Techie Advice;

ICBM

Personally I wouldn't take any kind of even slightly valuable guitar just to noodle a bit on holiday. The chances of loss, theft, damage, confiscation, trouble if they perceive any part of it or the tools you need to be a potential weapon etc are not zero.

I'd probably pick up something cheap when I was there if it matters that much. If that isn't likely to be possible, just get a cheap Squier or similar. With a maple fingerboard these days...

guitars4you

Three-ColourSunburst said:

guitars4you said:

make sure you put any screw driver etc in the case as well as they can't go on as hand luggage - I accidentally left my Leatherman in a rucksack this year after a walk a few days earlier - the second it was flagged under x-ray I knew what it was - by by Leatherman and I bet they don't bin it either

And yet they let people take duty free on board, despite the fact that a bottle of spirits could start a nice fire and the broken bottle would make a nasty weapon. Just goes to show what BS most of this airport security thing really is, and how profit always comes first.

never thought of that

I recall when my daughter was about 3 or 4 and packed a small bag of goodies for the hols - Got to the security check in and she had a skipping rope in her bag - we got told of about that but they did allow her to keep it

stickyfiddle

guitars4you said:

Three-ColourSunburst said:

guitars4you said:

make sure you put any screw driver etc in the case as well as they can't go on as hand luggage - I accidentally left my Leatherman in a rucksack this year after a walk a few days earlier - the second it was flagged under x-ray I knew what it was - by by Leatherman and I bet they don't bin it either

And yet they let people take duty free on board, despite the fact that a bottle of spirits could start a nice fire and the broken bottle would make a nasty weapon. Just goes to show what BS most of this airport security thing really is, and how profit always comes first.

never thought of that

I recall when my daughter was about 3 or 4 and packed a small bag of goodies for the hols - Got to the security check in and she had a skipping rope in her bag - we got told of about that but they did allow her to keep it

I've often heard it referred to as the "Theatre of Security". Some airports even have multiple security points, which is delightful. Presumably they think that either 1) the first set isn't thorough enough, in which case I wonder why they bother, or 2) they're concerned the staff might do something between security #1 and the gates, which is terrifying...

ICBM

It's worth remembering that you have effectively no property rights - and very few personal ones either - when you travel by air. Customs and security have more or less unlimited powers to search, destroy or confiscate your belongings and you have no recourse. Theft by airport employees is also well-known and the authorities will do nothing. Don't travel with anything you can't afford to lose, basically.

mburekenge

I just had my oldest strat set up in the uk. It travelled in two pieces in my suitcase! Had to as i was taking my les paul on-board. Once it was set uo had it couriered home. No issues.

mburekenge

As an aside, previous comments about thep lack of rights when travelling are spot on.

i had a friend who was ex DEA, homeland security etc. He used to shudder and say 'the rules are different up there'. Hated flying because of it.

SNAKEBITE

ICBM said:

It's worth remembering that you have effectively no property rights - and very few personal ones either - when you travel by air. Customs and security have more or less unlimited powers to search, destroy or confiscate your belongings and you have no recourse. Theft by airport employees is also well-known and the authorities will do nothing. Don't travel with anything you can't afford to lose, basically.

Slightly off topic but I've had issues with belt buckles and a luminous tag on my keyring (lets you find your keys in the dark).

Frustrating thing is that there is zero consistency, what is ok with one airport is a no no with another.

bbill335

Three-ColourSunburst said:

guitars4you said:

make sure you put any screw driver etc in the case as well as they can't go on as hand luggage - I accidentally left my Leatherman in a rucksack this year after a walk a few days earlier - the second it was flagged under x-ray I knew what it was - by by Leatherman and I bet they don't bin it either

And yet they let people take duty free on board, despite the fact that a bottle of spirits could start a nice fire and the broken bottle would make a nasty weapon. Just goes to show what BS most of this airport security thing really is, and how profit always comes first.

My dad (travels a lot with work) often buys my mom some potion or smelly thing from DF (ie, the whole point is that you're about to take it on a plane) and, last spring, some jobsworth in either Brussels or Vienna airport told him that he had to bin ~£100 of unopened duty free goods coz they couldn't go on the plane.  After my dad argued that it was inconsistent, the guard backed down for some reason. Which begs the question, why say anything in the first place? Just flexing his authority?