Travel Guitar

Guitar in hard case

Please advise me on traveling by plane with my guitar.

Can I Travel by plane with my guitar in the soft case, or do I need a hard case?  If I check it in a soft case is it likely to be damaged?

You can use the soft case, but I do recommend it. The workers at the airport are not careful with luggage and throw it around. Your guitar could very easily be damaged in a soft case.  In fact I would be surprised if it were not damaged.  Also, in turbulent weather baggage might sift and something might fall on top of your guitar damaging it. I would advise you to buy a good hard case if you are traveling to protect your guitar from damage.  Also, if your guitar is a good one and you want to be certain to protect it, don’t check it through as luggage, but carry it on board the plane.  In this case the flight attendant will make space in a closet on board if you are flying on a larger plane, and if in a small plane they will “gate check” your guitar, taking it from you at the gate, and handling it with more care than you could expect regular luggage, and then handing it back to you at the gate when you disembark from the aircraft.  This is how I do it, and I recommend it to anyone who values their instrument.  The ultimate in security for your guitar would be to travel first class and buy an extra seat for your guitar to sit next to you.  That is how the professional concert artists travel.  Have a good flight.