Bringing Pedal Board/Effect on Airplane

[thudle]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if any of you had any experience with bringing your pedal board/case on the airplane? My case isn't made strong enough for checking into the airplane, and I'm not sure if they'll let me bring it on the airplane (I have a warwick rockcase LG 24x16x4). Any experience bringing your rig on board? Will security let me even bring that on the plane?

Thanks for you help!

Ben

[bchamorro]

Very good question! I plan on doing the same very soon.

Let me tell you a story: I was at Managua's international aiport in Nicaragua and I got called by the airline (American Airlines) through the PA system because there were suspicious items in my checked in baggage. Guess what the items were? BOSS TU-2 tuner, BOSS DS-1, and MXR 10 band eq. They made me go all the way down to the place before they load the baggage into the plane and ask me what they were. The guy who asked me what the "things" were said: "If I press this will it detonate a something?".

idiots.

...but thats Nicaragua. Very primitive country.

[dspblues]

I'd think you have to check it at the gate or at the check-in. Getting a flight case might be an idea.

Have you considered just shipping it to where you're going to be?

[bchamorro]

Im taking a Pete Cornish pedal with me but im afraid to put it in my baggage. What if it gets lost? I rather take it with me, but I don't know if they will let me.

[jb70]

i'm actually going to be flying to denver with my axe and pedals later this week. i usually only bring a couple of pedals with me (od, delay, tuner) and i don't bring a board. i usually just put them in my suitcase where they will be well padded by my clothes. i've never had a problem doing it this way.

[markom89]

If you're only taking one Cornish pedal just take it on board... no big deal. Thats what I did with my AM chorus when I was bringing it back from Vegas last week... or just wrap it up in clothing. nothing will happen either way.

[bchamorro]

Thanks. I will take it on board with me.

Are you sure they won't find a hand size grey metal box with knobs, switch, and lots of wires inside suspicious?

[Tripower455]

Originally Posted by bchamorro

Very good question! I plan on doing the same very soon.

Let me tell you a story: I was at Managua's international aiport in Nicaragua and I got called by the airline (American Airlines) through the PA system because there were suspicious items in my checked in baggage. Guess what the items were? BOSS TU-2 tuner, BOSS DS-1, and MXR 10 band eq. They made me go all the way down to the place before they load the baggage into the plane and ask me what they were. The guy who asked me what the "things" were said: "If I press this will it detonate a something?".

idiots.

...but thats Nicaragua. Very primitive country.

LOL.... At5 least they asked you... here, in this not so primitive country, they would have confiscated them and left you a little love note if they couldn't tell what it was.

That said, you shouldn't have any problems bringing them through security screening in the US.....

[bchamorro]

Lol so the best thing to do is to take them onboard the plane with me?

[jzguitar]

I've checked pedalboards many times with no problems (other than pedals shifting around a bit when they throw it). Just make sure it's not overweight or they will charge you extra. For carrying on, I cut a piece of plywood to fit in a computer bag, painted it black and velcro'd some pedals to it for some fly gigs. I've never had a problem bringing pedals on board - depending on the airport they may look at them and ask what they are, but that's about it. Here in Nashville they see that stuff every day, so they don't even give it a second look.

[Medication]

I've brought a board on a plane. It was the smallest Rondo Music board (which passes as a carry-on).
They did make me dissassemble it as I didn't feel safe about it going through the x-ray (which they x-ray'd irregardless...I don't actually know if it's harmful, but I wanted to be safe). Anywhoo, took about 15 minutes to explain to them that these were guitar electronics and couldn't be ignited or exploded in any practical way.
7 hours later, I walked off the plane with my board safe and sound.

I had a pod broken while packed in my suitcase. The airport guys had obviously gone thru it. I never recieved any compensation. Luckily it was on the flight home after the gig. Had they broken it on the way there I would have been screwed. I vote for the full ATA flight case.

Bob

[yeahyeahyeah]

Originally Posted by bchamorro

Very good question! I plan on doing the same very soon.

Let me tell you a story: I was at Managua's international aiport in Nicaragua and I got called by the airline (American Airlines) through the PA system because there were suspicious items in my checked in baggage. Guess what the items were? BOSS TU-2 tuner, BOSS DS-1, and MXR 10 band eq. They made me go all the way down to the place before they load the baggage into the plane and ask me what they were. The guy who asked me what the "things" were said: "If I press this will it detonate a something?".

idiots.

...but thats Nicaragua. Very primitive country.

Nicaragua is the second poorest nation in the western hemisphere.

I'm actualy doing a non-profit auction soon (donner-boxed Pure Drive) with all the proceeds going to help build a comunity center in Managua!!! The organization is manna project international, "MPI seeks college students and recent college graduates to execute community development programs abroad."

check it out at www.mannaproject.org

[usc96]

Originally Posted by bchamorro

Very good question! I plan on doing the same very soon.

Let me tell you a story: I was at Managua's international aiport in Nicaragua and I got called by the airline (American Airlines) through the PA system because there were suspicious items in my checked in baggage. Guess what the items were? BOSS TU-2 tuner, BOSS DS-1, and MXR 10 band eq. They made me go all the way down to the place before they load the baggage into the plane and ask me what they were. The guy who asked me what the "things" were said: "If I press this will it detonate a something?".

idiots.

...but thats Nicaragua. Very primitive country.

I remember flying from one airport to another in Belize, CA when the airport screener found a pocket knife in my buddy's pack. They didn't confiscate it or detain him. They just said have a nice flight, and suggested he might want to pack the knife in his suitcase before he headed back to the States. After traveling the area it's clear to see that there are no big buildings and the chance that some idiot is going to kill the pilot and go down with the plane is around nil.

[thudle]

hey guys,

thanks for your input! i think i'm going to slim down and put some pedals in my suitcase or i'm either going to just have a friend drive it up for me. =). Seems like bringing a whole rig on an airplane would require an ATA case and a check-in at the counter. thanks for the responses!