How to Fly With a Guitar (Packing & Storage Tips)

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Plus, what to do if you’re forced to check your guitar

Co-authored by Andrew McCormick and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: October 13, 2025 Fact Checked

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Packing Your Guitar

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Storing the Guitar on the Plane

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Other Travel Tips

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If you’re concerned about whether or not you can take your guitar on a plane as checked luggage, don’t worry! It’s actually your legal right to carry a guitar in the cabin of a plane with no extra fees, provided that you follow some guidelines regarding size and safety. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on bringing a guitar on a plane, from packing it to cabin storage, and more. We’ll also provide expert advice from guitar instructor Andrew McCormick, along with other travel tips to make you and your guitar’s journey a smooth and safe one.

Tips When Taking a Guitar on a Plane

Guitar instructor Andrew McCormick recommends using a harder-shell guitar case and insulating the guitar with bubble wrap when packing. Here’s a quick guide to taking your guitar on an airplane:

Pack your guitar in a soft case if carrying on, or a hard case if you have to check it.
Fill the guitar case with bubble wrap, newspaper, or packing material for safety.
Make sure your guitar’s weight falls within the airline’s limit for carry-on luggage.
Store your guitar in the overhead bin (or coat closet) of the plane.
Consider upgrading to business class or buying a seat for your guitar.

Section 1 of 3:

Packing Your Guitar as a Carry-On

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Use a gig-style soft case that can easily fit in the overhead bin. Soft or semi-soft cases are the best choice if you know you’re boarding the plane with your guitar. These types of cases don’t usually add a lot of bulk, so your guitar will still be able to fit into an overhead bin or elsewhere in the cabin.^{[1]
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- Soft or semi-soft cases look less bulky—you may be less likely to get hassled by a gate attendant or flight attendant while you’re bringing it on board. Some believe it also prevents baggage handlers from being too rough with the guitar if you’re forced to check your case.
- A fortified gig case is still soft, but has a little more form and structure to help pad your guitar during its journey. Keep in mind they are also a little bulkier than totally soft cases, but this will at least provide more protection than a standard soft case if you end up having to check your guitar.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Andrew McCormick is a guitar instructor to his students and through videos on his YouTube channel, where he has over 7,000 subscribers and 1.6 million views.
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Put your guitar in a hard travel case if you might need to check it. Pack your guitar in a hard case if you suspect or know you’ll have to put it in the cargo hold. Choose the hardest, sturdiest case possible for your guitar if it’s too big to put in an overhead bin and you don’t want to pay for an extra seat. McCormick believes that “the hard-shell cases work best because the point where the headstock meets the neck of the guitar tends to be the most vulnerable when it comes to moving and transporting, and can snap.”^{[2]
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Andrew McCormick
Guitar Instructor

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- For example, if you called your airline and found out that your guitar is too big for your flight’s overhead bins or if you’re flying on a small commuter plane, put it in a hard case.
- If you plan to fly with your guitar a lot, invest in a heavy-duty flight case. These cases are expensive, but they are made of very hard, reinforced materials and have a lot of foam padding for maximum protection.
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Fill your guitar case with packing material to fill extra space. This will also help stop your guitar from moving when in flight. First, loosen the guitar strings slightly to avoid additional strain due to cabin pressure in flight. McCormick then suggests “insulating the guitar with bubble wrap or newspapers.”^{[3]
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Andrew McCormick
Guitar Instructor

Expert Interview} Add bubble wrap, crumpled-up newspaper, or packing paper in between the strings and the fretboard. Wrap it around the headstock, neck, and heel to protect them. Fill in any empty spaces in the case packing material as well.
- You could also use soft items of clothing, like t-shirts, which may even save you a little room in your other luggage.
- To secure your luggage, consider getting a bag lock for the guitar case, but make sure it’s TSA-compliant.
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Avoid putting any prohibited objects inside your case with the guitar. Remove anything from the case that is not allowed inside a plane’s cabin. Don’t put anything in the case that you wouldn’t put in a normal piece of carry-on luggage to avoid problems with airport security.^{[4]
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- For example, anything sharp, bottles of liquids over 3 oz (88.7 mL), and lighters are prohibited in carry-on luggage.
- Remove or secure any other loose objects in the guitar case, so they’re not being tossed around in transit.
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Ensure the total weight of your guitar is within the airline’s limit. The standard cabin luggage weight limit is 165 lb (75 kg), so your guitar won’t be overweight for a standard commercial flight. Weigh your guitar in its case to make sure that it falls under the airline’s weight limit if your flight has a lower limit.^{[5]
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- Call your airline’s customer service line ahead of time or look on their website to find the exact weight restrictions for your specific flight.
- You are probably only likely to have problems with weight if you are flying on an extremely small plane, since no guitars weigh anywhere near 165 lb (75 kg).
- It’s also a good idea to take note of your guitar’s dimensions so you stay within the required luggage measurements.
- It’s highly recommended that you insure your guitar when taking it on a plane as carry-on luggage. Guitars are considered high-value items, so make sure that the policy covers damage, loss, and theft during transit.

Section 2 of 3:

Storing Your Guitar on the Plane

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Book a seat at the back of the plane to board first. People at the back of the plane usually get to board first, so you’re less likely to have problems finding space in the overhead bins. Choose a seat as far back in the plane as is available when you’re purchasing your ticket to make the process of storing your guitar onboard easier.^{[6]
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- If you’re purchasing an extra seat for your guitar instead of storing it in an overhead luggage compartment, it doesn’t matter where the seats are located.
- Consider upgrading to business class; flight attendants tend to be more open to accepting a guitar as a carry-on for business class passengers.
- If you're flying on an airline that assigns priority groups and lets you choose your seat when you board, try to check in as soon as possible to increase your odds of boarding first. In this case, it doesn't matter where your seat is; just choose one that has storage space available.
- Note that there must be space in the overhead bins at the time you board the plane—flight attendants won’t remove other luggage to make space for your guitar.^{[7]
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Carry your guitar discreetly when boarding the plane. Do this by wearing the guitar upside down at your side. Face the guitar away from the agents when you’re boarding your flight to avoid getting hassled at the gate. If they say something, politely explain that you're bringing it instead of a piece of carry-on luggage, as permitted by law.
- Sec. 403 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 permits passengers to carry a guitar or another instrument in a plane’s cabin instead of a carry-on bag, as long as it will fit in normal luggage storage bins.^{[8]
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- Keep in mind that if you get your guitar onboard, but there isn't any room for it, you might still have to give it to a flight attendant to check it for you, so make sure it’s labeled!
- Just as you would with normal baggage, keep your luggage safe by watching over your guitar case when it’s with you, and don’t leave it unattended.
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Ask a flight attendant if you can store your guitar in a coat closet. There are often coat closets at the front and back of a plane where flight attendants store items. Politely explain to a flight attendant that you’re worried about your guitar getting damaged during the flight and ask if there is any extra room in a closet to store it upright.^{[9]
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- You can also try this option if there’s no overhead room when you’re boarding your flight and the gate attendants are telling you that you can’t take your guitar onto the plane.
- Keep in mind that flight attendants are not required to store your guitar in a closet, so if they do so, they’re doing you a kind favor.
- Don’t argue with the flight attendants if they won’t put it in a closet for you; you won’t achieve anything this way.
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Place your guitar in an overhead bin if you can’t put it in a closet. Head to your seat and put your guitar horizontally into the closest available overhead bin. Place it on top of other passengers’ overhead luggage if the bins are already filling up. Keep an eye out to make sure nobody puts anything on top of it.^{[10]
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- If you’re having trouble fitting your guitar into partially filled luggage bins, practice airplane etiquette by politely asking nearby passengers if you can accommodate their luggage differently to fit your guitar.
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Consider buying a ticket for your guitar if it won't fit in the overhead bin. Purchase an additional ticket for an adjacent seat and take your guitar on the plane as if it’s a person in the seat next to you. This is the only way you’re allowed to take a large guitar on a plane with you that is too big to fit in an overhead bin.^{[11]
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- If you aren’t sure whether your guitar will fit in an overhead bin, this is the safest way to avoid problems when you’re boarding the flight.
- Make sure that you are able to choose 2 seats next to each other if you're purchasing tickets online or to request 2 adjacent seats if you're buying your tickets in person.

Section 3 of 3:

Additional Tips When Flying With a Guitar

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Follow these tips and tricks when traveling with your guitar. Going the extra mile can make a difference between a rough and smooth ride for your 6-stringed traveling companion. From finding out specific overhead bin dimensions beforehand to “gate checking” your guitar if you have to, these tips can make your travel experience more smooth:
- Research the plane's overhead bin dimensions. Make sure they are large enough to accommodate your guitar in its case.
- Check in early for your flight. This may land you in an earlier boarding group, so you’ll be one of the first to access the overhead bins.
- Upgrade to priority boarding when possible. If you didn't manage to get an early boarding group number, many airlines offer boarding upgrades.
- Every airline and every flight or gate attendant may not treat you and your guitar the same way. Print out a copy of Sec. 403 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and carry it with you to help resolve any disputes.
- Ask if you can “gate check” your guitar. A guitar checked at the gate only enters the hold when you arrive at the plane door. This process can help your guitar avoid being tossed onto too many conveyor belts inside airports and additional baggage handling.
- Consider buying a cheaper guitar specifically for travel if you have an expensive guitar that you’re really worried about damaging.