What’s the best way to go about flying with a guitar? Checking it would be easier (so I wouldn’t have to carry around a bulky case), but I desperately don’t want it to break. I’ve been getting a lot of conflicting advice, so if anyone has experience in this, I would love to hear about it!
I have long wondered how true this video is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo
However, I have never had the nerve to fly with a guitar. If I did fly with a guitar, I would try to carry it on if I possibly could.
I also do not leave guitars in a hot car in the summer.
We fly with a guitar all the time. The problem is generally more the case, if hardshell. For short flights or trips, we got a travel case and carry it on. For longer trips (where we won’t be carrying the thing all over the place), We bought a huge suitcase and put the guitar in there, all stuffed with padding and checked it. No case. We only bring a fairly low value guitar. The Martin always stays home. ?
If we are going to be in and out of places (changing hotels, taking taxis and trains, etc.) it is a real pain. So we have learned to leave it home. And eventually we got a mandolin to bring instead when life without an instrument for a Week is just too much of a hardship.
@DadTwoGirls haha that video is exactly what I’m afraid of!
@cypresspat that’s an interesting strategy! What’s the benefit of putting it in a suitcase compared to a hardshell case? Also, I’ve seen that some people slacken the strings before flying. Did you do that or was it fine without?
@phaseshift, i am not the guitarist (husband is) and I think he main advantage of the large suitcase was the be REALLY sure that the guitar is well padded. Plus with the suitcase, we are storing clothing, too. The guitar case only holds the guitar. And I think that secretly my husband is embarrassed walking around with a guitar case. He is a devoted amateur, but he gets embarrassed when people ask if he is a pro musician. He plays daily but I am he only person he will play in front of!
He does loosen the strings, by the way. He is very, very careful with his instruments!
https://diymusician.cdbaby.com/musician-tips/flying-with-your-guitar/
Try to check this article, you may find the answer here.