Dred-- They do horrible stuff to everybodies luggage. I would only gate check if it was my only choice. I always bring it on the plane and have been lucky so far but I know many musicians and have been with bandmates when the airport reps insist that the overhead is full and won't let the instrument on the plane. I meant to gate check as opposed to letting then bully you into checking it at ticketing. I've had friends that have been threatened with being removed from the flight unless they checked their instruments. It is a stressful thing no doubt. By being early and sitting in the back you can almost assure yourself they will let it on the plane.

what about key clamps, plastic bubble wrap, and duck tape?

I got myself a Walt Johnson. Hopefully the flight crew will be nice enough to let me bring it in...or just not notice. But i wanted the protection of a good case just in case things didn not work out. Thanks for the advice.

Both me and my dad play tenor and he goes away with his all the time. The sax has been in the hold and in overhead lockers. The cases get bashed around all the time - at school, at gigs and so on. But are very resiliant. We both use Hiscox Cases, the "Liteflite" one - the pro version is best and holds my sax brilliantly. We have both taken them with us as hand luggage becuase they are much smaller that your usual case and no one seems to mind. Hope that helps - really recommend the Hiscox cases

I know that this is late, but it can still help. You can insist that your sax is gate checked, and then ask the gate attendant if you can have one of the flight attendants store it in the coat closet. There is usually enough room, and more often than not, they will do it for you.

When I last flew with my tenor, I wrapped it in socks, bubble wrap, duct tape, more socks, more bubble wrap, more tape, put a few spells on it, took it to a Jewish Rabbi to be blessed, took it to a Catholic Priest to be blessed, took it to a Buddhist Monk to be blessed, took it to a Muslim Alim to be blessed, cleaned it using holy water, Visited some Australian Aboriginals who put hexes on it, and finally, put more bubble wrap on it. And it was fine! :-)

Ok, I was kidding about the hexes, blessings and spells (however, more than enough prayers were made for it). Just wrap your tenor in any soft material you can find in addition to purchasing one of those hard gigbags mentioned above. Best of luck

man yeah tape that sucker. i've been on a plane on a school trip, and the tenor i played at the time(school owned) was being loaded onto the ramp as i watched from the window. the guy tossed it on the ramp(ouch), but it only made it about 1/2way onto the ramp. a little less actually, cuz it made it about 5-6 feet up, fell to the ground. the case busted open, and everything went everywhere. the guy kinda looked at it, put the remains of the main pieces back in the case, and put it back on the ramp. so on a concert trip, i was out a horn, and all of the accessories. a huge downer let me tell ya. i screamed somethin when this happened, and the flight atendant came runnin to me. asked what was the matter. i was kinda speechless, but pointed at the stuff left on the ground, and asked about reimbursement. of course she laughed and walked away. school owned, but still. duct tape would've at least kept that case together. i had told a friend of mine to tape it b4 we left, he agreed, but forgot. i wasn;t mad tho, cuz it was my own stupid mistake. Tape! Bungee! Liquid Nails(kidding)! jus keep it together

For those that are still wondering about this topic, I just flew American Airlines nationally and internationally with my Tenor Sax. On the 800 number they wouldnt say yea or nay, however when I told the lady at the AA counter, she didnt bat an eye and let me carry it on. Planes were full and all - not a problem!