Hi guys, I am planning on buying a Motif XF8 and taking it overseas on a flight. This board is the heaviest that I have seen at 64 lb. It is huge too. If I get the Gator or the SKB TSA case for that which is an additional 33 lb.

The Question is: Is the Motif XF8 in a hard shell case with so much weight flight friendly as a checked baggage? Does anybody have any experience that he would like to share? I am sure there has to be a lot of musicians who had to travel with it here. Thanks a lot in advance.

wizardgraphics - 26 February 2014 09:06 PM

Hi guys, I am planning on buying a Motif XF8 and taking it overseas on a flight. This board is the heaviest that I have seen at 64 lb. It is huge too. If I get the Gator or the SKB TSA case for that which is an additional 33 lb.

The Question is: Is the Motif XF8 in a hard shell case with so much weight flight friendly as a checked baggage? Does anybody have any experience that he would like to share? I am sure there has to be a lot of musicians who had to travel with it here. Thanks a lot in advance.

Answer is no. You won’t be able to travel with it as “normal” checked baggage at that weight. You’ll either have to ship it ahead via cargo carrier, or check it in as overweight
baggage at a premium charge...if the airline you’ve chosen allows that. Some do, others
don’t.

Why are you taking it overseas?

While I cannot answer your question directly, since I have not taken my XF on board an aircraft, I personally would be very hesitant to do so in any case, even if others have done this and had no problems.  It clearly will not fit in an overhead bin or under the seat, and baggage handlers can be extremely rough on checked baggage.

As an alternative, I would suggest looking into renting an XF, and take along your flash memory board(s) if you have one and are planning on using it.

DavePolich - 26 February 2014 10:12 PM

wizardgraphics - 26 February 2014 09:06 PM

Hi guys, I am planning on buying a Motif XF8 and taking it overseas on a flight. This board is the heaviest that I have seen at 64 lb. It is huge too. If I get the Gator or the SKB TSA case for that which is an additional 33 lb.

The Question is: Is the Motif XF8 in a hard shell case with so much weight flight friendly as a checked baggage? Does anybody have any experience that he would like to share? I am sure there has to be a lot of musicians who had to travel with it here. Thanks a lot in advance.

Answer is no. You won’t be able to travel with it as “normal” checked baggage at that weight. You’ll either have to ship it ahead via cargo carrier, or check it in as overweight
baggage at a premium charge...if the airline you’ve chosen allows that. Some do, others
don’t.

Why are you taking it overseas?

Been living here in the US for quite some years and have to move back to Egypt for a while before moving again probably back here. So I am looking at 2 or 3 trips with my Motif. I can’t part with it.

I understand that it has to be checked in as both oversize and overweight baggage for $$$. I was hoping that people here could share their experiences and successes or fails with various airlines. Anybody with stories?