Fly dates...how to pack? What to carry on? Please Advise

[TrentBizzle]

Hey Guys....

I'm doing a slew of fly dates here in the next month. I would much appreciate any advice that you all may have from your experiences.
I plan to take the following gear:

1 guitar
AxeFx2
MFC-101
In Ear/Guitar Wireless units (already attached to a SHURE rack tray that I can take out of the rack.

I have a MONO dual guitar case that I usually Pack the guitar, MFC-101, and stage clothes in. I was looking at carrying the AxeFx2 on in a 2 space rack bag, but I'm wondering if there is a better way to do all of this. I would pack the wireless units in my checked bag...or I could get a 3 space rack bag and have them in with the axe.

Any recommendations? I will be flying American Airlines and Southwest on different legs.

Thanks! TB

 

[Gainfreak]

Hey Guys....

I'm doing a slew of fly dates here in the next month. I would much appreciate any advice that you all may have from your experiences.
I plan to take the following gear:

1 guitar
AxeFx2
MFC-101
In Ear/Guitar Wireless units (already attached to a SHURE rack tray that I can take out of the rack.

I have a MONO dual guitar case that I usually Pack the guitar, MFC-101, and stage clothes in. I was looking at carrying the AxeFx2 on in a 2 space rack bag, but I'm wondering if there is a better way to do all of this. I would pack the wireless units in my checked bag...or I could get a 3 space rack bag and have them in with the axe.

Any recommendations? I will be flying American Airlines and Southwest on different legs.

Thanks! TB

I just did a few fly out gigs and I think that you already have everything sorted out but I'll give you my 0.02

First off, I was able to get a DUAL mono case on my flights. The single is perfect, but just a FYI, you can fit a dual Mono case with 2 electric guitars in the overheads should you want to. My first time out I went with the single MONO case and had them backline a backup guitar but it has been my experiance that the guitars that they backline you with are a joke. I switched to the dual and never looked back. I was also able to fit the dual on very small planes as well provided that the case pouch is not loaded. If having a backup guitar is not an issue, Id continue to use your single case with the stage clothes stuffed in it.


My fly out rig is a Digitech RP1000, so I stuff that into a carry on case with my clothes and I have the venue backline my amps and I use the digitech through a loop.

Your axe-fx can be brought on a plane with the 2 space rack bag, no problem. You are allowed 2 carry on items and sometimes I had 3 but I just had my keyboard player carry one on since he only had his clothes with him

You pretty much have everything covered. You will be fine doing things just how you mentioned. My only tip or advice that I can give you is to stand firm when some asshat tells you that your mono case will not fit in the overhead. Stand firm and tell them that you have done this before and it will fit. I had 2 people at different airports try and make me check my case and I told them that it would fit and they let me go. We are also talking a double case here, so I know for a fact that your single will fit like a glove

Id also make sure that you book flights with airlines who cater to musicians. So far Jet blue and Delta have been KILLER to deal with when it comes to bringing gig bags on to a flight.

that's it in a nutshell!

Hope this helps


~R~

 

[Michi]

It's really great that the airlines over there allow a) two carry-on bags and b) guitars in the cabin to begin with. From a guitar player who works in the customer care department of a major European airline POV, I gotta say WOW! Here's why:

The policy with the airline my employer works for is that a) one carry-on bag with strict circumference and weight limits is allowed, no extra bags even with a fee (in business class with certain restrictions only) and b) "if there is availability on your chosen flight you MAY be able to get your guitar in the cabin, this is cleared at the check-in/at the gate, but your best option is to buy a ticket for your guitar or put it in the cargo hold as checked-in baggage". The checked-in baggage allowance is 1 piece up to 23kg which means that if you put the guitar in the cargo hold you will have to either get your pedals or multi fx (Axe-FX might just fit as well but how about the fb for it?!) and some clothes in our carry-on plus some in the guitar case.

This is the policy with most of the airlines we would be able to use if we had fly dates. Some of the airlines charge extra for even 1 bag going into the cargo hold too.

Last summer our band did one gig in Germany (meaning we flew there from Finland hehe) with one stopover in Riga and being on a budget and all we had to choose an airline that charged us for every bag going in the cargo hold. The venue supplied the backline, amps and drums. We're a five piece so we packed our guitars and some pedals in the guitar/bass cases and took two suitcases full of clothes, merch, drum stuff etc plus stuffed our carry-on bags with essentials (one gets a bit paranoid with lost baggage when working in a place like I do ) so we managed the trip with reasonable excess baggage charges.

If we get to the point which we're aiming for next summer, getting more gigs in Germany I'm getting a Kemper and a small midiboard that will fit in my carry-on so I can have "my sounds" with me in the cabin and buy a bomb proof flightcase for my guitar. Saves me a lot of worrying during the trip!