Flight case? how to travel with a 62 keys keyboard?

[RonAlmog]

I'm moving from Canada to another country, and would like to take my Yamaha PSR-SX700 with me. what are the options?
I have a case made by GATOR which is pretty solid for everyday use, but definitely not for flight in the luggage compartment. it is soft but nicely padded.
can I take it with me on the plane as a bag? way too big, I think. it is 43" by 19", definitely not a handbag. what are you guys doing in these cases?
thought about hard case, but it will probably cost a fortune, and not a gigging musician, so I will not be using it regularly. any advice?

 

[happyrat1]

You need something in the way of a proper hard road case with TSA approved locks if you want your board to survive. I believe most airlines allow you to purchase a passenger seat to transport a beloved instrument without enduring the baggage gorillas. It may depend on which airline. Good luck.

 

[delaware dave]

Ive never seen a 62 key keyboard before. Where can i find one ???

 

[Biggles]

Sell the 700 and buy a new 720 in the Country you are moving to.

They are £970 (1800 CDN) here in the UK.

You could be paying close to that on a case, excess luggage cost if flying or transportation (DHL ETC) cost plus insurance.

It cost me £120 to send my Korg keyboard elsewhere in the UK.

 

[RonAlmog]

Ive never seen a 62 key keyboard before. Where can i find one ???

haha, you're right. I guess I consider the on/off button as a key...

 

[anotherscott]

For one time use? A well packed cardboard box will do. Keyboards are shipped that way all the time. Flight cases only make sense if you need something for repeat usage.

One solution is to bring it to the UPS store, and let them box it, and ship it to your destination. They charge a premium over what it would cost you to wrap and box it yourself, but if you've never done it before, at least you know that they know how to do it properly, plus you get their extra guarantee for safety:

https://www.theupsstore.ca/services/pack-ship/guarantee/

(You could also pay them to pack it and then bring it on the airplane yourself, but considering what airlines charge for oversize baggage plus the hassle of having to move it in and out of the airports yourself, you might be better off having it shipped too.)

 

[jmemcse]

For one time use? A well packed cardboard box will do. Keyboards are shipped that way all the time. Flight cases only make sense if you need something for repeat usage.

One solution is to bring it to the UPS store, and let them box it, and ship it to your destination. They charge a premium over what it would cost you to wrap and box it yourself, but if you've never done it before, at least you know that they know how to do it properly, plus you get their extra guarantee for safety:

https://www.theupsstore.ca/services/pack-ship/guarantee/

(You could also pay them to pack it and then bring it on the airplane yourself, but considering what airlines charge for oversize baggage plus the hassle of having to move it in and out of the airports yourself, you might be better off having it shipped too.)

Good call. I had an ATA approved case made for my Nord. It cost a lot. I've never had it on an airplane, but it's been beat to shoot in the back of a truck repeatedly. That said, if I had it to do over I would get a bag and carry it my car. That flight case is heavy as heck. I can't carry it. It about outweighs me. Big Bill, the crew guy loads it in and out everywhere I go. I don't really like it.

I would skip the flight case idea and do as Scott suggests.

 

[amwilburn]

In Canada, it depends largely on the airline (especially on some which intentionally overbook their flights). I would get it in writing from them beforehand if possible (or at least call to confirm what their policy is); *some* will let you bring oversized items onto carry-on and store them together with strollers, etc; some will let you pay extra to check in; some may not. Check with your airline regarding your specific flight *beforehand*.

 

[anotherscott]

In Canada, it depends largely on the airline (especially on some which intentionally overbook their flights). I would get it in writing from them beforehand if possible (or at least call to confirm what their policy is); *some* will let you bring oversized items onto carry-on and store them together with strollers, etc; some will let you pay extra to check in; some may not. Check with your airline regarding your specific flight *beforehand*.

I think you were replying to a comment I deleted (about similar U.S. policies about over-sized carry-on which is sometimes permitted, which wasn't entirely accurate but would have required too much work to fix)... but that's good info for the OP.

In the U.S. at least, basically nothing about luggage is guaranteed. Even stuff that meets size requirements can be pulled from you and put into the checked luggage area, if they've run out of room. So all luggage policies favor those who have early boarding.

 

[Rayblewit]

Where are you moving to Ron?
What destination will your keyboard end up in?
Can you trust the hadlers at the other end?

What about insurance cost as @Biggles metioned?

I would consider these before deciding what packaging type.

Or maybe do what @Biggles suggested.
Sell it now and by a new one at your new place.

 

[Rayblewit]

Imagine this . . Your SX700

 

[Rayblewit]

That's why they make 61 keys.

62 keys is just a tad too big.

 

[Biggles]

I had someone buy a pair of monitor powered speakers.

Fully insured.

They never arrived.

Cash was returned to the purchaser and it took me over 3 months to get the payout.

So sending a large costly item by a courier is no guarantee that it is going to arrive.