Traveling musicians often carry their instruments on flights, usually without issue—but sometimes airlines mishandle these fragile items, causing heartbreak. That’s what happened recently to Nashville musician Sam Hayes, whose guitar was shattered after a United Airlines flight.
Hayes, traveling with his guitar, was asked to gate-check the instrument due to lack of space onboard. Reluctantly, he agreed. Upon arrival, however, he was devastated to find his guitar broken into “a thousand pieces” inside its case.
“It’s part of who you are, and you just fall in love with these guitars—they become an extension of you,” Hayes shared, describing the emotional blow.
United Airlines reportedly asked Hayes to purchase a new guitar upfront, promising reimbursement later—meaning Hayes had to initially cover the cost himself.
When Grammy-nominated country singer Chris Young heard about Hayes’ situation, he reached out. Though they had only met a few times, Young told Hayes he had a Gibson waiting for him at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville. Hayes expressed deep gratitude, saying this act “goes to show who Chris is and how he understands what music means to those who chase it as a job and a dream.”
Young himself knows the pain of airline damage. “A long time ago, when I was living in Texas, I had my guitar broken on a flight. I know what that feels like, so I was just trying to help out a friend,” he said. “In the country music industry, we try to take care of each other.”
Airlines provide guidelines for traveling with fragile items like musical instruments. United Airlines states on its website that small instruments in hard cases can be carried on if they fit in overhead bins or under seats. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows small instruments as carry-on items but leaves size and weight policies to individual airlines.
The Musicians’ Union advises that musicians won’t usually pay extra for cabin baggage instruments—provided there’s space for safe stowage—and suggests using priority boarding since instrument storage is often first-come, first-served.
Despite these rules, Hayes’ experience highlights the ongoing challenges musicians face when traveling with their most cherished tools—and the importance of community support when things go wrong.
