Howdy people. It's been a long time since I've posted. I hope all is well.

Has anyone had any experience with air travel and carrying on a Baby Taylor or Little Martin? Or any 3/4 acoustic guitar? I fly 20+ times a year for work and take 2 checked bags every time, so checking the guitar isn't an option.

I have read that they fit in overhead bins. I have also heard it depends on the airline whether they'll allow it on the plane at all.

I know some of y'all travel a lot too, so I'd like to hear your experiences with hauling these little guitars on planes.

Thanks,
Levi

This Canadian band says all there is to say about flying with a Taylor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

Well thats encouraging. I'm hoping to hear that with a 3/4 size guitar the baggage handlers won't get their mitts on it.

I guess buying the guitar a ticket in the seat next to you is not an option...

It sure wouldn't be for me.

I guess buying the guitar a ticket in the seat next to you is not an option...

It sure wouldn't be for me.

I thought of that too but the ticket would likely be more than the guitar. If I were to haul my Gretsch it would get a seat.

No airline I'm aware of allows you to buy a seat for a guitar (or any other object) unless it is very rare and valuable, and then, it's first class.

No airline I'm aware of allows you to buy a seat for a guitar (or any other object) unless it is very rare and valuable, and then, it's first class.

Delta has often sold me a seat in tourist for my double bass. Good luck.

I stand corrected. Thank you, Delta it is.

It all depends on the airline if they have one, but on the intercontinental flights I have taken they had a special cart for "oversized handluggage". You're not allowed to take it with you(to store overhead), but it will receive far better handling than your suitcases. Inform beforehand with your airline of choice.
We have taken guitars, golfbags(not mine I assure you), and glassware(!) this way without disastrous results.

I had a Baby Taylor that I bought just for traveling. There was no problem getting on board with it. It crossed the Atlantic twice, once on Austrian Airlines, once on Air Canada.

It had a soft case, and I was a bit concerned about it getting crushed, because other passengers tend to ram their bags into those overhead compartments, no matter what else is in there, but it was never damaged.

I sold the Baby Taylor, and now have a Yamaha Silent Guitar, which is also small enough to go on board. It has a soft case too, but I worry a bit less about it getting damaged, since it doesn't have a hollow body; it's just a solid lump of wood.

I've crossed the Atlantic several times with regular sized guitars, and always had to let them put the guitars in checked baggage. Only once was I able to bring a regular sized guitar on board, and ironically, that was on a flight from London on Ryanair.

i've been to africa a couple of times
and every time people arrive at the airport with 2 meter long wood giraffes
not realising they did something stupid until they get on the actual plane and it doesn't fit in the overhead compartment
the stewardesses usually come to rescue and take it away to some special storing facility
maybe a guitar fits in there as well
i'd just ask my travel agent

In Australia, a baby Taylor can be taken on as hand luggage and stowed overhead. But get rid of the soft case. In OZ you can get an SKB case that perfectly fits a baby Taylor.

I've flown to India, Vietnam and this summer to Morocco, on three different airlines, with my little Martin. I've never had a problem. I use a padded gig bag of course. Even wrap a bath towel around it inside for extra padding. It fits nicely in the overhead compartment. Just watch to make sure the next person sees it up there, and doesn't hoist and slam their carry on suitcase into it ;)
If you're going anywhere interesting and want to be friendly? Learn a few bars of Hotel California. I've yet to go anywhere, where this isn't requested by some local ;) ;) ;)