Are flight cases really for flying?

[pond]

I am flying New York to Estonia on 20 Jan, and really want to bring my Traktor S4 along with me, cause I am staying for at least six months. I have the Odyssey flight case for it, but is that thing really rated for checked baggage? I have had luggage handlers break beer bottles which I wrapped in (what I thought was) EARTHQUAKE-proof reinforcement, and I shudder to think about what might happen to my beloved electronics.

I'm flying SAS, and the case is 61x45x20cm, which is JUUUST over their 8kg 55x40x23cm limit for carryon.. ughh. Anyone ever have any luck arguing their 'briefcase' contained a midi controller?

I'm going straight to the source for my next T60 build, just bought 1ha of some birch forest, all I gotta do go chop it down and make some ply! Have Jasper jig, will travel!

[SoundInMotionDJ]

One of the reasons that I went with the S2 was the "carry on friendly" form factor.

"Flight case" is a VERY broad term covering a LOT of different style cases. I would not trust anything found at my local music store to survive even a couple passes through normal baggage handling.

In years past, I flew with computers and test gear for my "day job"...and there were "Pelican" cases for anything we *really* cared about. We also used SKB cases for tools, cables, connectors, etc...anything that we "needed" but that didn't really care about the shocks of "rough handling." Both brands of cases could survive normal transit through baggage handlers, TSA, and C&BP.

In most cases, the cost of the cases was equal to the cost of the electronics inside them. BUT...everything survived and performed when we got on-site...for dozens of trips over years.

http://www.pelicancases.com/

http://www.skbcases.com/

[ketoet]

hello
at work (belgian airforce) we use pelican cases to transport delicate avionics.
they are very strong and protect their content very well.
if they can survive hundreds of trips on our c-130's i have no doubt
they'll do a great job at protecting your gear. they're one of the few
things worth their money among the stuff our staff purchased the past
years. their not cheap though. hope this helps

greetz ketoet

[pond]

Yeaaa, I'm a dunce, didn't even think to remove the controller from the case, the S4 itself can easily fit in a smaller carryon-approved size container.. durr.. pack the flight case full of underoos and put it inside my checked luggage, problem solved!

I keep my amps and 260 in an SKB case, that thing has been solid so far.

Maybe someday I can upgrade to all Pelican gear, for now I'll just have to make do with my custom cardboard furniture boxes lined with salvaged packing foams ;p The one I made to hold my LED PAR cans has held up surprisingly well for a few years now! Also, in case anyone is wondering, blankets/towels/any kind of cloth all make pretty much the worst padding materials ever, and do hardly anything to actually protect stuff.. don't ask how I know this :/