I have had two experiences flying with a guitar. The first was flying to Canada about 5 years ago. I asked the airline ahead of time and they agreed to let me bring it on the plane. On the way back to the USA, my connecting flight was cancelled. I was given a ticket on another airline. I was stopped at the gateway door and firmly told I could not bring my guitar on board. I pleaded that it was a vintage Martin and a family heirloom to no avail. I had to check it at the gate and watch it being loaded on with the other checked baggage. I said a prayer for it (an infrequent behavior for me).

I went out and bought a Mark Leaf case. Different than a Carlton, looks like crap (like it's covered by aluminum foil) and is a rounded triangle shape, no obvious upper and lower bout. It is designed specifically to fit my guitar. I have not thrown it out the window, but I suspect the guitar would survive. Still I flinched as I watched it on the conveyor.

I flew 11/11/01 using the Mark Leaf case and had no problems with the guitar as checked baggage. However, at both destination airports, it was not on the baggage carousel. It was at the "odd shaped baggage" pickup. When I picked it up in Baltimore, there was luggage waiting from previous flights. One was a nice hardshell guitar case. I was tempted to go peek. There was no supervision to prevent me from picking it up and taking it with me (cringe!).

I am not a frequent flyer or a nasty guy, but I try to avoid having any carryon luggage that doesn't fit under my seat. I suspect if I saw a Mudcatter whom I didn't know shove a dreadnaught guitar HSC into the overhead luggage bin I would consider him or her to be an inconsiderate jerk. They are clearly taking up much more than their fair share. All too frequently I see the last few boarders have little or no space for their carry-ons, usually because the kitchen sink and everything else has already been stuffed in.

The airlines are at fault for this. Except for my guitar, they seem to be oblivious to the carry-on baggage a person has except to announce routinely that the number and size are limited. Many people get on with objects more numerous or larger than allowed and no one comments to them.

It is a dog-eat-dog situation and I don't much like it so I opt out.

Roger in Baltimore