Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tideout]

I can hear it now - put it between your legs, run really, really fast and I'll have no problems.

But seriously, I'm flying out in the not too distant future, with some connecting flights and want to know how people have checked a guitar in or if they just try to wedge it in somewhere near where they are sitting?

Any ideas on an additional charge to bring it on board? Does it need pre-approval by the airline?

Thanks.

[Redcap]

Unfortunately, the days of being able to bring a guitar onto a passenger jet and stowing it in the overhead bulk are a thing of the past.

The majority of airlines are in fiscal belt-tightening mode. They will undoubtedly hit you up for either excess or over-size baggage fees. Each airline has its own policy, so it's best to obtain this info as early as possible, rather than be in for a costly surprise at check-in. Airlines prefer to have advance notice of over-sized luggage. Some will even give you a discount for early notification.

Make sure the guitar is placed in a hard-shell case. This may seem rather obvious, but there's always someone who's willing to play "airline cargo roulette", only to have their guitar crushed in a soft-shell case.

For added protection, I would highly recommend that you go to a stationary supplies shop and buy some bubble wrap. Wrap a few layers of the stuff around your hard-shell case, and the guitar will challenge even the most abusive baggage handlers.

It's also a good idea to loosen your guitar strings, so as to avoid them snapping off and slicing up your guitar during pressurization changes in the cargo hold.

Alternatively, you can send the guitar via Korea Post. Depending on your airline, Korea Post may be much cheaper.

Good luck

[tideout]

[Stalin84]

Just don't put a guitar on United Airlines:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo



In all seriousness, though, I've put my desktop computer in my luggage several times for international flights and it never sustained any real damage. If you're going to take a guitar, make sure you wrap it in bubble wrap before putting it in the case and make sure they put a fragile sticker on it. You can ask for one at the counter. Air Canada and other airlines have a separate loading section for fragile goods.

[tideout]

[Stalin84]

[tideout]

[Stalin84]

[Justin Trullinger]

If you have a high dollar guitar, you can always buy it a seat. Not kidding- some airlines recommend that, and I would, if I had something old, valuable, vintage, and collectable.

For a regular working instrument- get an ATA approved fllight case. Then it goes, relatively safely, as regular checked luggage.

Best,
Justin

[tideout]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Yeah, the guitar is definately now worth the cost of a seat....a couple hundred dollar classical guitar is all. I'll probably just try to sell it in the last couple of weeks and email the airline in the meantime to see what the costs are to check it in.

[hossenfeffer]

I've travelled back and forth to Korea several times with a guitar and I'm finally convinced it isn't worth the hassle. I have a Martin HD28 and really wanted to have it with me in Korea. The airlines refused to let me board the plane with it. I explained that it was a valuable instrument and they basically could have cared less. I was forced to pay over $200 to have it stored underneath the plane and somehow the guitar got lost in transit (for three days). Thankfully I had the guitar in a Calton case because it looked like it was roughly handled.

I would STRONGLY recommend that you leave the guitar at home and when you get to Seoul, go to Nagkwon Market (I think that's the name of it) or contact Harpeau and purchase something you like. This will make your life A LOT easier.

Hoss.

[tideout]

[mr.sparkle]

Interestingly enough, I flew to Seoul on Delta and they accommodated my acoustic in one of the first class storage closets free of charge.

[tideout]

[pyeongtaekcody2]