Flying Ryanair with a guitar

Jota

Seems like I'll have a few gigs over at France (I'm in Portugal) and I'll have to take my tele.

Guy who pays for the flight (artist I'm working for) wants to go Ryanair.

I'd love to take it in a gigbag with me but it seems like that will cost an extra seat and fee. The other option is a hard case and ship it as luggage. My only hard case is an old 80's Fender that is huge!

What would be the best choice?

Winny_Pooh

I've taken a bass on Ryanair twice a few years back. Unbolt the neck, add some padding around it in the gigback then place it on the body, fold over the long part of the gigback and you have a fairly small guitar backpack.
Put the screwdriver in your check in luggage. 

terada

Whatever you do don’t ship it as luggage. The last time a friend did that on Ryanair it came out the other end with a 2cm diameter hole the entire way through the case, and the guitar

it it was in a Taylor hardcase

Jota

terada said:

Whatever you do don’t ship it as luggage. The last time a friend did that on Ryanair it came out the other end with a 2cm diameter hole the entire way through the case, and the guitar

it it was in a Taylor hardcase

That's what I'm afraid of... but I don't really feel like taking it apart also...

guitarmangler

Is it a fender ? If so, neck off and stick it in a hard shell suitcase in the checked baggage .

stickyfiddle

guitarmangler said:

Is it a fender ? If so, neck off and stick it in a hard shell suitcase in the checked baggage .

This. 

More get your guy who wants to save money by using Ryanair to pay for an extra seat, or a proper flight case.

oktorockto

I have tour managed US jazz bands in Europe with a variety of instruments. Even with bigger airlines it is a lottery but with Ryanair it is just random, often it seems to inflict the biggest pain. You might have nor problem on the way out only to be told you cant take it as hand luggage in the way back and will need a hard case to put it in the hold. You may well be told something at check in and then something completely different at the actual gate or even the aircraft. Easy-jet can also be like this. Spare seat is always the best option and even then I have had problems. Make sure your spare seat is a window seat as for safety you can't have it obstructing somebody's escape route. Also make sure it is not in a row where there is an emergency exit. Otherwise, invest in the best road case for the hold you can find (and risk delayed luggage!) or buy a cheap travel guitar or source one at the destination.

GoldenEraGuitars

Jota said:

terada said:

Whatever you do don’t ship it as luggage. The last time a friend did that on Ryanair it came out the other end with a 2cm diameter hole the entire way through the case, and the guitar

it it was in a Taylor hardcase

That's what I'm afraid of... but I don't really feel like taking it apart also...

Better to pop the neck for the sake of 4 screws than come back here after the trip is over bemoaning Ryanair for damaging your tele. 

p90fool

Buy a Squier Affinity when you get there and throw it into the crowd at the end of the gig. 

timmysoft

I’ve had no problems with taking guitars on Ryanair. I used to use a hiscox standard which didn’t really fit my Ibanez SC but never had any damage 

bluechargeboy

If it's a tele you have to put it in a case to stop it damaging the other cargo.

skullfunkerry

If it's Ryanair, won't an extra seat only be like £8 or something?

Jota

It turns out I'm flying with Transavia.

On their website they say I can carry an instrument with me without extra fees up until 117cm.

Should I risk trying to board with my tele in a bag?