I wish I'd known about this website a few weeks ago. I have just collected a EUB from the Tuscan Luthier Biarnel (www.Biarnel.com), and had lots of worry about how to get it home from Pisa to the UK. To cut a very long story short, I eventually came home with it on Ryan Air, having bought an extra seat for it. BA refused, saying it was too long (I really didn't want to dismantle it). It was in a soft gig bag; was not dismantled - i.e. nearly 5 foot long and more delicate than a bass guitar as you can imagine with the bridge etc., and they didn't make me remove the strings. I have to say that Ryan Air were really very good about it, and Pisa airport security were very understanding also. It's now safe and sound at home, where no doubt I'll break it through my own clumsiness somehow