Flying with guitars

MikeM

Hey guys

Anyone have experience with flying with guitars wrt insurance, customs etc? Thinking of getting a friend to bring over a guitar for my 21st next year...

Thanks
Mike

Rudolf

Well. It is "illegal" to import something like that without declaring it and paying the import duties and such I suppose, so keep that in mind. My best advise always is to just keep the amount stashed away untill all is said and done, especially now with SARS really out to get folks evading these things. I'm not sure what the actual deal is on guitars but I suspect there would be a sum payable. Probably a 14% thing as always. They are nailing guys with my other hobby stuff lately, ridiculous fines if they catch you.

Your friend will more than probably not be able to bring it back hand luggage, it'll come cargo along with his other luggage. So yes, it needs to come back in a vault..err..I mean...proper case. And your odds of it getting lost is pretty darn good also, but damage probably more probable. Get a case that can be locked up proper and wrapped up decent, consider the case written off once he boards. Best way probably to sneak something in? Get him to take a cheap guitar, throw it away that side or pawn it for beer money and bring your new toy back in the same case. Remember to take off all the tags and things that side and it would do well to dirty it some, make it look used if you wanna try and dodge the above.

With my trip I specifically chose a guitar that side that wasn't too expensive (Cost me R2000 all in all case included, guitar alone would have been R6500 here). And yeah, wrote it off boarding when we checked it in. When it got here all good celebrated again. My luggage along with my guitar got lost on the way here, only arrived a day later. When we picked it up at lost baggage they didn't ask any questions about importing blah blah and of course I shut up and ran. Hahaha

Edit: Wrong word. Hand luggage/checked.

MikeM

Great thanks for the info man ? Was gonna get a nice SKB case for it but there're loads of issues with paypal fees etc. So prob gonna try stay local ? But still very interesting

Rudolf

MikeM wrote: Great thanks for the info man ? Was gonna get a nice SKB case for it but there're loads of issues with paypal fees etc. So prob gonna try stay local ? But still very interesting

There is savings to be had, in some cases alot, in others really not so much? If you were grabbing a real vintage strat in new york off someone nearly giving it away I would say the risks and things are worth it. If you do it all legal and what not, on a not so pricey guitar buying it local is definitely what I would recommend, you get backup and you save yourself ALOT of hassle. ? If it comes through customs through the right channels etc you won't save all that much anyways, not always worth it. It is alot of hassle getting things arranged the way you want to do it...

guitarboy2828

I just got back from the USA. I brought a breedlove over there. So, it's an acoustic, concert shape (small body). I got a very well padded soft case and took it on as hand luggage. No airline gave me any problems. I had a backpack (with my laptop in it) and my guitar. Seriously no issues.

I didn't declare it. Which I was told I didn't need to, so I didn't. Hoping I didn't break the law on that one :/

But if you're getting an electric, GOOD soft case and your friend will have no problem taking it on the plane, they really aren't strict and there is plenty of space in the overhead compartments. Sending it in a hardcase would scare me more to be honest!

singemonkey

Check with the airline ahead of time. Take a snug, heavily padded case and just take it to the departure gate. They can still change their mind on the day. But I've managed to take my nylon string hand-luggage most of the time back when. Only SAA gave me an issue. And it may just have been the particular day.

Rudolf

Yeap I phoned and emailed ahead to Delta on the USA trip to make sure they would let me carry my electric as hand luggage and everyone said no problem. First check in we get to with the guitar in hand the big manager lady behind the check in just shrugged and said it's cargo or dustbin. It's up to the person in charge there at the check in on the day, not the person at customer service centre. Man I'd hate to think you rock up at check in with a rock bag housing a pricey treasure, you're going to give that to someone's relative or loved one seeing them off, a stranger right there on the airport. Just no way it's getting through that trip not completely trashed. That is the biggest problem.

I distinctly remember going there there was a group of youngsters on the plane with us, one kid had a Takamine in a hard case while climbing in, it wouldn't fit in the overhead and it was a hugging case (Following the shape of the guitar quite nicely so not too big). He had to give it up and they checked it into cargo very quickly for him, I'm sure he had a painfull 17hour flight wondering if he will have anything left on the other side because he had no time to lock up properly and get it wrapped in case.

guidothepimmp

guitars in transit is much of a muchness..

because it isnt necessary to declare a guitar on leaving sa.. there is no way of proving a guitar was bought abroad. even with your mate coming in.. no one can prove it is on behalf of someone else.

ive had mates travel between uk and sa with guitars as handluggage no problem provided its in a soft padded bag. hardcases go in the hold.

declaring it is up to you but general rule is... if it isnt necessary to declare it on the way out. it isnt necessary to declare it coming in...

airlines dont have an issue with the handluggage thing provided you let them know. my mates have never had issues with this. ive travelled with a guit before and also never had a problem.

my mate even had his baggage checked by customs in a random stop and they didnt question his fiddle

singemonkey

Also, always remember that a bolt-on's neck can be removed - making it a really compact package.