After a recent article on a smashed guitar on Southwest Airlines, Gearwire contacted Southwest for their policies on traveling with musical instruments. Chris Mainz of Southwest Public relations contacted Gearwire and said that the airline examined each case individually and that they would always try to make the customer happy.

In the case in question: musician Tim Larson, using a certified travel case, found the case had been improperly closed and his 70s era Gibson SG had the headstock snapped off. Mainz told Gearwire that Southwest would try to respond to any claim filed within 30 days. It has been well over three months for Larson . One Southwest employee in Las Vegas (where this occurred) told him it would take at least a year.

Mainz sent a list of policies from Southwest regarding travel with musical instruments. Before you fly with an instrument on any airline you should find out how they handle damage to your instrument. We have omitted the section where Southwest informs that you can buy a seat for your instrument. You could also buy a seat for your suitcase we assume.

"All musical instruments checked as baggage and transported in a hard carrying case (specifically designed for the musical instrument) may be tagged with a regular baggage tag. Musical instruments transported in carrying cases made of thin cardboard that are not able to withstand normal baggage handling will be conditionally accepted. " says the policy.

They note that an instrument of reasonable size that protrudes from only one side of the "sizing box" may be permitted on board as a carry-on as long as it fits in the overhead bin without depriving other customers "unfairly."

There is always a great deal left to the people "on the ground." They make interpretations of the rules (and sometimes seem to make them up). This is not specific to Southwest but seems to be across the board at airlines. It would be interesting to find if any musicians have favorite airlines.

Southwest provided some other info on accepting instruments into the cabin.

The musical instrument accepted in the cabin is subject to the following conditions:

- The musical instrument must be contained in a case.

Some musical instruments (bass, double bass, cello) cannot be secured in a seat and must be transported as checked luggage. A $50.00 oversize/overweight fee may be charged.

Southwest, or any airline's liability is limited to $2,800 per fare-paying customer ( unless, at the time of check-in, the customer has declared the value of the baggage to be in excess of $3,000.00 and purchased the appropriate insurance (or "excess valuation" in airline speak). In any case this excess valuation cannot exceed $1,250 over the $3,000 limit.

Keep in mind that the Transportation Security Adminstration have additional rules for traveling with instruments.