I have never transported my PSR-3000 via plane before and I may need to do so in a few months. (Can't seem to find any place in Atlanta that would rent one for a day....if you know of any leads that would be great, as I'd rather not fly with my keyboard if possible.) I'm looking at this case:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Heavy-Duty-ATA-AIRLI...VQQcmdZViewItem

Does anyone have experience with this company's cases? Any other tips/advice I should know with regard to taking a keyboard on a plane? (I.e. how to deal with checking it in, labelling it, retrieving it after flight, etc.) Thanks for the help, it's much appreciated!

Check for a Guitar Center in Atlanta ... they have a 30 day return policy, don't they?
(too devious? )

Better yet,

Just buy the board at Atlanta GC and take it back - more devious

Too devious for me.

Your lucky to even find a 3k or any top arranger at a guitar center.....the one here has Kb's that are 3 yrs old.....otherwise its a low end casio & yammys YUK....just buy a good flight case and take it with you.
http://www.amazon.com/Gator-G-Tour-61-Key-Keyboard-Flight/dp/B0009FJ27S

The best advice I can give you is to ship it via Fedex to the destination, which pretty much will insure it will arrive on time and in tact. You can ship it in the box it came in, or construct one that is crush-proof to be on the safe side.

If you ship it on the plane, there's a good chance it will not arrive at all, let alone on time.

Good Luck,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

I bought a case from Crazy Cases on Ebay and it was excellently made with a full foam interior. This company is the better of all of them. I bought it for a Tyros but it is too big for my car so I cant use it and am looking to sell it for $100.00 plus shipping. It has the recessed latches and handles and a complete foam inside all around. It has never been used being as I put the keyboard in it and tried to load it in the car but to no avail so I cant use it. It has the Tyros measurements.

How much for the car that can't carry a Tyros?

We're talking about a direct flight from NY to Atlanta, GA. Is FedEx still a better idea? I'd rather not go that route unless taking on the plane is really so risky.

About two years ago I bought an SKB hardshell case. I took my Korg from Canada to England and back in it - you know the sort of thing that goes on in airports, manhandling, drop-kicking, general everyday airport baggage abuse. That case came through with flying colours (sorry about the pun!).

Here's what I'm talking about: http://www.skbcases.com/

[This message has been edited by renig (edited 01-15-2007).]

So what's the consensus - I'm taking a non-stop flight from NY to Atlanta. The gig is later that day. Do I ship the keyboard separately a week before, or is it safe enough to get an SKB case and bring it with me?

Marc,

If the decission were mine, I would be driving to Atlanta--it's only about 10 hours from here. I've had lots of luggage lost by airlines, but everything I've shipped via fedex has made it safe and on time. It's your call as to which method of shipping you feel comfortable with.

Good Luck,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

So far it sounds like I'm going to just ship it. Thanks for all the advice. Has anyone ever tried taking a keyboard on-board the plane and putting it overhead? (I'd have to check for exact measurements but I think a PSR-3000 in a basic soft bag would fit in.) From what I've seen, the TSA is supposed to allow musicians to take instruments as carry-ons....

Taking it as a carry-on may be the surest way to get it there, BUT even if it would fit in the overhead, will the airline allow you to take up that much room in the overhead? ... I know I have seen guitars carried on, even in 'hard' cases ...
also ... would putting the kb through the x-ray machine cause any problems for it? ... I know they put lap-tops through all the time, but ??? ... t.

I think Gary has a good remedy. I have a (Phila. area) friend who works/or worked in Fla. frequently. He UPS's his equipment to an address near the first date of his tour. He does have someone to accept the packages and the cost is included in the "expences" clause of the contract. I'm sure that some of you guys who worked the cruises used this method to transport equipment or know of someone who did and the booker usually pays for shipping.
Ciao,
Jerry

[This message has been edited by Jerry T (edited 01-16-2007).]

Hi Guys,

I have been fortunate to travel all over the world and here's my opinion;

I've sent via Fed-x... IN A HARD SHELL CASE ALWAYS
it works and you can insure it. But the apes at the shipping co. are not easy on it so you may want to remove and hand carry the hard drive. But it does work.

I have also gone the airline route...
DOOR check it so you can WATCH them put it into the belly of the plane
I have also purchased a seat for it and in a soft bag straped it into the seat next to me. Can you say $$$? It will not be allowed in the overhead.

If you travel often (like I use to you) you can become a 'TSA Certified Shipper' which at the time included a interview and a finger prints but at the airport things were much easier and they don't ask you to 'please turn the unit on and operate it'.

On ballance... if its a one time deal the Fed-x sounds like the way to go.

Its enough to make ya want to take up guitar!

Good Luck

Tom

"I have also gone the airline route...
DOOR check it so you can WATCH them put it into the belly of the plane"

I've flown a few dozen times in my life but I'm not sure what you mean by "DOOR checking it" - kindly clarify?

Sure...

TRY to take it on the plane... as carry on... then at the gate they will flag it and at the ramp there's a door and they take it, along with strolers for babies, etc. and it goes in last and you can sometimes watch
them put it in the plane.

The main thing is to see to it that it is ON the same plane as you are.

There will be an extra over-size, over -weight Charge BTW

I have flown with my Tyros and Tyros 2 on more than 50 flights. I use a custom made Hardshell case from a company that is out of business, but you can get similar cases all over the place including ebay. I check it down below and get charged overweight ($20-25), but four times out of five they forget to charge oversize - which is the big cost ($80-100).

Make sure you check in AT LEAST a full hour before the flight if you want your keyboard to arrive on your flight.

I've only once had my keyboard delayed in three years and over fifty - maybe more - flights.

Chony