There are articles saying it’s better not to check your guitar at the counter, but to carry it on plan, at least try to gate check. And one of the articles suggests a gig bag has a better chance to do so.
According to USA regulation, you can carry your instruments on plane. However, it only applies to American airlines.
To make it safer checking your guitar, some advices here.
Quote from the original article:
‘Never Check the Guitar at the Luggage Counter
No matter what you do – even if you know the airline’s policy on guitars – never allow them to take your guitar at the luggage counter.
Why? There’s a couple reasons. First of all, you have a better chance of getting your guitar on the plane with you if you get it to the gate. Second, the guitar has a much higher probability of actually making it on the plane if it is gate checked as opposed to luggage checked.
If they give you a hard time, just politely tell the person at the luggage counter – “You know, I don’t mind checking my guitar onto the plane, but could I please gate check it? It’s an expensive piece of equipment that I don’t want going down the conveyer belt.” If done nicely, this should work wonders.’
Consider Your Guitar Case
Obviously you’re going to want a good guitar case to travel with, but what exactly does that mean? There are a couple questions you should consider as you travel with your guitar, including:
- Should I use a Gig Bag or a Hard Case? As scary as it may be to travel with your guitar in a gig bag, it’s so much easier to convince airline staff to allow it with you on the plane since it’s more compact and vulnerable than in a hard case.
- What Material? If you travel often with your guitar you may be fully aware of how heavy that darn thing can be. There’s something called “poly-foam” that protects your guitar just as good as a hard case but at half the weight.’
They are written in English, the link:
http://www.guitaradventures.com/10-tips-flying-with-your-guitar
http://www.guitaranswerguy.com/flying-with-a-guitar-as-checked-baggage/
https://www.guitarworld.com/features/acoustic-nation-alert-you-can-carry-your-guitar-it-s-law