Flight cases are hugely expensive here. They just aren't usually necessary, as we don't have that many internal flights to make it worthwhile.

Manitas pads his out with towels and t shirts (extra clothing = useful), and carries it on as handbaggage (when we went to Canada via British Airways), which meant that muggins here, had to have all the stuff we would have had in our hand baggage. We then got place 14 rows apart (HA HA).

It doesn't work trying to take small children with the melodeon, they take up 3 people's allowances by themselves! Unless you put the child in the flight case and have the melodeon on your lap......

Oh, and you can never have enough 'Fragile' stickers, warning tape or breakable signs. They'll mostly be ignored, but you have some comeback if they do mash it, by pointing out that it does actually say on the box. Having given them due warning, you may get some cash out of them. Oh, and GET IT INSURED SEPARATELY!!!

LTS