There are important questions you should ask yourself when traveling with a musical instrument; "Will they let me on the plane with it or do I need to check it?"

You should also be wondering, "Will the instrument get there in one piece or in tiny chunks? And if the instrument is smashed to bits who pays for the damage?"

In answering these questions, the Transportation Security Administration offer a particular set of requirements. The airlines must meet TSA standards, but they have additional rules of their own. And each airline will likely have slightly different policy regarding what is covered regarding damage or loss--and what is not covered.

TSA guidelines state you have the option of checking or carrying on musical instruments--with the exception of brass instruments (which must be checked). Other instruments, within carry-on sizes, can be taken through security and onto the plane.

TSA rules allow you to carry one musical instrument in addition to your carry-on and a personal item (a small handbag, for instance) through the security checkpoint. This does NOT, mean your airline will allow this additional item on the plane. Each airline will likely have different policy regarding this "extra" carry-on. In fact, you may find that the airline personnel will bend the airlines rules depending on how full the flight is or what kind of mood they are in that day.

According to American Airlines, small musical instruments can be carried on if they fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you (in this last case it is hard to imagine an instrument bigger than a piccolo that would fit under an airline seat). The instrument cannot exceed 45 linear inches, except guitars. They may be stowed in the overhead bins or other approved areas of the cabin).

TSA officers must either x-ray or physically screen an instrument before you take it on the plane. If you cannot take it on the plane you have two options--buy it a seat or check it.

Checked instruments not in hard-sided cases are considered "at-your-own-risk". If an instrument is damaged but the case does not have visible damage, you could be out of luck.

American Airlines policy states "..due to their fragile nature AA does not accept liability for damages and limited liability for loss.". This last part is what should give you pause. If they lose an expensive piece of gear they tell you, up front, that they are not paying for all of it.

Policies differ from one airline to another. Your ticket will have a list of items not covered, as will the airline website.

"If checked and lost we will cover it but normal considerations apply." says Alison Eshelman, a spokeswoman for Jet Blue.

Among these considerations, no doubt, are Federal and International laws/agreements over liability for lost luggage. Federal law places a cap of $2,500 per passenger for lost baggage. International law limits this to $9.07 per pound for checked bags and $400 per person for unchecked bags.

In other words if you have gear that is worth more than $2,500 do not bring it on an airline or if you do get outside insurance (and don't get it from the airline).

Jet Blue's policies otherwise state that they will pay to repair an instrument that is damaged if the case is damaged (although they assume no liability for the case itself).

The case must be an ATA rated case before any airline will cover it. But what is considered an ATA-rated case? "There are various guidelines to make it a rated case." says Kathy Galbraith, media manager for SKB cases in California.

One part of this is that the case is determined to be able to withstand 100 trips by air. There must be bumper protection on the locks and latching system. On SKB cases there are moulded bumpers that surround the latches. You also need to have a lock that the TSA can open to inspect the contents of the case.

"Not a whole lot of musical instrument cases are bumper protected," says Galbraith. "Because of the shapes of the instruments." SKB have one model 18 RW that are for acoustic guitars and another, 44 RW which are for bass guitars. They also have cases for mixers and the like.

Another company that manufacture travel cases is Des Plaines, IL based, R&R Cases. If you play a stand up bass you may also want to take note. American, for one, does not allow them in the coach cabin and only accepts them on certain types of aircraft.

There is also the issue of what to do when checking an instrument. It WILL be taken out of the case and inspected most likely. The TSA website says that you should stay with your instrument to make sure it is repacked properly. TSA admits that this may not be possible.

"Each airport is different," says Christopher White, a spokesman for TSA in Atlanta. "In some cases we check baggage in the public area in others in a security area."

If you cannot be with your instrument the TSA encourage musicians to include short written instructions on how to repack the instrument. It's important to write the instructions so they are clear enough for a non-musician to understand.

"We do take every care to replace instruments properly." says White.

That may be comforting to some, but more comforting is traveling armed with the knowledge of exactly what your liabilities and responsiblities are with regard to your gear. The more you know before boarding the plane, the less hassle you'll experience in the event you find your equipment is damaged in transit.