I travel a lot by air. I usally fly out of Boston Logan or TF Green in Providence, RI. I have purchased a Calton Case for my Martin HD-28 and I check my guitar. The case is amazingly sturdy and I have never had any problems. Since we can no longer lock our luggage here in the US, theft is certainly a concern, however I have instrument insurance through the American Federation of Musicians.

As for taking the guitar on the plane, that is never consistent and is always at the whim of the folks working the gates and on the planes. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't with no rhyme or reason. One thing that some folks have done is to try to take the guitar on the plane, and if they tell you can't, gate check it, then wait for it where you deplane in your arrival city. It *should* be brought to you a bit after you exit the plane and won't go to baggage claim.

I did this myself before I got the Calton, but that was also before 9/11.

Good luck,
Debra Cowan