Bringing my guitar on Aer Lingus to Germany

Thomas from Presence · 10-07-2008 1:09pm #1

I'm taking my guitar and my new line 6 mini spider over to Germany next week to kick out some jams. Has any one any experience bringing their guitar via Aer Lingus? It ain't going in the hold...

Vim Fuego · 10-07-2008 1:18pm

Shouldn't be a problem, especially if it's in a soft case. Just make sure you get on the plane early so you get an empty overhead compartment, then stuff your coat + bag in making the compartment look full, and close it so someone doesn't even try to stuff their crap in on top of the guitar. That's what I did recently enough on a transatlantic flight with Aer Lingus.

Thomas from Presence · 10-07-2008 1:28pm

So basically show up, check in the regular luggage and walk on the plane with it as hand luggage?

sei046 · 10-07-2008 1:53pm

Im playing munich next weekend and im just sticking it in the good old hardcase and putting it through. Never had a problem...touch wood

Dord · 10-07-2008 2:04pm

sei046 wrote: »

Im playing munich next weekend and im just sticking it in the good old hardcase and putting it through. Never had a problem...touch wood

Are you playing this coming weekend or the weekend after?
I'll be in Munich from the 18th.

the fnj · 10-07-2008 2:05pm

If you can afford it book an extra seat, when we went to Holland I was able to get my guitar and a bass on the plane, you can then leave them in the seat beside you.
If you don't they may tell you the guitar does not count as hand luggage and make you check it into the hold where it's at the mercy of the throwers.

I once risked a hard case with Ryanair, guitar made it ok but I've heard some horror stories.

sei046 · 10-07-2008 2:12pm

17 to the 21st man. The gigs are actually outside of munich though. Just staying in much

Dord · 10-07-2008 2:24pm

sei046 wrote: »

17 to the 21st man. The gigs are actually outside of munich though. Just staying in much

Ahh right.

Seziertisch · 10-07-2008 2:59pm

I think there might be a set extra charge for musical instruments in the hold (somewhere around the 30 Euro mark).

You can check it in anyway as part of your regular luggage allowance as outsized baggage. It will be handled differently (and with a bit more care, at least that's the plan).

You won't, in all likelihood, be allowed to bring it as hand luggage onto the plane unless you have a separate seat booked for it.

I have found it to be pretty pointless to ring Aer Lingus customer service in advance, they just state the official rules to you. There are exceptions made on the ground which don't always officially exist.

sei046 · 10-07-2008 3:09pm

I wouldnt risk bringing it in a soft case just in ....case....you have to put it through. Just make sure she is well padded!

Vim Fuego · 10-07-2008 5:30pm

Thomas from Presence wrote: »

So basically show up, check in the regular luggage and walk on the plane with it as hand luggage?

Yeah, as long as its in a soft case you should be ok. It would also be preferable to have one of those soft cases that's like a backpack (I just think they look more compact if it's on your back) and you can throw your usual hand luggage stuff in the extra pockets instead of having another bag.

I've seen people get on flights with acoustics in hard cases before. I've also checked numerous guitars in hard cases with the regular luggage and I've been ok apart from a few dings on the case. Though it's a long wait for them to come through on the other side.

I don't think things get handled with care even if they're classed as musical instruments or anything else fragile. I say this because my friend got her surfboard back once and the case was plastered with fragile stickers.......but there was a fecking footprint on it from where some muppet had been standing on it.

Eoin Madsen · 11-07-2008 9:12am

I'm kinda surprised that an airline would allow you to book a seat for a guitar for health and safety reasons.

les-paul · 11-07-2008 9:38am

Eoin Madsen wrote: »

I'm kinda surprised that an airline would allow you to book a seat for a guitar for health and safety reasons.

AFAIK it's quite common practice. Classic players do it as well for larger instruments which can easily be more expensive than any vintage holy grail you can think of. It's a similar story to overweighted people that don't fit in a single seat.

sei046 · 11-07-2008 2:07pm

That has to be a major sign of your weight. needing two seats. Then again i barely fit in a ryanair flight

highlydebased · 12-07-2008 11:03pm

sei046 wrote: »

. Then again i barely fit in a ryanair flight

Who does; in fairness!

leninbenjamin · 13-07-2008 5:41pm

i brought an acoustic on a flight home from Germany last year on Aer Lingus no problem, they didn't even bat an eyelid to me carrying it on, never even asked anyone about it. But i suspect it was only because the plane was less than 1/3 full.

Eoin Madsen · 14-07-2008 8:52am

les-paul wrote: »

AFAIK it's quite common practice. Classic players do it as well for larger instruments which can easily be more expensive than any vintage holy grail you can think of. It's a similar story to overweighted people that don't fit in a single seat.

Yeah. Doesn't make much sense though. A guitar won't be held in place particularly well by a seatbelt, so if there's heavy turbulence or some such the guitar could pretty much come free and move about the cabin at speed.

Seany · 14-07-2008 9:53pm

Have done it a few times with aer lingus (most recently about 5 weeks ago).

No problem whatsoever.

They wont let you bring on extra strings (if they are in your case) as they are seen as a health hazard. Both soft cases and hard cases i brought before fit in the overhead locker.

Good luck with the shows

Bringing my guitar on Aer Lingus to Germany

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