Does China Airlines allow musical instruments on board?

Travel International Travel
1

I am moving to Taiwan soon, and hold an LAX-TPE ticket on China Airlines.

My question: Has anyone had any experience trying to bring a musical instrument (e.g., guitar) on board a China Airlines international flight? Or have you observed anyone else trying – whether successfully or not – to bring an instrument on board?

Just trying to anticipate whether I will have any hassle bringing my bass guitar with me. I would rather not check it since CAL only pays up to $250 for lost or damaged luggage.

Thanks!

2

[quote=“greander”]I am moving to Taiwan soon, and hold an LAX-TPE ticket on China Airlines.

My question: Has anyone had any experience trying to bring a musical instrument (e.g., guitar) on board a China Airlines international flight? Or have you observed anyone else trying – whether successfully or not – to bring an instrument on board?

Just trying to anticipate whether I will have any hassle bringing my bass guitar with me. I would rather not check it since CAL only pays up to $250 for lost or damaged luggage.

Thanks![/quote]

I took a CAL flight from Taipei to Amsterdam last week and there was a dude with a guitar in the waiting hall. He and his buddies actually did play some music right there and I started wondering how he would bring the guitar on board. Saw him take the guitar on board but did not see where he put it. So it is definitely possible. I would call the airline and ask what the conditions are.

3

Thanks, Hannes. Good to have at least one example of someone getting on with a guitar.

I saw someone do it, but on the German CAL website there is a FAQ section where they say it is not allowed to take a guitar on board. So my guess is that if you ask they will say no and when you bring your guitar they will let you take it on board. Maybe they will charge you extra, no idea. :laughing:

4

For anyone who may stumble upon this thread later…

After checking in my luggage at LAX, I was chased down by a China Airlines employee who spotted me with my bass guitar in a gig bag slung over my shoulder. (Funny, the guy checking me in at the Premium Economy counter said nothing.) A supervisor basically said, “full flight. No way.” I argued politely, quoting the FAA’s new regulations about carrying instruments on board. He finally relented and said I could go ahead and take it to the gate, but that I would almost certainly be required to gate-check my bass.

After clearing security, and fearing that my bass would be destroyed by baggage handlers, I borrowed a screwdriver from a TSA agent and removed the neck. (Fortunately, it’s a bolt-neck, and not a neck-through.) I spent nearly $300 on a mid-sized suitcase in the terminal, and put the body of my bass in my folded over gig bag in the new suitcase – which, yes, I was forced to gate-check. I bought a couple of blankets in one of the stores and used them to wrap the neck, which I carried on-board and stored in the overhead

Fortunately, the gate-checked suitcase containing the body of my bass arrived relatively unscathed, which is not something I can say for one of my other suitcases containing only clothes. It was so badly damaged we had to leave it at the airport and carry its contents the rest of the way in a couple of paper bags.

Now that I’m in Taipei, I have reassembled my bass, but the combination of the disassembly and insane humidity here have left me with a (thus far) unplayable instrument. After a few days with the strings back on, I’m hoping an adjustment to the truss rod and bridge saddles will get her back in shape. Not that it matters as I have since discovered Taiwan has silly rules that prevent most foreigners from performing music here. WTF is up with that?

5

[quote=“greander”]For anyone who may stumble upon this thread later…

After checking in my luggage at LAX, I was chased down by a China Airlines employee who spotted me with my bass guitar in a gig bag slung over my shoulder. (Funny, the guy checking me in at the Premium Economy counter said nothing.) A supervisor basically said, “full flight. No way.” I argued politely, quoting the FAA’s new regulations about carrying instruments on board. He finally relented and said I could go ahead and take it to the gate, but that I would almost certainly be required to gate-check my bass.

After clearing security, and fearing that my bass would be destroyed by baggage handlers, I borrowed a screwdriver from a TSA agent and removed the neck. (Fortunately, it’s a bolt-neck, and not a neck-through.) I spent nearly $300 on a mid-sized suitcase in the terminal, and put the body of my bass in my folded over gig bag in the new suitcase – which, yes, I was forced to gate-check. I bought a couple of blankets in one of the stores and used them to wrap the neck, which I carried on-board and stored in the overhead

Fortunately, the gate-checked suitcase containing the body of my bass arrived relatively unscathed, which is not something I can say for one of my other suitcases containing only clothes. It was so badly damaged we had to leave it at the airport and carry its contents the rest of the way in a couple of paper bags.

Now that I’m in Taipei, I have reassembled my bass, but the combination of the disassembly and insane humidity here have left me with a (thus far) unplayable instrument. After a few days with the strings back on, I’m hoping an adjustment to the truss rod and bridge saddles will get her back in shape. Not that it matters as I have since discovered Taiwan has silly rules that prevent most foreigners from performing music here. WTF is up with that?[/quote]

Thanks for sharing your story. Interesting. I guess it depends on the people in charge, maybe the staff in the US is more likely to demand following the rules whereas in Taiwan, people might just let you through. Do you mean preventing you from playing on the street? They have laws against that and if you want to do street music here you have to take part in an annual contest and hope to be selected to get a permit, which is obviously not something you can do if you are not a resident here.

6

[quote=“hannes”][quote=“greander”]For anyone who may stumble upon this thread later…

After checking in my luggage at LAX, I was chased down by a China Airlines employee who spotted me with my bass guitar in a gig bag slung over my shoulder. (Funny, the guy checking me in at the Premium Economy counter said nothing.) A supervisor basically said, “full flight. No way.” I argued politely, quoting the FAA’s new regulations about carrying instruments on board. He finally relented and said I could go ahead and take it to the gate, but that I would almost certainly be required to gate-check my bass.

After clearing security, and fearing that my bass would be destroyed by baggage handlers, I borrowed a screwdriver from a TSA agent and removed the neck. (Fortunately, it’s a bolt-neck, and not a neck-through.) I spent nearly $300 on a mid-sized suitcase in the terminal, and put the body of my bass in my folded over gig bag in the new suitcase – which, yes, I was forced to gate-check. I bought a couple of blankets in one of the stores and used them to wrap the neck, which I carried on-board and stored in the overhead

Fortunately, the gate-checked suitcase containing the body of my bass arrived relatively unscathed, which is not something I can say for one of my other suitcases containing only clothes. It was so badly damaged we had to leave it at the airport and carry its contents the rest of the way in a couple of paper bags.

Now that I’m in Taipei, I have reassembled my bass, but the combination of the disassembly and insane humidity here have left me with a (thus far) unplayable instrument. After a few days with the strings back on, I’m hoping an adjustment to the truss rod and bridge saddles will get her back in shape. Not that it matters as I have since discovered Taiwan has silly rules that prevent most foreigners from performing music here. WTF is up with that?[/quote]

Thanks for sharing your story. Interesting. I guess it depends on the people in charge, maybe the staff in the US is more likely to demand following the rules whereas in Taiwan, people might just let you through. Do you mean preventing you from playing on the street? They have laws against that and if you want to do street music here you have to take part in an annual contest and hope to be selected to get a permit, which is obviously not something you can do if you are not a resident here.[/quote]

To perform (acting, playing music, singing …) you need a ‘work’ permit. There is a thread about it I believe.

7

I just brought a violin on board from Taiwan to LAX two weeks ago on EVA. No problems, even though I had called ahead of time and they had told me I need to buy another seat for it. The check-in counter didn’t ask questions and said of course it was ok to bring on board for no extra charge. Taiwan!