Re: flying within europe,gear on board etc.

[Sjaak Overgaauw <tcplugin@gmail.com>]

On Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 11:54 AM, L.Angulo <labaloops@yahoo.com> wrote:
> for all u europeans,
> im flying this time to the Antwerp fstival but im skeptical about 
>checking in my equipment,id be basically checking in my guitar and my 
>pedalboard any tips or experiences with this? are they as strict as 
>flying international by opening up luggage etc? is it neccesary to insure 
>anything?
> flying international has become very risky with gear,ive had things 
>opened and overal it seems they ve become really careless!

Hi Luis,
The best advice I can give you to be sure: call your flight operator
and check with them.

My personal experience from the Y2K festival flying with KLM: you can
take 1 instrument with you in the plane in stead of 1 piece of hand
luggage as long as it fits in the cutboard , so I took my Nord synth
with me. Ingrid had my laptop, the Motu and Novation controller as
hand luggage and the rest like my Gordius and cables were in my
suitcase. O yes, the keyboard stand have been handled as special
luggage (free), you need to check that in seperately, it was too big.

Here's the text from the KLM website


1 As hold baggage
Your musical instrument must be packed in a hard case. We are not
liable for damage if your instrument is not properly packed. The
standard excess baggage fees apply if your total baggage including
instrument and packaging exceed the maximum free allowance.

If your baggage comes under the piece concept, a musical instrument
with a length of up to 100 cm ( 39 inches) can be transported as a
single item of baggage. If your instrument with packaging is larger
than 203 cm (80 inches) (l + w + h), or is heavier than 32 kg (70
lbs), then you should request permission.

2 As hand baggage
You can carry a musical instrument instead of a piece of hand baggage
if it fits in the overhead baggage compartment or under your seat.

3 On an extra seat
Larger instruments which do not fit in the overhead baggage
compartment or under the seat can be taken into the cabin to be
transported on a seat booked in advance. This is only possible if your
instrument is not longer than 140 cm (55 inches) and does not weigh
more than 46 kg (100 lbs). You can only book an extra seat by
telephone or via your travel agent.

4 As freight
If your musical instrument weighs in excess of 46 kilograms (100 lbs)
or is larger than 406 cm (160 inches) (l + w + h) you may only
transport your instrument as freight using Air France-KLM Cargo.



Source: 
http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/prepare_for_travel/baggage/exceptional_baggage/index.htm

-- 
Sjaak Overgaauw
http://premonitionfactory.com/
http://livelooping.be/