#35

Regarding carry-on bags, I always use a backpack.

Always.

For personal travel, I can pack a week worth of clothes, toiletries and a sleeping bag into a classic style Jansport.

These days I mostly travel with my 7 year old daughter who has special needs. I carry all of our stuff in my backpack. In the last couple of years I’ve become fond of the tactical style backpacks. They usually have tons of expanded room but can also compress down for light packing. You can also buy loads of auxiliary bags that can be attached to the webbing on the outside if you need them. A lot of the have the benefit of being able to carry them several ways. My current bag has backpack straps as well as a nice comfortable handle on both the top and side.

Backpacks also give you the added bonus of not looking like a tourist. That’s something to consider for all you guys carrying around $10k worth of gear in your bag.

#36

i have the previous model of this

and its taken a huge beating on the trail and traveling and gigs. fits under the seat in front of you. the pocket for hydration fits a 15” mac book pro perfectly.

#37

Fjällräven bags are a little pricey but I just discovered that their Mini bag is a perfect fit for various bits of small synth equipment. They also have larger models that are a better value.

#38

Recently flew from DC to LA for a show and traveled with a 12u elite modular case and a 3u make noise skiff in a moog therimini soft with no problems bringing them carry on. Elite 12u fits easily in the overhead compartment.

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#39

The Blipcase is on sale again, 40% off:

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#40

+1 for the Moog theremini case, they practically give these away and it’s perfect for the MN 104hp skiff, has an interior velcro pouch for cables, as well as an exterior zippered pouch that holds a 128 grid and power bricks. can’t believe they don’t market it as a skiff case.

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Eurorack cases/racks/stands. Ask questions, share experiences
#41

folding the thread back in on itself — @Rodrigo, how are you transporting your custom skiff?

#42

Just loose in a carry-on bag actually. I’ve only had to move it to one gig, and with some strategically placed clothes/stuff, it even travelled fine this way with the cables plugged in!

The skiff is modelled after @tremblap’s skiff, which he has recently made a similar corrugated plastic lid for his, so it can travel more safely.

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#43

I travelled with mine the other week between the UK and Finland. I opened the case before putting it through the scanner. At Gatwick one of the security staff said ‘whoa, look at that’, and it was swabbed as part of a random check, but there were no trouble or hassle. In Finland they didn’t even bat an eyelid.

I would say open the case and be upfront about it: ‘this is a synthesiser’, or whatever. You should be fine :slight_smile:

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#44

That’s been my experience of travelling with modular synths. It might raise an eyebrow and get swabbed, but other than that it’s fine. I would say, it’s worth double checking that it fits under size restrictions (weight might be another matter, but that seldom seems to be checked), probably worth paying for priority boarding, and definitely worth making sure you leave plenty of time.

#45

A quick question, I’m considering buying a new bag because I’m gonna have to take a lot more airplanes than I did before in the coming months. My MAIN problem is I have absolutely no idea what’s the best way to protect an Axiom pro 49 keyboard (as it obviously won’t come with me carry-on, ever.). Is the only solution really to buy a hard flightcase or is a mono vertigo 61 case like this one https://monocreators.com/products/mono-vertigo-keyboard-61-case-black possibly enough to protect it? It’s kinda scary for me as I know so many horror stories about instruments being destroyed that way… so if anyone here as a solution, it’d be really really welcome.

#46

I feel like if it’s going to get checked, it should be in a hard case. Nothing again Mono cases, but I barely trust the TSA and baggage handlers with Pelicans and ATA racks…

#47

I use a Tom Bihn Tristar which can become a backpack (albeit not a great one) and is a passable business bag as well. Also would survive nuclear blast.

The downside is that it really won’t support carrying anything thicker than, hmmm… two grids back to back. So a rack is not happening. But since i don’t travel with eurorack stuff…

One of the reasons I hope to jump on the Norns bandwagon is that I’ll be able to carry music stuff more… conveniently?

#48

Thanks a lot, I’ll go that way then…

NEXT QUESTION : What about Guitars then? I’m reading horrors stories about Guitars being refused as Carry on, stolen, broken, everything… What’s the best solutions everyone here came up with?

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#49

Just get something that you are confident can survive normal baggage handling. I’d say a Gator Case or SKS on the less expensive side. If you wanna drop the big bucks, companies like Calton Cases make carbon fiber/composite cases.

Most airlines will allow you to put your guitar in the “coat closet.” Always try to carry it on, but have confidence that if they make you gate check it, it will be safe. Bonus: If you gate check, then your guitar will be one of the last items into the cargo hold and one of the first items out.

Keep in mind that if it’s at all appropriate, travel with the smallest guitar possible. A Les Paul case has a much smaller footprint than a Jazzmaster case.

Size matters.

Also, make sure to have your guitar’s information recorded somewhere (make, model, serial number and original purchase receipt where appropriate) and snap a picture of it in the case just before you leave. If something happens to it, you want to be able to make an insurance claim as quickly as possible.

#50

as of a few years ago, US federal regulation requires that airlines allow instruments as carry-on luggage, provided there is space for them in the overhead bins at time when you board the plane.

basically, this means that they are legally obligated to let you bring your guitar into the cabin and try to find space for it, no matter how much that one obnoxious agent at the gate wants to insist it must be checked. back when i still regularly traveled with a bass, i’d use a nice padded gig bag and just make sure to check in early so i’d board during best overhead-availability. usually i’d at least find a spot atop other peoples bags where it wouldn’t bounce around much during the flight.

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#51

Thanks a lot for the detailed answer. Do you know how the US regulation translates outside the US?

Also, does it mean that your guitar / bass / instrument is then considered as your single carry-on luggage or can it be brought in addition to your carry-on luggage, I couldn’t find any information about that

#52

glad i could be of help!

i couldn’t tell you one way or another about international travel where instruments are concerned—my guess, however, would be that it varies by country. usually governments will have lots of guidelines available on the relevant sections of their websites—i use them often when figuring out exactly how much tea i’m allowed to carry into a given sovereign territory! :tea::leaves::fallen_leaf:

i believe it is considered your actual carry-on bag, yes—you won’t be allowed to stow anything else in the overhead, but personal items are still fair game.

#53

As far as I know, it doesn’t. There is no EU equivalent sadly, and so you’re entirely at the mercy of the check in and gate staff.

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#54

What a delightful thought… I’ll make sure to call the company beforehand to know of their policy then. Damn international air travel is quite the nightmare.