Air travel experiences w/ Analog Keys?

AdamJay · 2015-04-02T17:12:22.000Z

I can hear an additional 4 more A4 voices calling to my setup of AR/A4/MnM for later this year. Would really love to add the AK for composition at home, but also need to feel safe traveling with it to gigs. So, I have a few questions for current AK-37 owners…

[ul]
[li]When flying with Analog Keys, which case are you using for it?[/li]
[li]Trying to carry it on the plane? Checking it underneath?[/li]
[li]What has been your experience with airline travel and Analog Keys?[/li]
[/ul]

I’ve come across a few bits about a new airline travel rule in the USA that will allow a musical instrument that exceeds standard carry-on size (like the AK) to be carried on under certain circumstances:

Basically, board the plane early, and stow it early. The rule states that the crew can’t make you stow it underneath if it has already been stowed in the cabin, and if it is a musical instrument. Also, have a printed copy of the rule and be prepared to plead your case to any airline or security official that will ask you to check it in for under carriage stowing prior to boarding.
This all seems rather convoluted, and it is unclear if this then counts as your only carry-on bag. Also, this only applies to the United States. I am curious about rules and allowances for Europe as well.

I’m leaning toward a compact hard case in the event that I have no choice but to check it in for under carriage stowing.

I posted the information about the air travel rule in the Official Analog Keys Gig Bag thread, but here it is again:

"The final rule does not change the earlier provisions of the Act, but mercifully puts a period at the end of the sentence: "Section 403 of the Act and this final rule provide that carriers are required to allow passengers to stow their musical instruments in an approved stowage area in the cabin only if at the time the passenger boards the aircraft such stowage space is available.

"With the exception of certain disability assistance devices, overhead bins or under seat stowage space is available to all passengers and crew members for their carry-on baggage on a “first come, first served” basis. Accordingly, carriers are not required to remove other passengers’ or crew members’ carry-on baggage that is already stowed in order to make space for a musical instrument. However, this also means that carriers are not allowed to require a passenger to remove his or her musical instrument that is already safely stowed (e.g., in the overhead bin) to make room for carry-on baggage of other passengers who board the aircraft later than the passenger with the musical instrumenT." Most importantly, “This is true even if the space taken by the musical instrument could accommodate one or more other carry-on items.”

So in other words, if you want to travel with Analog Keys. Board early and stow early, and bring a copy of this with you:
[http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/Final_%20Rule_%20Musical_Instruments.pdf](http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/Final_ Rule_ Musical_Instruments.pdf)

Of course this only applies to the USA.

Also helpful:
http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/air-travel-musical-instruments

Found via this entertainment lawyer’s blog: http://wallacecollinsentertainmentlawblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-ruling-for-air-travel-now-you-can.html

le_tarsier · 2015-04-13T22:54:58.000Z

Thanks a lot for this information!

AdamJay · 2015-05-12T01:34:46.000Z

Would still love to hear from folks on their experiences traveling by air with AK-37.

Billy_Jeez · 2015-05-29T22:21:44.000Z

Hey there ! Flew last month from Paris to Casablanca with my AK in the new Elektron bag. It fitted perfectly in the lockers, and no one mentioned it at any moment. Same for the return flight…

AdamJay · 2015-05-29T23:19:14.000Z

[quote=““Billy Jeez””]
Hey there ! Flew last month from Paris to Casablanca with my AK in the new Elektron bag. It fitted perfectly in the lockers, and no one mentioned it at any moment. Same for the return flight…
[/quote]

Thanks Billy.
Did you carry anything else aboard?

bluewolfse7en · 2015-05-29T23:28:28.000Z

No experience with the AK but have traveled extensively with a Peli 1510 & a Les Paul in a soft case. Flown KLM, Etihad, Emeriates etc & rarely had an issue.
Sometimes on small aircraft I’ve had to check at the boarding gate but then it sits on top of regular luggage.
After a while you get to know the overhead bin sizes so quite often we’d just tear off the tags on the bus & take the cases on the aircraft anyway.

Cased weight might be your only problem. I’d aim for 10kg if possible, a bit of a push I know, certainly don’t exceed 15kg.

Getting your air miles up for Gold/Platinum status helps massively as you get priority boarding along with business class. Lounges are a blessing too on long connections!

Billy_Jeez · 2015-05-30T06:57:56.000Z

No, I took care to have only the AK with me, and checked the rest. But I guess I could have had another bag as well…

wym · 2015-09-17T09:45:47.000Z

any one has recent air travel experience with AK as carry on musical item?
I have to travel US with AK in few weeks.
those new rule on musical instrument as carry on item works great?
I have elektron AK gig bag
but I’m worried whether i should get Pelican 1700 case for AK as checked baggage… Pelican 1700 seem big enough (might be very tight) for AK on the dimension sheet.
anyone has experience with pelican 1700 with AK?
SKB 3614 case looks better and little bigger than pelican 1700 but SKB one is already oversize even as checked baggage and normally airlines charge about $200 more for oversize bag where they charge only about $35 for 2nd and 3rd baggage…

talktalk · 2015-11-12T22:56:55.000Z

Did anyone try carrying the AK on European flights, like Easyjet, Ryanair, etc?

I’m afraid given its size there’s no way it could be taken on board as hand luggage.