Flight with Nord Stage 3 Compact 73 on cabin?

[pologvng]

Hello,
I was searching a lot about this and I couldn't get many accurate experiences...
Is it possible to carry a Stage 3 Compact 73 on a flight, in the cabin, on the overhead bin (with me, not with the baggage)??
Any experiences about it?
I know about many friends that could successfully carry guitars on cabin, in some cases without any problem, and others had to pray a little to the airline employees...

I have a Stage 3 compact and the official soft case, I am going to travel from Japan to Argentina, it will be 2 long flights ( about 12 hours each) and I am wondering if I could take the keyboard with me on cabin , or should I buy a hard case (and pray for the keyboard do not get damaged)...

It will be great to carry it on the cabin and avoid future problems... but I could be also very stressful if I get noticed that I cannot carry it with me, and without having an appropriate case for drop it in the hold.

Sorry about my (bad)written english

Thank you very much!

[CountFosco]

I would say you have no hope with carry on. Buy a proper hardcase.

[mathofinsects]

Hi, Count.

On the contrary, at least in the US, on a regular commercial airliner I have never been told I cannot bring my NS3C. It is smaller than a guitar, and guitars (and other overhead-sized instruments) are routinely accommodated. The Musician's Union here has worked with the airlines to secure general cooperation regarding instruments.

As an insurance measure, I usually wrap the board first in small and then in large bubble wrap inside the case. It makes the fit snug, but as long as you get it equally around all parts of the board, it protects nicely in the event of gate-checking.

[pologvng]

According to most airline regs (I believe), musical instruments are exempt from the ordinary rules and can always be carried in the cabin. However, it is not necessarily true that all airline employees got this memo or are in agreement with it. And these days there's also a rule that says that you must obey the commands of the crew. I've heard from some folks that they scour the website of the airline on which they will be traveling to find the statement of rules as they apply to musical instruments and print a copy to bring with them on the plane so that if some crew member tries to refuse accommodation for the musical instrument, it can be waived in their face.

In short, it's a gamble. Some folks take that gamble and have success, others not so much. The SKB 3i-5014 fits any Nord SW73 model nicely and the combined weight is still less than 50lb weight limit of many airlines. Packing extra bubble wrap into the case is a good idea. On some occasions I have put my Stage Compact in the Nord gig bag and then packed them together into the SKB case. It's a tight fit, but can work. Extra bonus, when you get where you're going you can leave the hard case in the hotel room and bop around town with just the gig bag.

bless, pablo

[JACHEMY]

Some flights are ok , some restrict to carry instrument in the cabin.
Once friend of mine handed Nord 3 C. to guys at the ramp and it was placed carefully inside of the main lagguege.
After the flight 4 keys were smashed.
So never trust or rely on any verbal agreements of the flight companies.

Get this and safe forever!

[CountFosco]

So, confession, my band experiences have never once required flying with a keyboard. I wish. And I definitely defer to the experience of those who have. However, as a consulting machinery vibration engineer for the past 25 years, name a place and I've flown there. And I've flown there with data acquisition gear of all sizes and shapes (thankfully the digital revolution means the sizes and shapes have trended in the right direction). Back in the day I used to risk sweet talking a 50kg pelican case full of measurement gear into planes and helicopters, sometimes successfully, but those days are definitely over. These days it's Carnet ATAs and shipping gear in advance, it's just not worth the risk (especially in the US, hi mathofinsects, nice to see you here). I hear what math and pablo are saying about unions and rules, but I honestly don't recall ever having seen anyone trying to stuff a guitar or keyboard sized package into an overhead locker. Math, is that how you do it or do the crew take it to another locker at the front of the plane?

[mathofinsects]

I put my NS3C in the overhead, where it fits easily and well. It's much smaller than you might think. I have done this while on tour, and all but the bass player (who just didn't feel like carrying the thing around) put our instruments in the overhead for every flight.

I did have to gate check on a flight to NY. I had done the double-bubble thing, and just decided to trust in the universe.

The universe delivered.

[RichardG]

Get this and safe forever!

Hi Ivan,

Did you build this yourself ?
Or if bought, where ?
How much weight is the case alone ?
I have an NS3-88 so I'd like to add as little weight as possible.

I've also wondered if instead of using multiplex, alumin(i)um sheets (or maybe even titanium) would shave off some weight.
Anyone any experience with that ?

Cheers !

[RichardG]

Get this and safe forever!

Hi Ivan,

Did you build this yourself ?
Or if bought, where ?


Cheers !

It was custom made in Ukraine for NS 3 Compact.
280 $ .
(his site is temporary unavailable, only facebook page is functioning)
https://www.facebook.com/demonflightcases/

It weighs about 10 kg without additional compartment for the pedals stuff.

I think some similar flightcases awailable on Thomann site.

[RichardG]

https://www.swanflight.com/nord-stage-3 ... tcase.html