it in the overhead, which usually fits,
and if it doesn't I'll "gate-check" it." This usually works. Not
always, but it's clear you are trying to work with them.
I Love Rock N Roll - Peace N Light
Sometimes
the gate agent insists you must gate check the guitar, no matter what!
They won't budge. It's as if they know their supervisor is watching
them and they must not let any instrument on board for any reason,
period. So, what do I do? I simply allow the gate agent to tag my
case. Then they tell me to drop it off at the end of the ramp just
before boarding for someone to take it underneath the aircraft. As soon
as I get pass the gate agent with my tagged case and am out of their
view, I take the tag off and proceed to take the guitar on the plane.
Like I said earlier, the flight attendants are way cooler and much more
helpful and accommodating.
I Love, Love Rock N Roll
Now
this is very important! - you don't want to be one of the last people
to board! You want to be near the beginning of the boarding line.
Why? This is the only way you'll be able to fit your guitar into the
overhead space. They'll usually do fit unless it is a small prop
plane. If the craft is full and you're one of the last ones to board,
you will not get the guitar to fit in the overhead as the space will
have already been taken by other people's carry-ons.
I Love, Love, Love Rock N Roll
On
a final note, carry your ax in as small a case as possible. Also,
leave your custom, one-of-a-kind $10,000 guitar at home and bring your
$500 Strat on the road instead. You get paid the same no matter what
you bring, right? Anything can happen on the road. Do you really want
to take the chance of your $10,000 guitar getting lost, stolen or
destroyed? If you must have that over-priced classic with you, my advice
is to stay home! You don't get it and you're not made for the road.
(unless money is no issue for you)
I Love, Love Rock N Roll - Peace N Light
Traveling
is not for every musician. When it comes to flying, the airlines are
in charge, not you. It can be a slippery path for unknowing musicians
with guitars and getting their valued instruments on the plane without
incident. You may be a "Rock N Roll Star" on stage but when it comes to
the airlines, you're nothing more than a musical sardine. The airlines
have a funny way of looking at your guitars, their eyes bug out, you're
like a target to them.
I Love To Rock - I Love, Love Rock N Roll
Remember,
the airlines motto at times is, "The passenger is always wrong!"
Again, you cannot argue with them. They have a monopoly on fast travel
and they know you have little or no alternatives for getting to your
destination on time. You have to play the game and be flexible,
cunning, alert and on your best behavior. If this is not for you, get a
day job, travel via Amtrak Train, Greyhound Bus, or take a very long
drive or boat ride. None of these options work for me.
