United Airlines used to be fine with guitars. I flew UAL several times with my guitar and they always put a "special handling" tag on the case and a flight attendant carried It on board and stowed it securely in the coat closet. But that was in the 1950s and things have sure changed since then!!

The last time I flew with my guitar, they insisted that it had to go in with the regular baggage. A few years before, they had bent the frame of my wheelchair, but a few loud threats and they paid for a new wheelchair. This time, I did what Segovia, a few other concert guitarist—and cellists—do. I bought a child's fare for my guitar and strapped it in the seat beside them.

Don Firth