I have a Suzuki Dreadnaught that I travel with, and if it gets broken in transit, I will shed a silent tear, and replace it with something comparable--I have been lucky, and I really expected that this "travel guitar" would be in pieces by now, which is why I have given in and checked it, though with the gigbag, I can always carry it on and stash it in the overhead or in the coat closet--

The only damage I ever suffered was when I was using a hardshell case, and it was the case that was damaged--when I picked it up, the flat, bottom panel of the case was about three quarters detached--it looked like someone had tried to open it with a crowbar and had nearly succeed--the guitar was (miraculously) undamaged, but the case was a total loss--

A friend of mine, who plays with one of the more notorious metal bands, says that they only take instruments on the road that can be replaced easily, that way, they expect it to get broken, so when it doesn't, they feel lucky--