Keyboard cases on international flights!

The Beatsmith · 20th September 2006

Hi there

With the new laws in the UK there's no 'personal items' on planes anymore, and hand luggage is restricted to really small sizes.

I have a yamaha motif 6 keyboard that i need to transport to the USA with me. I do not have the original box... if i bought a SKB or gator case i'd need to just put it in the luggage hold of the aeroplane as 'fragile' luggage.

I don't trust this though. Even in one of those cases, surely if it's still being thrown about, it can't possibly come out unscathed? They have the hard foam that imho isn't very protective. It's ok if you have it with you and are gentle with it in the case - but if someone else is throwing it about - can it really be that safe?

Do i HAVE to sell my keyboard, as well as everything else? It's getting ridiculous that i can't just take a few items with me to the usa without paying hundreds and hundreds of pounts - or risk it being obliterated.

How do you keyboardists move from country to country with your gear?

Cheers guys

Eddie

**Remoteness** · 20th September 2006

Eddie,

I would not trust an SKB or gator case in an plane's luggage hold unless the case was in another (case within a case) case. I know that some folks have had good luck with that senario but...

That's me. What do others think about this situation. I believe there are other threads discussing instruments shipped as cargo in a plane.

Have you considered crating and shipping it to your destination? why not crate or double box (with foam) the SKB or Gator case?

The Beatsmith · 21st September 2006

That worries me :(

I really do not want to sell ALL my gear and rebuy it. But that's what it's looking like.

I love my motif 6 but i don't know what to do. Perhaps just leave it here for a year. I don't know.

Is there any cheap way to do this? Given that a case in itself costs £140 or so. It seems impossible.

I cannot believe it is so difficult to take 4-5 items to the USA, from the UK, without spending hundreds and hundres of pounds.

Thanks

Eddie

**Remoteness** · 21st September 2006

First of all you should insure your equipment making sure the policy covers international travel.

Secondly just pack it in a box within a box with plenty of foam and ship it via your most reliable shipping company.

There is a thread or two about this in this forum... Do a search -- it's out there.

I'm surprised that no one chimed in yet. That's a drag.

Larry Sheehan · 21st September 2006

I really doubt foam stiffness would be an issue. Think about factory packaging...it's usually styrofoam end caps in cardboard cartons. stuff packed like that survives UPS and FedEx handling all the time.

I'd try the SKB case if it were me.

pramrod · 30th September 2006

i've had great luck checking skb cases with synths in them- pack it well, get one that's a bit bigger than the keyboard, then tailor the foam just right inside the case. you may get charged overwheight though, that's the gamble, perhaps best just shipping things. but that is pricey too. i find the skb cases do fine for keyboards, but the briefcase ones for pedals ALWAYS get mangled (i use a pelican case now and it is the shizzle, very tough plastic, much better latches- they are plastic too and don't come open in transit- always have the latches breaking on my skb briefcases or bending inside as they are metal- you can hang the pelican case fully loaded from the latch and it won't come undone- i always watch the security guys mangle my friends skb cases and pedal boards when then stuff everything back in there after a security swipe- the pelicans don't bend or break). but i've taken a hammond xb-2 in an skb on MANY flights all around the world with no problems (my skb case and organ even spent a year lost in australia thanks to some airline and came back to me in ny a year later in a very bizzare fashion- in perfect shape- stickers from all over southeast asia and australia- still works perfectly- case is still going too). you could always try and borrow a case from a friend- they are like dead weight and i have piles in my shed- talk to a keyboardist who travels alot and you will find a loaner case... enjoy- pram and just get traveler's or gear insurance and insure the keyboard for more than it's worth- then if the airline mangles it you'll get a nice new synth!

20th September 2006	#1
The Beatsmith Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,514 Thread Starter	Keyboard cases on international flights! Hi there With the new laws in the UK there's no 'personal items' on planes anymore, and hand luggage is restricted to really small sizes. I have a yamaha motif 6 keyboard that i need to transport to the USA with me. I do not have the original box... if i bought a SKB or gator case i'd need to just put it in the luggage hold of the aeroplane as 'fragile' luggage. I don't trust this though. Even in one of those cases, surely if it's still being thrown about, it can't possibly come out unscathed? They have the hard foam that imho isn't very protective. It's ok if you have it with you and are gentle with it in the case - but if someone else is throwing it about - can it really be that safe? Do i HAVE to sell my keyboard, as well as everything else? It's getting ridiculous that i can't just take a few items with me to the usa without paying hundreds and hundreds of pounts - or risk it being obliterated. How do you keyboardists move from country to country with your gear? Cheers guys Eddie

20th September 2006	#2
Remoteness Super Moderator Joined: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 7,405	Eddie, I would not trust an SKB or gator case in an plane's luggage hold unless the case was in another (case within a case) case. I know that some folks have had good luck with that senario but... That's me. What do others think about this situation. I believe there are other threads discussing instruments shipped as cargo in a plane. Have you considered crating and shipping it to your destination? why not crate or double box (with foam) the SKB or Gator case? __________________ Steve Remote AuraSonicLtd.com the home of ASL Mobile & Location Production Remoteness on the Linkedin Network What about my Facebook Profile? Remoteness on Myspace

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21st September 2006	#3
The Beatsmith Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,514 Thread Starter	That worries me :( I really do not want to sell ALL my gear and rebuy it. But that's what it's looking like. I love my motif 6 but i don't know what to do. Perhaps just leave it here for a year. I don't know. Is there any cheap way to do this? Given that a case in itself costs £140 or so. It seems impossible. I cannot believe it is so difficult to take 4-5 items to the USA, from the UK, without spending hundreds and hundres of pounds. Thanks Eddie

21st September 2006	#5
Larry Sheehan Gear interested Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 4	I really doubt foam stiffness would be an issue. Think about factory packaging...it's usually styrofoam end caps in cardboard cartons. stuff packed like that survives UPS and FedEx handling all the time. I'd try the SKB case if it were me.

30th September 2006	#6
pramrod Gear addict Joined: Jul 2003 Location: CATSKILLS Posts: 303	i've had great luck checking skb cases with synths in them- pack it well, get one that's a bit bigger than the keyboard, then tailor the foam just right inside the case. you may get charged overwheight though, that's the gamble, perhaps best just shipping things. but that is pricey too. i find the skb cases do fine for keyboards, but the briefcase ones for pedals ALWAYS get mangled (i use a pelican case now and it is the shizzle, very tough plastic, much better latches- they are plastic too and don't come open in transit- always have the latches breaking on my skb briefcases or bending inside as they are metal- you can hang the pelican case fully loaded from the latch and it won't come undone- i always watch the security guys mangle my friends skb cases and pedal boards when then stuff everything back in there after a security swipe- the pelicans don't bend or break). but i've taken a hammond xb-2 in an skb on MANY flights all around the world with no problems (my skb case and organ even spent a year lost in australia thanks to some airline and came back to me in ny a year later in a very bizzare fashion- in perfect shape- stickers from all over southeast asia and australia- still works perfectly- case is still going too). you could always try and borrow a case from a friend- they are like dead weight and i have piles in my shed- talk to a keyboardist who travels alot and you will find a loaner case... enjoy- pram and just get traveler's or gear insurance and insure the keyboard for more than it's worth- then if the airline mangles it you'll get a nice new synth!