Why no locking ability on Taylor Cases?

[ebick]

As I am seriously considering bringing my 814 with me on an upcoming flight, and having come to terms with the possibility that it may get gate checked and that it will be ok......I am now wondering about what could happen whilst it is out of my sight and control.  I have other HSCs that have a key.  At the very least there could have been a loop to put some kind of lock through.

Anyone wonder about this?

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

Buy one of those straps that lock with the TSA lock.

[ebick]

you mean something liek this?

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=tsa+luggage+strap+lock&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1440&bih=752&wrapid=tlif133030097292610&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=2018127769271572519&sa=X&ei=VshKT9fbMo-btwfytr3vAg&ved=0CIgBEPICMAA#

[S MS Picker]

I carried my Martin a few times, and was able to find flights w/overheads large enough to stow it. That was about 25 yrs ago though.
Steve

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

Yeah, you could put the strap around the case and run it thu' the handle then tighten it and it should not slip off.  It is a bummer - I have often wondered why the cases don't lock as well.

[Steve]

I've checked guitars for years, in unlocked cases.

I've never, ever had a problem.

I understand being concerned, but there also comes a time when you need to accept the very real possibility that not a single bad thing is going to happen...

[barefooter]

I never traveled by air much at all; just a few times for work before I retired from my previosu job.  I always had a full agenda and would have had no time to play guitar when away.  So, I never gave any thought to the locks on some cases.  When I received my T5, a 2005 model the case had a lock on it.  I don't ever recall even trying the lock out to this date. 

When I got my 2010 814ce, the first thing I noticed about the case exterior was 'no' lock.  I wondered why there would be no lock, but then just attributed it to cutting cost for the manufacture.  It would be nice to have one there for peace of mind if I were ever to travel with it and not be able to have it in my immediate possession.  I guess we have to sometimes trust that those responsible for the storage on flights will do the right thing and treat "all" instruments with care and not become rock stars when no one is looking

[michaelw]

something like this should be adequate -  if something were to happen to the body
or neck, hopefully the content coverage guarantee would cover the cost of repairs
http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/proddetail.php?id=9&c=83&o=&s=75

a good bit more $, but this would likely offer the best protection,
although it'd probably have to be checked at the ticket counter
http://www.rockhardcases.com/index.php?page=guitar-bass-cases

the one & only time i took a guitar with me on a flight (barely over an hour)
was a 00 314Kce LOTF in a Taylor skb-18 case ,,, got to the luggage carousel
just in time to see the guitar case coming of the conveyor & was able to grab
it before the headstock end slammed into the 'bumper' strip on the carousel -
the guitar was ok, but it got so cold (top felt like it was 40 degrees) that the tuning
was sharp, granted the flight was in the evening but it was not cold outside (60s)

don't mean to make you worry, ebick, but, imho, better safe
than sorry ... especially with a guitar as nice as your 814ce

[jjrpilot-admin]

Please correct me if I'm wrong...but I think that IF Taylor put locks on their cases...and you wanted to fly...if the case were locked the TSA would have to break the lock open to check it for security purposes..........?

[ebick]

Please correct me if I'm wrong...but I think that IF Taylor put locks on their cases...and you wanted to fly...if the case were locked the TSA would have to break the lock open to check it for security purposes..........?

Well, the plan is to carry it on, and worst case, gate check it, so it would be past TSA at that point.  If that were impossible, then I would ask TSA to lock it after checking it.

[Justiceandmercy]

I had a friend that just flew with a strat in a case with locks and he was worried about TSA so he left it unlocked for them... when he arrived he found the locks on his case completely broken anyway...

[ebick]

I had a friend that just flew with a strat in a case with locks and he was worried about TSA so he left it unlocked for them... when he arrived he found the locks on his case completely broken anyway...

see now, the TSA agent that did that just has issues and would be filed under the category of "jerk" in my book.  Your friend should file a complaint.  I'm sure that's not the only inappropriate thing that person has done (or will do).



edited for language

[ctkarslake]

Yeah, it's a brave new world now.  The more you lock things, the more they want to get into it.  I've never checked a guitar but I've heard players never locking  their cases just for this reason.

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Please correct me if I'm wrong...but I think that IF Taylor put locks on their cases...and you wanted to fly...if the case were locked the TSA would have to break the lock open to check it for security purposes..........?

You are not wrong Josh, we are not supposed to lock our cases anymore, if we do TSA can cut the lock, and I have a very expensive suitcase with a cut latch to prove it.

[jjrpilot-admin]

Please correct me if I'm wrong...but I think that IF Taylor put locks on their cases...and you wanted to fly...if the case were locked the TSA would have to break the lock open to check it for security purposes..........?

You are not wrong Josh, we are not supposed to lock our cases anymore, if we do TSA can cut the lock, and I have a very expensive suitcase with a cut latch to prove it.

Whew!  Thanks Ted...I was hoping I wasn't going crazy!