Overhead luggage question.

[Mr. Ratt]

Yes, that was a nun, and no, I don't have a nun habit.
Used to have a Coca Cola habit once upon a time...
Actually, I don't have any habits.... bad ones anyway... anymore.

Ahem.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

I do in fact own a monk's robe and a complete priest's robe and accoutrements.
Do they count? And could you imagine seeing someone like me boarding the plane to paradise in a monk's robe? With a guitar case at that.
That would certainly cause some discussion/questions at customs.
I get enough of that as it is, I don't need to add to the attraction.
Best play it straight.

[Andrea J.]

i know i am off topic, but i really do believe going to the max o get your guitar onboard dressed as a nun or monk would be perfect!!!

Originally Posted by Mr. Ratt

Yes, that was a nun, and no, I don't have a nun habit.
Used to have a Coca Cola habit once upon a time...
Actually, I don't have any habits.... bad ones anyway... anymore.

Ahem.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

I do in fact own a monk's robe and a complete priest's robe and accoutrements.
Do they count? And could you imagine seeing someone like me boarding the plane to paradise in a monk's robe? With a guitar case at that.
That would certainly cause some discussion/questions at customs.
I get enough of that as it is, I don't need to add to the attraction.
Best play it straight.

[Mr. Ratt]

Any method to get her (the guitar that is) on board without having to deal with the luggage monkeys is worth a try to me. I'm even thinking of going to the airline's head office (not far from home actually) to talk to someone and see about getting some manner of letter as suggested above. Hey, it's worth a try, and if it settles the nerves (mine and the Lady's), all the better. I think were I told at the last minute that the guitar had to go below, I'd be, well, less than happy at the prospect. And no, it's not the luggage hold, it's the luggage handlers. On BOTH ends. I've watched through the window while awaiting take-off, and frankly, they scare the hell out of me the way they handle peoples' luggage.
But I guess I might be the same way for the same crappy pay they get.
Oh, wait, I'm talking about Canadian airlines with ridiculously high fares.
Shouldn't we be getting a little better service?
(just kidding)
We should feel fortunate at the fact that they don't destroy everything they touch.
Sorry, major digression.
Maybe a nun's habit isn't such a bad idea after all... it'd make the news, I'll betcha.

[Andrea J.]

if it means anything Michael, when we flew AA in august to AUA, some of the "Osmonds"
were on our flight. 2 of them had guitar cases. 1 of them (jimmy) took his and sat in 1st class. the others sat in coach and one of them put the guitar case in the overhead.

but it was AA.

[mmattalo]

Mr. Ratt . . . two links for you.

1. check out this site - they do not list Sunwing, but you can browse aircraft configurations and get all kinds of info including overhead dimensions for the aircraft. www.seatguru.com

2. There is a guy with over 11 million YouTube hits when United Airlines broke his guitar - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo . . . not a laughing matter, but reinforcement why you want to carry your guitar in the cabin. Get on a WestJet flight (they service charter from Toronto at the moment) - they are fun enough to have you play a tune mid-flight.

If it helps, I brought wood framing I dis-assembled from one of my paintings mounts on a flight and it was 48" long and fit in an overhead with room to spare.

PM me if you want more info. Michael

[Mr. Ratt]

The flight won't be until April, April 1st to be exact, so we'll be watching to see what happens with Westjet. With any luck, they'll still be in action at that time.
Ah yes, the "United Broke My Guitar" song. As humorous as it is, it truly isn't. I won't get all melodramatic about how we musicians are about our instruments (no innuendo intended) and the truth is, guitarists are the most rabid of the bunch.

And thanks for the note on the length of the overhead. The guitar, as I may have mentioned, is only 35" long. Consider that (if it makes a difference to you), a bass guitar only 35" long. What WILL they think of next?

thanks again for all the feedback, and many blessings

[Mr. Ratt]

Thanks again for all the feedback on the guitar.
It arrived the other day and it will indeed fit in the overhead cabin.
Oh joy oh bliss.

I keep hearing people talk about Westjet flights out of Toronto.
I've been to the website, no mention. I've been to travel agents, they don't know.
I've gone to the airport to ask there, and they look at me like they don't know what I'm talking about.

If anyone has a link or some other manner of direction to info on these
flights, I'd really appreciate it. All the searching for something that
doesn't seem to be there is making me feel like Alice searching
for the Lorax...

[aquaman]

Mr R


For the dates you are travelling, WestJet is flying (Flight 5110) out of Toronto BUT!!! they are not going direct. They are going via Miami and connecting with American Airlines.

I believe they will stop the direct service at the end of the off season from what I have read.

[Mr. Ratt]

Ooooh, a connection. Well, on discussion with the Lady, that's not going to happen.
We'll deal with the gouging a little longer (how, I'm not sure, but we always do.... it's Aruba)
and continue to look into all and any other options.