mandolins are apparently more forgiving. The only hassle ever has been a counter clerk on the Victoria Clipper telling me she had to CALL it a guitar and I had to buy a seat for it. Of course it's about a third the volume of the rectangular dimensions allowed, and the ship's crew corrected her. That was one I didn't expect. Customs has never hassled me either direction. On that score, I usually carry a US-made mandola bought in Canada, but all my instruments are so old and grody it wouldn't be a likely challenge anyway. Can you get away with Occupation - Student? No lie there!