Airlines & Gear? Nightmare?

[Shawn1272]

So I may have to do some flying for an upcoming project and it would be nice to be able to bring some of my own gear. But I'm extremely fearful of what an airline would do to my (or anyone's) gear. Have any of you gotten gear on a plane without any hassles? How did you do it?

I'm thinking I could take a few mics in a carry-on and either pack or carry-on an API lunchbox and some other things (pedals, ReAmp, etc). Are the security people going to think I have a bomb if I try to bring some audio gear thru the gates?

Thanks in advance for your help.

shawn

[Brandino221]

Originally Posted by Shawn1272

So I may have to do some flying for an upcoming project and it would be nice to be able to bring some of my own gear. But I'm extremely fearful of what an airline would do to my (or anyone's) gear. Have any of you gotten gear on a plane without any hassles? How did you do it?

I'm thinking I could take a few mics in a carry-on and either pack or carry-on an API lunchbox and some other things (pedals, ReAmp, etc). Are the security people going to think I have a bomb if I try to bring some audio gear thru the gates?

Thanks in advance for your help.

shawn

All u have to do is call the airline(s) and talk to a supervisor about this that owrks at the airport. MAKE SURE YOU GET A NAME. Also make sure that another supervisor knows about it as well. As long as you clear it and have them put it in the computer you will be fine. Just like you don't want any suprises don't give any to them. Most of the time they are cool if you call ahead of time. Like I said make sure you get 2 names in case you have any trouble.
Hope this helps.

[fifthcircle]

Not a problem to travel with gear...

Bring your mics on with you and allow extra time for security. If they ask what they are, explain. I've never had an issue with far worse looking stuff (like my clarinets). As for rack gear, pack it in pellican cases with plenty of foam and toss them down below. Don't bother locking as the TSA will just cut them off. Rather, use wire ties and tape a new set on the outside of the case. If necessary, you also may want to include a picture of how it is packed in case the TSA folks need to dig in the box.

Lastly, insure everything.

--Ben

[doug_hti]

Originally Posted by Shawn1272

So I may have to do some flying for an upcoming project and it would be nice to be able to bring some of my own gear. But I'm extremely fearful of what an airline would do to my (or anyone's) gear. Have any of you gotten gear on a plane without any hassles? How did you do it?

I'm thinking I could take a few mics in a carry-on and either pack or carry-on an API lunchbox and some other things (pedals, ReAmp, etc). Are the security people going to think I have a bomb if I try to bring some audio gear thru the gates?

Thanks in advance for your help.

shawn

As Benjamin said, everything is fine.

Take as much as a carry on as possible.

Leave your checked items unlocked.

I am a few hundred flights into POST 9/11 and still don't have any issues with Checking 2 racks and carrying on one, including wireless equipment. The most amount of time extra I've been held back is no more than 10 minutes AT THE MOST.

Except the one time that the bomb detection unit had an error....but it only took them a few minutes (after a slew of police arrived and my id and ticket were whisked away) to figure out it was their problem with the new machine.

Honestly, don't make a deal of it. People love to make a big deal of it, it's not. I've been to almost every major airport in the country and as well as a lot of small ones. Just tell them it's "professional audio gear", and maybe the TSA worker will tell you "I use garageband".

[jonnyclueless]

I recently flew to NYC for a weeks session and brought an Avalon 737sm in a flight case. The boys at Delta managed to bend the entire thing, which I believe is made of solid steel. Despite having airline stickers surrounding it saying 'fragile', etc they obvioussly had to intentionally throw the thing down to bend something that strong.

I had a lawyer threaten them, and they caved, but wanted to see the piece. Unfortunately I had to make it rerackable as soon as I got home because I had to get right to another session (flight gets in at 2am, session starts next morning at 10am, etc). I ended up racking it upside down and it took two people standing ontop of the Avalon for it to bend back in place.

Needless to say I will never be flying delta again (They also made us wait an hour and a half at baggage claim with no explination and no apology).

[Bishbashbosh]

Travelling with a (lightish) rack as carry on luggage doesn't usually cause too much of a problem.
The main change I've found post 9-11 has been cymbals. I ALWAYS used to take them on with me..... now there's no chance.....

[juicemaster1500]

bring as much stuff as possible with you into the plane, put it in the larger trunks near the doors.. be grumpy and do not tolerate any gay stewards giving you attitude, tell em to go fu'ck themselves.

[zimv20]

Originally Posted by juicemaster1500

bring as much stuff as possible with you into the plane, put it in the larger trunks near the doors..

when getting tickets, best to get one way in back, so you'll be put in group 1. which is now like the 4th group to board, after all the fancies in first class, biz class, various precious metal groups, et. al., but it increases the chance of that compartment not being full when boarding.

[kallisto]

I have never had a problem flying with my gear....I mostly fly with turntables, a mixer, instant replay , and an mpc....no problems...even when I flew all over Europe this winter for tour....Just make sure that you dont try and do a over the top pack job b/c it will just get ripped out and never put back the right way. It you have Equipment to check in I suggest you take it to the bomb inspection area yourself and watch them go through your gear cases and then bring them back to check in...that way you at least know they packed it back the right way....
I do agree with all the posts on everything else everyone posted. If you are unsure in any way at all, you should cover your own ass by taking photos of your gear so in the event they trash your gear you have evidence of how it looked ( a digital camera would be best b/c of the time and date stamp ) also, MAKE SURE YOU BRING YOUR HARD-DRIVE, MIC'S, and anything else you can fit to carry on the plane with you...you are allowed two carry-on's ( one piece of luggage and one shoulder bag ) You should be able to get most of your important gear in the overhead.....I only stress this b/c my buddy lost a bag with his digital camera, and two hard-drives) on his way to record an album down south....The drive's had all of his personal drum collection and a bunch of other sounds he was bringing for the week session.
His bag came to his house a month later with none of the gear but ALL of his underwear!!!
Just make sure you bring all the little stuff that someone would be inclined to take out of a checked in bag and cover your end by packing and watching your bags the right way...anything after that is out of your hands and into the airlines.
Good luck!

[soundwarrior]

They did not like the way my mics looked in there cases. They took them out rubbed a piece of carboard paper on them and then ran that cardboard through some machine and then gave me back my mics. Took about 10 minutes. I have no idea what type of test it was. I assume for explosives since LDC's can look like little bombs throught the X-ray mchine.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by Shawn1272

Have any of you gotten gear on a plane without any hassles?

Without?

Never.

[toolskid]

I would recommend never looking slightly middle-eastern and taking an MTR headphone amp in a gearslutz bag as carry on....

they no likee...











oh.... or an iPod

[steins]

I´ve never had any troubles with security and gear, but this is Europe....

What I do know is: Make Sure You Have Good Flight Cases!!!!!

I´ve toured a lot, and it´s unbelievable how they treat your luggage. And equipment. I´m just back from a gig at a big country festival in Lofoten, Norway. Let´s just say it was a bumpy ride, both in-air and on the ground. I now have an accordion with the basses floating around somewhere on the inside .

And no accordion jokes, please..... . I use it on only one tune, just because the artist makes me....

Stein Tore

[Jonathan Starr]

My new Sony Vaio laptop and my digital camera were stolen out of my checked luggage on a Delta flight operated by Air France between JFK & CDG Paris this summer. The soft cases they were each packed in were left inside the baggage, empty. It was a drag to lose all my personal info and files and photos as well as contact and scheduling info for the tour.

Delta and Air France both deny any acountability.

Luckily, my Walter Woods miniature bass head, in the same luggage, was untouched, and my MTD bass in a SKB bass safe was also left alone.

[jomo1234]

I've had a few bad experiences flying with gear, so now if it is possible I ship my roadcases via Fed Ex Ground well before I leave. I've found this to be much more convenient.

[Soldier777c]

Originally Posted by Shawn1272

So I may have to do some flying for an upcoming project and it would be nice to be able to bring some of my own gear. But I'm extremely fearful of what an airline would do to my (or anyone's) gear. Have any of you gotten gear on a plane without any hassles? How did you do it?

I'm thinking I could take a few mics in a carry-on and either pack or carry-on an API lunchbox and some other things (pedals, ReAmp, etc). Are the security people going to think I have a bomb if I try to bring some audio gear thru the gates?

Thanks in advance for your help.

shawn

Just gift wrap it and stick it in your carry-on bag with the explanation that it's a present for your sick grandmother.

If they open it, tell them she's mixing a record.

[HudHudson]

Airline employees (in this case, "ramp rats") make mistakes, and it's just the luck of the draw that the bag/flight case they drop/throw/run over will contain your gear or an instrument. I had a nice Taylor guitar that fell off the baggage cart and was run over by a truck on the tarmac, but US Airways was totally cool and paid for everything. It's hard to carry a guitar or rack case onboard nowadays what with the carry-on restrictions and fuller flights. Before 9/11 I could always carry my axe onboard to/from gigs, the flight attendants always assumed I was some rock star , but I've had to gate check my guitar ever since (at least that way you carry the case to the gate instead of letting the ramp rats have at it).

[max cooper]

I worked for a guy who always booked us first-class seats, not because he wanted to travel in comfort, but because any checked baggage will arrive with you, not on the next flight.

Remember, another alternative to checking gear is FedEx, when you have the time and it seems like it would be easier and safer; depends on the amount, weight, of course.

[rcm]

I think it was Northwest that bent my distressor and 1176 when a few years ago I made the mistake of checking a rack that was not shock mounted. Its amazing how bad they treat gear. I actually once looked out a window watching the guys load the luggage on the plane, they gently placed all the reguar bags on the convayer belt and then when they got to my rack (covered in fragile stickers) they threw it 2 feet in the air. I was stunned.

I have started carrying most of my gear as carry on. You can fit a few racks and a few mics in one of those rolling carry ons. I then check a bag with my clothes. I don't care if they smash my underwear.

[zimv20]

some years ago, at LAX security to catch a redeye after a long day of taping interviews for a documentary, the security person opened my gig bag and pulled out the zeppelin.

her: what's this for?
me: it's for the shotgun.
(pause)
me (panicked): microphone! shotgun microphone!

s'pose it's only at LAX where the security people are familiar w/ gear you'd see on a filmset.

[Shawn1272]

thanks for all the replies. you guys rule.

[parasitk]

Originally Posted by rcm

I think it was Northwest that bent my distressor and 1176 when a few years ago I made the mistake of checking a rack that was not shock mounted. Its amazing how bad they treat gear. I actually once looked out a window watching the guys load the luggage on the plane, they gently placed all the reguar bags on the convayer belt and then when they got to my rack (covered in fragile stickers) they threw it 2 feet in the air. I was stunned.

Holy crap.

So do those padded shock mount racks make a difference? I'll be flying with some gear in December, and we're looking into a 18 or so space shock mount Anvil or something like that. Any recommendations?

[fifthcircle]

Don't go large with the racks- the heavier it is, the more likely the airline will abuse it. Go with more bags that are lighter. As I said in my first post, I use Pellican cases almost exclusively (as do most of my colleagues in the film world here in LA). I make sure I have about an inch of foam on all sides of the delicate gear and the case can be abused beyond belief with the contents still remaining intact. The cases also have a lifetime guarantee on them so when the airline eventually mangles it, you can get a replacement.

--Ben

[parasitk]

Thanks. Unfortunately we carry a bit of prewired rack gear when we tour, so it makes sense to have it all in one lager rack (definitely helpful when we pile it in the van, and later only have 30 minutes to set up and sound check!). I'd just like to know if the 1" foam around the shock mount racks (like anvil) really helps to protect the gear from these crazy people at the airports!

[rcm]

Originally Posted by parasitk

So do those padded shock mount racks make a difference? I'll be flying with some gear in December, and we're looking into a 18 or so space shock mount Anvil or something like that. Any recommendations?

With a rack that big you might want to look at a cartage comapny like rock it cargo

[gainreduction]

I've had the front panel of a Kurzweil K2500R bent to the shape of a banana after a flight... It's allright to fly with gear but GET SHOCK PROOF FLIGHT CASES FOR EVERYTHING you can't carry onboard. They throw the luggage down from the planes... the bigger the plane is the the harder your gear crashes...

[toolskid]

I'll never forget a tour I went on a good few years ago, the bassplayer had his sampler rack in an SKB case.... every time in baggage claim we'd watch each component piece come through the plastic curtains......

amazingly the S3000xl survived.....

[T_R_S]

I had a nightmare in Toronto a couple of years back I had my powerbook exp chassis and acouple of drives. The Expansion Chassis failed the bomb detector test. The Toronto police took me into the back room they were looking at my ticket to Switzerland. they searched my bags and found my airline ticket from Amsterdam to Sydney AU. They they really started to look at me they opened up my Magma chassis took out the HD cards and opened the hard drives and realized it did not look like a bomb. I was not annoyed at first but after an hour I started to get They let me got after about an hour and half or so. After that I packed my expansion chassis in my checked luggage.

[cdog]

Airlines + gear = nightmare? YES!

Basically, I refuse to check anything of value with any airline ever.

The people who work in the baggage handling for airlines are pathologically criminal. In NY state I believe they are released directly from state prisons and directed towards NYC's JFK airport.

I have a 24 space shock rack with all my mic pres, AD16X, 2408mk3, headphone amp, PC, cabling for 24 mic lines, etc. Basically a huge, heavy magnet for kleptomaniacs and the terminally incompetent baggage handlers.

The bigger and heavier it is, the more likely it is they abuse it.

I usually ship it FedEx Freight. It costs a lot, but I include it as a travel expense, and I know my shit will not be tampered with, stolen or damaged, and if it is damaged, its insured.

Mics and HDDs I carry on the plane.

The is no price to high for peace of mind.

[Zeppelin4Life]

at a huge busy hub airports a single plane loader might touch 10,000 peices of luggage in one day. just because it says fragile doesnt mean they he treat it with any more respect than a flimpsy bag usually. I suggest flight cases, as stated! Good luck! im convinced freight is the only true safe way. but not everyone has hundreds of dollars to blow off.