FEATURE: What You Have To Consider At Flight Shows.

At times you might have thought it was hardly possible anymore, but the live performance is back. After a mentally torturous 2 years, in which a large proportion of all professional musicians and the majority of all technical crews threw in the economic towel, the live activities are practically overflowing, which brings with it another problem, which is not the topic here . Anyone who plays festivals or tours abroad sometimes cannot avoid traveling by plane, which puts extreme physical and mental strain on musicians in particular. Why? Read for yourself.

The starting point

To put it bluntly, traveling by plane outside of first class has absolutely nothing to do with the glamor of earlier days. Unfortunately, the plane has degenerated into a means of mass transport and only has the value of a bus trip, unfortunately with an environmental impact that is a thousand times greater. For my part, I deeply hate having to fly abroad for tours or festivals, but unfortunately I can rarely avoid it. Unfortunately, the environmental footprint also comes with a lot of restrictions and pitfalls on the part of the airlines, which I would like to address in this feature so that as many readers as possible can be spared from them.

Pack your stuff!

Most readers will already know this, but just to be on the safe side, here's some clarification. It's nice to play in IRON MAIDEN and travel in your own plane, where your own singer is sometimes the pilot (which, by the way, Bruce Dickinson only does to prove he has enough flying hours, otherwise he'll lose his flying license), but this is the absolute exception. Bands of this size have no problems flying their familiar amps and cabinets around the world in addition to their personal instruments when necessary; this has not been the case for all other bands for a long time, which means that you have to work with equipment that is Location was rented from the local organizer.

The aim here is to keep the dependence on local equipment as low as possible. Anyone who has ever toured South America, or even Russia, can definitely tell great stories about tons of broken and exploding amps on stage, so try to take as much as you can with you. And here the odyssey of horror begins.

1.) Guitar / Bass: Your personal instrument cannot be replaced, so you have to take it with you. Until about 3 years ago, many airlines still had the option of taking a guitar in a soft case into the passenger compartment as hand luggage with a charming smile and a friendly demeanor at the gate and stowing it in the overhead compartment. But then many aircraft manufacturers reduced the sizes of the storage compartments, so that a guitar only very rarely fits into these compartments and a bass definitely no longer fits into these compartments.

Unfortunately, this brings with it the problem that the instrument has to be checked in as cargo and another piece of luggage usually has to be booked with it. However, since the airlines have massively increased their prices due to the current inflation and the Corona catch-up campaigns, it can happen that the additional piece of luggage accounts for an additional 50% of the flight cost. Here you should consider using a double case in which the bass can also be transported, which would halve the transport costs.

If you are considering this, you must definitely use a case that meets the current maximum dimensions and, most importantly, the maximum weight regulations, such as ENKI cases. The maximum payload in the wooden class is usually 23 kg, and for the cheap ones it can sometimes be 21 kg. It is important to be extremely careful here, as the airlines will take advantage of your emergency situation at the airport and will be happy to charge you extra costs for excess baggage! Therefore, be sure to weigh your case beforehand and allow for a kilogram of security, as the scales at the counter often carry out their own calibration and, in case of doubt, you will always lose.


2.) Amp: I can only strongly recommend that you take your own amp with you if possible. The amp should be stored in your personal suitcase and ideally have a multi-voltage power supply so that it can work worldwide. For example, I use the Hughes&Kettner BS200 Floor for my air shows, which includes all the important functions, is comparatively light/small and sounds very good. So you only have to use the cabinets on site and the risk of a completely defective cabinet is smaller than that of a defective amp.

There are now many small or micro-amps with which you can also play medium-sized halls with good monitoring, so this should be worth considering. Of course, you can also book an additional piece of luggage for your Kemper and play it directly into the PA on site, but this option didn't convince me in terms of sound or feel.

3.) Pedals: If you can't have your own amp for whatever reason, you should take a small bread-and-margarine setup of pedals with you, preferably placed on a small floorboard. If you can find a decent, clean sound on site, the classics overdrive, distortion and delay are basically enough to be able to play 90% of all rock shows. Maybe some chorus or reverb, depending on your taste. Of course, the whole thing can also be done with a small Multi-FX pedal, although I personally prefer individual pedals because of the better sound.


With electronics through the security check

Whenever you want to take your pedalboard, your transmitter or your in-ear system with you in your backpack as hand luggage, be prepared for a few extra rounds at the security check. The level ranges from about 10 minutes of explosives checks in Germany to shouting security officers in the USA who completely frisk you for 20 minutes to Russian soldiers with Kalashnikovs at the ready who are just waiting for you to make a hectic move.

Anyone who then tries to explain to a security officer what an overdrive pedal is and that the wires and batteries seen during the x-ray are not explosive paraphernalia can be prepared for a detailed discussion, depending on the employee's level of knowledge. Please take this into account in your check-in schedule.


“Disappeared in Nirvana” or “Where is my luggage”?

Nothing is worse than the desperate look at the conveyor belt at the arrival airport where no guitar wants to show itself. You can usually lower your blood pressure again by looking for the bulk luggage counter, where a mostly bad-tempered employee pushes the instrument through the opening up to 30 minutes later than the rest of the luggage, if possible in one piece.

After that, all you have to do is go to the “Lost Baggage” counter and hope that the instrument is actually somewhere. The list of colleagues whose instruments were simply stolen this way is extremely long. The Airtags, which can be placed comparatively discreetly anywhere, offer a little help for iPhone owners. Personally, I have not only equipped every piece of luggage with a tracker, but I have also prepared my instruments accordingly so that I can find them again anywhere in the world.

Depending on the number of other Apple products in the area, you can check whether your personal equipment has even left the local airport and whether it is at least at the arrival airport. However, it takes nerves of steel if the Airtag simply doesn't want to appear on the display, so keep calm and hope. However, anyone who hopes to have the airline replace the equivalent value if their equipment is stolen or destroyed will unfortunately be disappointed. A colleague of mine had a new USA Precision Bass (purchase price €2,500) stolen for which, after much negotiation, he received a flat rate of €500.

Softcase, hardshell or flightcase?

Finally, a truism that everyone knows, but that we are all too happy to push aside. When you heave thousands of suitcases onto conveyor belts, electric tractors and transport rollers all day long, at some point you no longer care about any suitcase. If you even hope that the airline baggage handlers will handle your instrument with the same caution as you do, you are doomed. I own several hardshell cases where fist-sized pieces were knocked out of the case and driven through the paint into the guitars. And who doesn't have at least one suitcase that hasn't had a wheel or handle broken off, unless it was a Peli case?

Therefore, even if heavy and unwieldy, always take flight cases or at least plastic cases that can survive a fall from a height of 2 meters. I saw a baggage manager use my guitar as a step to reach a higher item, so always assume the worst.

And of course good luck with your upcoming shows!


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Additional Informations:

Delta Air Lines:
Checked Baggage: Varies by route and fare class.
Weight Limit: 50 pounds (23 kg) for most destinations.
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 35 x 23 cm).

American Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Fees vary by route and fare class.
Weight Limit: 50 pounds (23 kg) for most destinations.
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 35 x 23 cm).

United Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Fees based on destination and fare class.
Weight Limit: 50 pounds (23 kg) for most destinations.
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 35 x 23 cm).

Lufthansa:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: 50 pounds (23 kg) for most destinations.
Cabin Baggage: 21.6 x 15.7 x 9 inches (55 x 40 x 23 cm).

Air France:
Checked Baggage: Depends on fare class and route.
Weight Limit: 50 pounds (23 kg) for most destinations.
Cabin Baggage: 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 inches (55 x 35 x 25 cm).

Emirates:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 66 pounds (30 kg), Business/First - 88 pounds (40 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 15 x 8 inches (55 x 38 x 20 cm).

China Southern Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Depends on class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 44 pounds (20 kg), Business/First - 66 pounds (30 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 inches (55 x 40 x 20 cm).

Turkish Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business - 66 pounds (30 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 21.6 x 15.7 x 9 inches (55 x 40 x 23 cm).

Qatar Airways:
Checked Baggage: Depends on class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 66 pounds (30 kg), Business/First - 88 pounds (40 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 20 x 15 x 10 inches (50 x 37 x 25 cm).

Singapore Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 66 pounds (30 kg), Business/First - 88 pounds (40 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 inches (55 x 40 x 20 cm).

Southwest Airlines:
Checked Baggage: First two bags free, additional bags have a fee.
Weight Limit: 50 pounds (23 kg).
Cabin Baggage: Dimensions not specified, must fit in overhead bin or under the seat.

Cathay Pacific Airways:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 66 pounds (30 kg), Business/First - 88 pounds (40 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm).

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Depends on fare class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 70 pounds (32 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 21.5 x 13.5 x 10 inches (55 x 35 x 25 cm).

Qantas Airways:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business - 66 pounds (30 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 45 total linear inches (115 cm) including wheels and handle.

Air Canada:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 70 pounds (32 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches (55 x 40 x 23 cm).

EVA Air:
Checked Baggage: Depends on class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 66 pounds (30 kg), Business/First - 88 pounds (40 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 23.6 x 15.7 x 9.8 inches (60 x 40 x 25 cm).

ANA All Nippon Airways:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 70 pounds (32 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 16 x 10 inches (55 x 40 x 25 cm).

British Airways:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 51 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 70 pounds (32 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 18 x 10 inches (56 x 45 x 25 cm).

Alaska Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Fees for additional bags, weight limits apply.
Weight Limit: 50 pounds (23 kg).
Cabin Baggage: Dimensions not specified, must fit in overhead bin or under the seat.

Hainan Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 44 pounds (20 kg), Business/First - 66 pounds (30 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (55 x 35 x 25 cm).

SAS Scandinavian Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/Plus - 70 pounds (32 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 16 x 9 inches (55 x 40 x 23 cm).

Air India:
Checked Baggage: Depends on class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 66 pounds (30 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 14 x 10 inches (55 x 35 x 25 cm).

Iberia Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 70 pounds (32 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 16 x 10 inches (56 x 40 x 26 cm).

Swiss International Air Lines:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 70 pounds (32 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 inches (55 x 40 x 20 cm).

Virgin Atlantic:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Premium/Economy Delight - 66 pounds (30 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm).

Aeroflot Russian Airlines:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 70 pounds (32 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 18 x 10 inches (55 x 45 x 25 cm).

Etihad Airways:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 70 pounds (32 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 16 x 10 inches (56 x 41 x 25 cm).

Air New Zealand:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 66 pounds (30 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 46.5 total linear inches (118 cm) including wheels and handle.

Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines):
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 50 pounds (23 kg), Business/First - 70 pounds (32 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 22 x 18 x 10 inches (56 x 45 x 25 cm).

Air China:
Checked Baggage: Varies by class and route.
Weight Limit: Economy - 44 pounds (20 kg), Business/First - 66 pounds (30 kg).
Cabin Baggage: 21.5 x 13.5 x 7.5 inches (55 x 35 x 20 cm).