I will only add that my wife was a violinist and she had to argue sometimes, but she always suceeded in taking it on. It makes me mad that people are allowed to carry on duty free purchaces and "brief cases" that are bigger than a violin with no argument.

I have usually suceeded in getting my guitar on too; but I haven't tried very many times. I usually carry a SoloEtte. The guitar has even ridden in a Business or first class clothes locker while I was in tourist. The nicest people seem to be JAL.

Murray