vaultnaemsae
Inspired
I have one not-very-pleasant story that involves Sydney International Airport and Korean Air. This was maybe 6 or 7 years ago. I was returning to Korea from Australia. Went to the airport check-in with a Steinberger GM4-T in a small gigbag - had a boss GT-8 in my check-in suitcase. I never had problems with the guitar before that because it was small and didn't ever draw attention but this time I got a, "What is that item on your shoulder?"..and so it began...
Australia had apparently introduced a regulation preventing passengers from carrying items that could be 'used as weapons' onboard international flights - including tennis rackets and small guitars. I heard the check-in woman and this other staff member she called over talking about the strings and how they could be used to hurt somebody. The silly twat at the counter was neither impressed by my sarcasm directed at her lack of intelligence nor the stated value of the guitar and insisted that if I wanted to escalate my irritation she would call security. Finally after much appealing and arguing, a flight crew member got involved who said they would personally carry the guitar on and off the flight for me to prevent it going in under the plane. I had to sign a waiver though saying KAL would not be responsible for any damage. "Don't worry...I will look after it for you" said the sweetly smiling cabin attendant. I felt secure, at that point.
Arrived in Incheon. Got through immi and I started to walk to the carousel as I wasn't sure where to collect the guitar but figured it would be near there somewhere. As I'm about 20m from the carousel I see my guitar, all alone in a bucket, running up towards the top of the bag drop off at speed and then...CLUNK. It slammed down onto the conveyor belt, into the steel rim and copped a fractured neck joint. Korean Air denied responsibility and refused compensation. I paid to get it fixed myself. I was very angry about it.
After this episode, I never ever assumed I'd be able to carry on a guitar. But I came and went from Korea many more times guitarless and a couple of times saw people of 'non-western appearance' carrying acoustic guitars at Incheon pre-immigration arrivals coming off the same flights as myself - always from Sydney. I have to wonder...
Since then I try to fly Asiana but it's hard to beat Korean Air for convenience.
On the positive side though, I flew Incheon to Sydney last year (Korean Air - again...mileage trip) with my Axe FX II in a 2-unit Gator backpack with a semi-hollow electric guitar in a hard case and they tagged my guitar with the condition that it 'maybe will get checked in at the gate' - no issue. No issues with the Axe-FX except at X-Ray time when the security lady asked me what it was and I simply told her, "it's like a computer for making music" - straight through. Didn't attempt to take any of my gear back to Korea though
Never had issues getting out of Korea with gear - just Australia can be difficult.
Domestically, there was the time in 2005 (Sydney to Melbourne) when I was sent back out from X-ray because I had a tremolo bar in my gig bag. Had to check in my tremolo bar! Fortunately, my luggage was still at the check-in area so I just added it to my suitcase. Weird world we live in.
Australia had apparently introduced a regulation preventing passengers from carrying items that could be 'used as weapons' onboard international flights - including tennis rackets and small guitars. I heard the check-in woman and this other staff member she called over talking about the strings and how they could be used to hurt somebody. The silly twat at the counter was neither impressed by my sarcasm directed at her lack of intelligence nor the stated value of the guitar and insisted that if I wanted to escalate my irritation she would call security. Finally after much appealing and arguing, a flight crew member got involved who said they would personally carry the guitar on and off the flight for me to prevent it going in under the plane. I had to sign a waiver though saying KAL would not be responsible for any damage. "Don't worry...I will look after it for you" said the sweetly smiling cabin attendant. I felt secure, at that point.
Arrived in Incheon. Got through immi and I started to walk to the carousel as I wasn't sure where to collect the guitar but figured it would be near there somewhere. As I'm about 20m from the carousel I see my guitar, all alone in a bucket, running up towards the top of the bag drop off at speed and then...CLUNK. It slammed down onto the conveyor belt, into the steel rim and copped a fractured neck joint. Korean Air denied responsibility and refused compensation. I paid to get it fixed myself. I was very angry about it.
After this episode, I never ever assumed I'd be able to carry on a guitar. But I came and went from Korea many more times guitarless and a couple of times saw people of 'non-western appearance' carrying acoustic guitars at Incheon pre-immigration arrivals coming off the same flights as myself - always from Sydney. I have to wonder...
Since then I try to fly Asiana but it's hard to beat Korean Air for convenience.
On the positive side though, I flew Incheon to Sydney last year (Korean Air - again...mileage trip) with my Axe FX II in a 2-unit Gator backpack with a semi-hollow electric guitar in a hard case and they tagged my guitar with the condition that it 'maybe will get checked in at the gate' - no issue. No issues with the Axe-FX except at X-Ray time when the security lady asked me what it was and I simply told her, "it's like a computer for making music" - straight through. Didn't attempt to take any of my gear back to Korea though
Never had issues getting out of Korea with gear - just Australia can be difficult.Domestically, there was the time in 2005 (Sydney to Melbourne) when I was sent back out from X-ray because I had a tremolo bar in my gig bag. Had to check in my tremolo bar! Fortunately, my luggage was still at the check-in area so I just added it to my suitcase. Weird world we live in.
