thought this might interest some :

http://www.acguitar.com/article/default ... leid=25801

Holy crap...what a pain. I have ready that it is also a good idea to travel w/ bolt on neck guitars. Assuming you are ok w/ bolt on necks and know how to reasemble your guitar. Taking it apart to travel easier. That is what I would do.

What a nightmare.

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Live guitars: 2009 LTD Truckster, 1989 Strat Plus, 2001 Am Standard Strat, 1996 MIJ Jaguar, 2007 Gibson Explorer 76 reissue, 1999 Ibanez RG7621, LTD MH-301, LTD FM400, 1999 Jackson Kelly, Mystery Les Paul, Hamer Chaparel, Fender FM 62SCE A/E Mandolin

This is the exact reason that I didn't buy a guitar when I went to California recently. I couldn't stand to think about what would happen to my guitar on the flight home. I remember coming home on a flight from Green Bay and our party met a group of guys who went on a hunting trip. These guys talked about their guns like we talk about guitars here. So we land in Green Bay and the trolly shows up to get our bagagge. We're looking out the window and the hunters are in the row behind us. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the airport staff were throwing the bags as hard as possible into the trolly. It wasn't just "we're in a hurry" it was like they were mad at it,lol. Then the hunters saw the guys with their gun cases and the scene was not good. The staff threw the cases into the trolly and they kept sliding out and banging on the ground. Instead of finding a better spot for them in a second trolly that was waiting they smashed these cases into one trolly by kicking them until they stayed long enough to slam the door shut. It was not a good scene. I'm not sure what happened to the guys stuff but they were fuming mad and went directly to complain when they got off the plane. I know that these guys have to deal with thousands of pieces of luggage a day but the complete disregard that they treat people's stuff with is sickening.

I brought a guitar back from Canada last September without any problems at all. When I got to the plane I kindly asked the stewardess if she could put it in their personal locker and she did.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

DP -- sorry I hate when I do that

There are really three legitimate alternatives to a standard-baggage check-in:

1) Pack a cardboard box around the case, and send it UPS. It'll get treated better than if you checked it as standard baggage in the airport. Also, considering that most airlines these days charge to check any bag, this option is not a bad choice financially either.
2) Buy a true road-worthy Anvil (or equivalent) hardshell. These are not particularly cheap, especially when new. But this may be the best bet if this will be a recurring issue. CL is a good source for some discount ones.
3) Don't check the git. Just bring it with you like a normal carry-on. Then try and get it on the plane, placing it into one of the jacket closets that they have (usually right when you step on the plane). If you ask nicely and have a sympathetic stewardess, your chances will increase. The absolute worst case scenario is them making you check it at the gate -- but it will still be treated much more gently and less than if you checked it as standard baggage in the ticketing area.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I brought several guitars, in Europe and from the US to Europe.
I had no problems with any of them, bringing them as carry-ons.
Both the people at the checkin' and the flight crews were very nice and simpathetic.
Worst case scenario, if not allowed with a guitar in the cabin, I'd use a harshell/flight case and carry it to and from the plane myself. I would never ever check it and let the airport crew handle it.

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La vie est belle, le monde est pourri, make the most of it!

Check out some of these horror stories!


http://www.davecarrollmusic.com/ubg/

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"To Be Is To Do" --Locke
"To Do Is To Be" --Thoreau
"Do Be Do Be Do" --Sinatra

I've flown with guitars on 4 different airlines and never had any problems. I usually research the sze of the overhead on the plane-type and just check in normally. Continental, Jet Blue are both really good about it. In fact, Continental's fine print rules even mention that you can travel with musical instruments of "normal size"; no Double basses or cellos unless you buy a seat for it.

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Current Gear: Ron Kirn Barnbuster Tele,
Marshall: 1971 SuperLead 100>1997 1960-TV, bunch of pedals
and a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera coupe named Veronica

I have check guitars before with no problem. heck when you buy from a net store then it to you in a cargo plane from who knows where and its in a cardboard box. You ever seen how a fedx or UPS plane is loaded and unloaded. Much less the sorting belts at the dispatch points along the way.

Try shipping firearms.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson