Guitars are fragile creatures, and airlines are notoriously rough on luggage. There have been plenty of horror stories from guitarists trying to fly with their beloved guitars, only to find they’ve been cracked or damaged in transit. Musician Dave Carroll even wrote a song called “United Breaks Guitars” after his $3, 500 Taylor was destroyed during a flight. Even if you carry your guitar on the plane, there’s no guarantee you won’t get hassled by the flight staff.
Before you head out on your next big trip, it’s important to learn the applicable laws, and maybe a few tips, to make flying with your guitar a bit easier and safe.
Yes, you can take your guitar on a plane. It’s the law! The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, section 403 states U.S. air carriers are required to accept musical instruments on their passenger flights either as carry-on baggage or checked baggage, provided that certain conditions are met.
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To be clear, this does not mean the airline is required to allow you to have the guitar in the cabin with you. There may be some instances in which it is not possible to bring the guitar in the cabin and you will need to gate check your instrument. Most airlines will try to accommodate you but if the plane you are flying on is particularly small, most passengers will need to check their overhead carry-on bag, including your guitar, if there is nowhere to store it within the cabin. Most large commercial flights will have coat closets on board that is typically used by the crew. Be sure to politely ask a flight attendant if there is closet space available within the cabin.
While it might be legal for you to bring your guitar on a plane, that doesn’t mean it’s as easy as bringing a backpack or other luggage. They’re still much bigger and more fragile than standard baggage, which means you need to take a few extra precautions. You’ve probably seen how airport employees handle luggage… They might have to put your guitar on the plane, but there’s no law that says they have to do it nicely.
Flying isn’t easy on guitars. Whether you carry on or check your guitar, there’s a good chance it’s going to endure a few beats and bangs along the way. That’s why choosing the right case is essential for flying with your guitar.
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If you plan on checking your guitar, you should absolutely have a hard-shell case. They’re the best protection against a less-than-careful airline employee throwing your guitar under the plane and burying it with the rest of the luggage. Checking your guitar in a gig bag is a recipe for disaster.
While you might think it’s always a good idea to pack your guitar in a hard-shell case, that’s not always true. If you want to carry on your guitar—which tends to be the safest bet—a gig bag makes it easier to fit into the overhead compartments or, if the compartments are full, in front of you in the very limited leg space.
Gig bags are also good for avoiding the attention of flight crews. Flight attendants are always looking for oversized luggage to send down below. If you carry on with a hard-shell case, you’re more likely to be hassled by the airline staff.
Flying With A Guitar
Never, ever, ever try to fly without a guitar case. You’re almost guaranteed to end up with a few new scratches and dings (at best).
No matter which type of case you choose, make sure there’s not much space inside for the guitar to move around. Even inside the case, the guitar can beat against the case during turbulence or when “accidentally” thrown around.
Before you pack the guitar up for its flight, stuff the inside of the case with soft cloths, t-shirts, towels, or anything else you can find that’ll prevent movement. Pack just enough that it’s a little difficult to close the case. Stuffing too much can damage your guitar just as much as someone throwing it into the plane’s storage area.
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It’s especially important to add a little support to the headstock. The headstock is under the most stress of the entire guitar. A decent shock could snap it off completely! Be sure to add plenty of padding under the headstock to give it some support.
If your guitar has a tremolo, knobs, or pickup selector switch, it’s a good idea to either remove them (at least, within reason) or put some extra padding around them. You don’t want your guitar to hit the top of the case and snap off the switch, or worse yet, break the wood around it.
Flying puts a lot of stress on your guitar. No, not just with the bumps and bangs. The temperature, humidity, and pressure changes can also cause the wood to expand and contract. If you’re not prepared, all those changes can warp your guitar’s body and neck.
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To avoid damage from environmental changes, it’s a good idea to detune your guitar before you fly. With your strings loosened, there’s not as much tension on the bridge, body, and neck. Your guitar will be more prepared to withstand the changes.
It’s also a good idea to throw a guitar humidifier in the case. That will help regulate the humidity changes and protect your guitar—especially if you have an acoustic.
Case latches are great, but they’re not foolproof. Before you take your guitar on a flight, make sure you secure the case with more than just the latches. Many musicians actually tape their cases shut to prevent them from opening during flight. Just don’t use duct tape; it’ll leave a goopy, silver residue behind. Packing tape and Scotch tape are ideal.
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While most hard-shell guitar cases have locks, it’s not a good idea for flying. If the TSA needs to search your case for any reason and can’t get in, they’re going to break the latches open. If you do feel the need to lock your case, attach the key to the case in an obvious way, so agents can get in if necessary.
If you want to carry on your guitar (which you should want to do), it’s going to have to go through the security scanner. Make sure there’s nothing in the case that might require a search—think pliers, string cutters, polishing oils, etc.
Even electronics like tuners and pedals should go in your carry-on bag rather than in the guitar case. If TSA finds something even remotely fishy in your case, they’re going to open it up to do a search. The less attention you can attract, the more likely you’ll get through the process without having to check your guitar.
How To Travel With A Guitar On An Airplane
Anyone who’s ever flown knows that luggage sometimes gets lost. The last thing you want is for you to end up in one city, while your guitar ends up in another. If you don’t properly label your guitar, nobody will ever know it belongs to you!
It’s a good idea to put your contact information both on the outside and inside of the case. It’s unlikely, but there’s always a chance your guitar could get separated from the case—especially if you don’t tape it shut!
Most airlines provide stick-on tags for free, and some even offer privacy tags that hide your information from other passengers. Of course, don’t stick your personal information on the guitar directly (unless you’re into that sort of thing), but it never hurts to find a hang tag and hook it around the headstock or even the tuners, just in case.
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Airport agents likely aren’t guitar experts, and they might not know how to properly handle a guitar or put it back in the case. The TSA suggests that you include short written instructions inside the case that explains how to properly handle and repack your instrument. Leave them in an obvious place inside your case where the agents will be able to find them without much trouble.
Remember to keep your instructions simple, so someone without any musical knowledge can understand. Don’t use fancy words like “tuners” or “tailpiece.” They might not know what you’re talking about.
It’s always safer to carry on your guitar rather than check it under the plane. When you carry on, you’re in charge. You know you’ll be careful when packing and transporting your beloved instrument, but you never know how the airline staff will handle it.
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Whenever you travel with your guitar, try to fly out of major hubs. Small puddle jumper regional airports are more likely to make you check the guitar because there’s not enough space in the smaller commuter planes. Huge commercial airliners have plenty of space for luggage—but oddly enough, still not enough space for your legs.
It might cost a little more, but buying a Zone 1 ticket will help you ensure your guitar stays nice and safe on the plane. Zone 1 means you get to board before everyone else. In other words, you get dibs on all the overhead storage! You’ll never have to worry about trying to jam your guitar into an already-full overhead bin or the
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