I want to buy a guitar in spain this semester, but I am worried about getting it back to the usa with me this summer. I am flying back with Iberia from Granada-Madrid and Madrid-Chicago. I dont want to check it, and besides that I will already have my 2 checked suitcases (the limit), so thats not really even an option. Can I fly with the guitar as a carry on, just put it in the overhead compartments?? Would it even fit? I would hate to buy a guitar and find out 3 months from now that I cant get it home with me!!! Ideas? Experience? Anything?
Kelly

I've seen people carry guitars on and have the flight attendants stow them in closets, but only on domestic flights. The way they pack people and luggage in on overseas flights may mean that flight attendants would be less accomodating. I wonder if a call to the airline (or a visit to its website) would help?

The space behind seats that are right in front of the bulkhead is often just the right size for a guitar--you might choose your seat so that you can board first (sit in the back) and claim this space/get flight attendant assistance.

You could also do a "gate check," where you hand the guitar off at the last second on the jetway--though I don't know whether Iberia does those--we often did that with strollers and car seats when my daughter was smaller. At least it doesn't end up bumping through the baggage carousel!

Good luck!

Unless you're planning on serenading the passengers and crew, perhaps purchasing your guitar from a reputable outlet, and having them ship it insured back to you in the States is the best answer...I know that any schmuck worth his weight in euros selling swords in Toledo will do this. I can only imagine the same goes for guitarreros (did I just create that term? )

Again, go insured, and you've nothing to worry about. You always have recourse through the shipping company, unless it's some volar de noche outfit called Super Rápido or something...

Hmmm serenading the passengers...well I could use a little extra cash, cuz after this trip Im not going to have much left!! The shipping it might work, but why do I fear it would cost me more in euros than the guitar itself
I think a little trip to the iberia ticket office here in Granada may be in order....
Any more ideas?

We've carried a guitar on a domestic flight within Spain, and then from Spain to the US. We carried it on board (British Airways to the US)and it was kept in a closet during the flight. No problem whatsoever.

I think this question has been asked before, with similar responses (I think one from me!). Have you done a search? There may be a response about Iberia. I just don't know if things are different now because of security, so I agree with the idea of calling the airline first.

Good luck!

Diana, what year did you take the guitar on the plane? In the last year or two most airlines are limiting passengers to only ONE carry-on and I'd have to guess that a guitar case would qualify as that one carry-one. Maybe it's different for 1st Class or Business Class passengers though. The reduced number of routes have made those fewer available flights MORE full with passengers so it may not be as easy now as it once was. Just some things to think about.

It was summer of 2000. It got a luggage tag and was counted as a checked-in piece, even though we carried it on board. When we arrived in Philadelphia we were paged and told they had lost one of our pieces - but the piece they thought was post was the guitar, which was with us. I was impressed that they had scanned every piece of luggage that had come off the plane. And this was plain old tourist class - no special frills. (Although I've always thought British Airways does an amazing job with customer service on the transatlantic flights anyway!)

i know that a twenty pound package from the canary islands to california is about 60 dollars, insured, so a guitar being sent from the peninsula would have to be around 15 - 20 dollars?

If it's any help, I flew Northwest from Paris to Detroit on Monday, and saw two people put guitars in the overhead compartments. The cases were not the hardsided ones, they looked like they were made out of vinyl or plastic.

Wow thanks for all the info guys, this is really helping. I will for sure need to call IBERIA though, because if even if I carry it on as a carry one they are going to count it as checked baggage, I will be in trouble!! I will have been here an entire semester and have to very large suitcases that I will check, hope I can count the guitar as my one carry on!!!

Being an art student, I too had a huge amount of stuff to take back with me. The thing to do is to send as much of your clothing, books, etc. as you can via the regular mail. If you can send things for which you can wait a few weeks, extra clothing, or say winter stuff, send it by surface mail, "via barco" and it won't cost much. That way you can reduce your baggage count. If the flight is not full, ask if you can strap your guitar (in its case of course) into the seat next to you, like a regular passenger. The thing they do not want is to have loose potential projectiles lying about the cabin (hence the "put it under the seat in front of you or in the closet").

Yeah I do have lots of sweaters here that I wont be needing within a few weeks here in Granada...about how much do you think it would cost to send 5 sweaters (I know I know I way overdid it on the packing) back home to Chicago from spain?

Just an update: Went and talked to IBERIA, they said that flying with a normal size guitar is no problem (hmmmm do I believe them?). They said they will either put it in the overhead compartments, in a closet, or under a row of seats. SO should have no problems....

Hey MM...what makes you think any of us pobres can afford business or first class? ¡Qué más quisiera yo!

CaliBasco: OH!!! I never said I thought any of you could afford business or 1st class (although I'm SURE SOME OF YOU can). I said:

Hi! My father is also planning to purchase a guitar in Mardrid during September of 2003. Will you please let me know how things work out for you?

Thanks

Just and update: I flew home ( ) with the guitar without problems. My flights were with IBERIA (Granada-Madrid-Chicago). I was able to carry on the guitar with me and it fit easily into the overhead compartment on both flights.
The only point anyone said anything was when i checked in. The lady said i needed to check it, but i just refused and she gave in rather easily.
Kelly