Brian May paid £10,000 to fly his guitar out to Los Angeles.
The Queen legend wanted to perform with the instrument at the Classic Rock Awards in Hollywood earlier this week but refused to let the Red Special guitar travel in the hold with the rest of the luggage for fear it would get damaged during transit.
The 67-year-old rocker requested the guitar's flight be upgraded, dropping the staggering sum for the instrument to receive the first class VIP treatment on the British Airways flight from London to Los Angeles.
A source told the Mirror newspaper: "There is no way he would have allowed it to be treated like any other piece of luggage.
"A member of staff and the guitar were bumped up to first class where he had to purchase a seat for it as it couldn't go in the overhead locker.
"It was the only option so he made sure it was treated to the full VIP works. There are few things in Brian's life that he is as passionate about as his guitar."
The guitar undoubtedly means a lot to the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' hitmaker and has remained a staple of his performances since he built it in his father's workshop in Feltham, Middlesex, around 40 years ago.

Lamar Odom is ready to divorce Khloe Kardashian.
The former NBA player - who split from Khloe, 30, last December - is reportedly ready to sign the legal documents ending their marriage when instructed to do so by the 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' star.
Despite filing court papers to dissolve her four-year marriage to Lamar, 34, after months of rumors he was addicted to cocaine and cheated on her with multiple women, the brunette beauty is yet to make "a move" and push for the proceedings to go ahead.
A source told HollywoodLife.com: "He's not hiding from Khloe. She could make it official today. All she has to do is tell him and he will make it happen. But that conversation ain't happened."
Lamar - who has previously been accused of refusing to sign the divorce papers in the hopes of repairing their marriage - is still keen for a reconciliation with Khloe but insists he is happy for the divorce to go ahead if its what she wants.
The source said: "Khloe knows where he is. She just hasn't made a move or told him flat out what she wants to do. Lamar wants her with him but only if she wants to be. It's got to be mutual. If not, he's cool with letting her go for good."
The claims are a stark contrast to earlier this year when it was reported the reality TV star couldn't even get in contact with her estranged spouse.
Sources said at the time: "Khloé can't even get in touch with him right now.
"He refuses to sign the divorce papers."

Miley Cyrus and Patrick Schwarzenegger are 'having so much fun' together.
The 'Wrecking Ball' hitmaker - who is said to have been "casually" romancing the 20-year-old son of Arnold Schwarzenegger - isn't letting her hectic schedule get in the way of her blossoming romance with him
Although they have refused to put a label on their relationship, the couple are said to be like "best friends" and are thoroughly enjoying spending time together.
A source told E! News: "They don't have a title. They are having so much fun together that friends don't know at certain times if they are a couple or best friends.
"They can go for a length of time without seeing each other, and then they are spending every waking moment together."
While the new pairing may seem a little obscure to outsiders, Miley - who split from her fiancé Liam Hemsworth in September last year - has in fact been friends with the model "forever" and the couple are even believed to have briefly dated in 2011.
The source explained: "They might seem like an odd pairing, but they are quite good for each other. They've been friends forever."

Beyonce and Jay Z are set to start trying for a second baby.
The couple - who already have two-year-old daughter Blue Ivy - are keen to expand their brood, with the 33-year-old singer reportedly planning to fall pregnant in Spring.
A source told OK! Magazine: "If all goes well they'll start trying for a baby before Christmas.
"She wants to be pregnant by spring."
The news comes just months after the 'Crazy in Love' hitmaker and her 44-year-old husband were said to be on the brink of splitting up when their joint 'On The Run' tour ended in Paris in September.
However, the couple slammed rumours they were heading for divorce after renewing their vows and have even started house hunting together in Paris in order to get a fresh start.
The source said: "This is all part of a make or break situation.
"Renewing their vows was the first step, then a new city, a new scene."
Beyonce's father Matthew Knowles also defended the pair over the divorce rumours at the time and insisted the couple orchestrated the alleged break up to "ignite" ticket sales for their tour.
Matthew - who used to manage Beyonce and girl group Destiny's Child - said: "I know, because we've done this. From experience, there's a tour going on.
"So you sometimes have to ignite that tour. It's called a Jedi mind trick. The Jedi mind trick fools you a lot."

Rachel Bilson has given birth to a baby girl.
The 'Hart of Dixie' actress and her beau Hayden Christensen, welcomed their first child, a daughter named Briar Rose Christensen, into the world on October 29, a representative for Rachel confirmed today (06.11.14).
The rep told E! News: "Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson welcome their daughter Briar Rose Christensen born on October 29, 2014."
The brunette beauty, 33, and the 'Star Wars' actor also requested privacy following the birth - subscribing to the celebrity coalation 'No Kids Policy', which bans taking photographs of their children without consent - and added that the first time mum and the newborn were "healthy and doing well".
The rep continued: "Both mother and baby are healthy and doing well. They are asking for privacy and subscribe to the No Kids Policy."
Although the couple never officially confirmed the news, they were said to be "excited" at the prospect of welcoming a daughter.
A source previously said: "She's so excited to be having a baby girl,
"She's wanted it for a long time and is going to be an amazing mom. Everyone is ecstatic for her."

'Star Wars Episode VII' has been renamed 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'.
The latest instalment of the legendary sci-fi franchise - which is set for release on December 18 next year - has received it's long-anticipated title according to a post shared on the film's official Twitter account today (06.11.14).
The tweet - which also confirms principal photography for the movie is complete - reads: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens has completed principal photography. #StarWarsVII #TheForceAwakens."
Further details surrounding the release of the latest addition to the popular series have largely been kept under wraps, although it is known the film will feature the stars of the original trilogy, including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, as well as Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Peter Mayhew.
The cast has been supplemented by the additions of Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, John Boyega, Max von Sydow and Daisy Ridley.
The revelation is sure to please fans who were left concerned for the future of the movie earlier this year after Ford was injured on set, sparking fears the seventh episode may not be completed on schedule
The Hollywood icon - who was crushed by a hydraulic door at the Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire in August - was forced to undergo surgery on his leg following the accident leading to the brief postponement of filming.
However, the 72-year-old actor was quick to make a full recovery and filming restarted with no change being announced for the official release date.

Britney Spears has confirmed her "new" romance.
The 'Perfume' singer - who split from legal researcher David Lucado in August after 18 months of dating - confessed she has started seeing someone "very special" after reports emerged earlier this week she was dating Charlie Ebersol.
She told E! News at Britney Day in Las Vegas: "Yes there is a special someone. It's very new."
The 32-year-old singer - who was introduced to Charlie by mutual friends - is said to be "having a lot of fun" with the producer and director.
A source said: "They met through friends and although they're not yet super serious, they're having a lot of fun together."
Charlie, 31, was previously linked to Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova in 2008 and dated 'One Tree Hill' actress Sophia Bush in 2012.
News of the blossoming romance may come as a surprise as Britney recently insisted that she was enjoying the single life.
The 'Criminal' singer said: "I am pretty damn happy right now.
"It's all about setting yourself a goal and going for that and just being motivated and staying true to yourself."

Tom Daley wants to join One Direction.
The 20-year-old Olympian has confessed he's keen on becoming the sixth member of the boyband, made up of heartthrobs Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik.
When asked which music group he'd most like to be a part of, Tom told MTV UK: "I'd probably have to say One Direction."
Although the hunky diver isn't sure he is musical enough to make it as a member of the world-renowned boyband.
He added: "But I can't sing or dance, so in another life I'd have to have a few more musical genes..."
Tom - who recently stripped down to his swimming trunks to shoot Speedo's 2015 calendar - also admitted he doesn't see himself as much of a celebrity and finds it surreal that people consider him a sex symbol.
He explained: "I don't really think of myself as anything other than a diver. It's all a bit surreal to be honest."
The young sporting star prefers to focus all his attention on training in the hopes of taking home a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
He said: "My dream is to win gold at Rio and you can only do that if you put in the hours in the dry dive, gym and pool."

Paris Hilton has purchased a "perfect" new home in New York.
The 33-year-old socialite shared the happy news on her Instagram account today (06.11.14), posting a photo of herself in front of an enormous marble fireplace.
Alongside the picture of her new pad, Paris also thanked the city's luxury real estate broker Jared L. Seligman for helping her find the property to add to her portfolio.
She wrote: "Love my new place in NYC! Thank you @JaredSeligman for helping me find the perfect place to live! I love it so much! #HomeSweetHome."
She also made sure that her newest pooch, Prince - who is a white Pomeranian - was settling into his new abode.
She shared: "@Prince_Hilton_The_Pom loves his new NYC Loft!"
It seems Jared was just as thrilled to have helped the blonde beauty find her perfect home and sent his congratulations to the heiress and her pup.
After sharing another picture of Paris in her new home, Jared wrote: "Congratulations @parishilton and @prince_hilton_the_pom on your new loft! Love to see happy clients and their four legged friends in their new home! (sic)."
With the launch of her 17th perfume 'With Love, Paris Hilton' it's no wonder that Paris can afford such an extravagant purchase.
According to Celebuzz.com, she has created an empire worth an estimated $2 billion since releasing her first fragrance 'Paris Hilton' in 2004.

AC/DC insist Phil Rudd's arrest will "not affect" their future plans.
The 60- year-old drummer has been charged with trying to have two people murdered, threatening to kill and possessing drugs following a raid on his New Zealand home early this morning (06.11.14), but his bandmates - Brian Johnson, Angus Young, Cliff Williams and Stevie Young - will still go ahead with releasing new album 'Rock or Bust' later this month, and heading out on the road in 2015.
A statement on the group's website said: "We've only become aware of Phil's arrest as the news was breaking. We have no further comment.
"Phil's absence will not affect the release of our new album Rock or Bust and upcoming tour next year."
Following his arrest, Rudd appeared in Tauranga district court but didn't speak during the hearing and has been bailed until 27 November, with the terms of his bail including having to stay in Tauranga and have no contact with anyone relating to the procuring murder charge.
The drummer doesn't feature in promotional material for 'Rock or Bust' and was not a part of two video shoots in the last few months.
Singer Brian reportedly told fans at one of the shoots that the drummer was missing due to a "family emergency".
Rudd joined AC/DC in 1975 but was dropped in 1983. He rejoined in 1994.

Christina Applegate is "always on the phone" talking to cancer patients.
The 42-year-old actress - who beat breast cancer in 2008 after having a double mastectomy - spends a lot of time talking to suffers and survivors of the disease because she was so glad when people were there for her throughout the treatment.
She said: "I always get really nervous right before I get on the phone, because I think that this person might need to hear something different than the girl I talked to two weeks ago.
"But the one thing that helped me was, 'I'm here for you,' so that you never feel alone and I think when you get diagnosed with cancer there's such a sense of loneliness, but we need to know as people going through this is that you're not alone."
Christina - who has three-year-old daughter Sadie with her musician husband Martyn LeNoble - admitted she still talks to three of her survivor friends who she used to regularly call when she was having a low moment during her treatment.
Speaking to E! while choking back the tears, she added: "Our doctors understood that we as cancer survivors or patients are the ones that really understand one another on a deep cellular level.
"I had these three strangers in my life who I called up at anytime of the night and they would be there for me and answer any questions that I have ... I still talk to them to this day.
"Not talking about cancer every time they saw me was nice sometimes. You wanted to be reminded that you're much more than that in life, and you really are."

Kelly Osbourne is missing England.
The 'Fashion Police' co-host, who was born in London, took to her Twitter account to reveal she was "p***ed off" about being stuck in Los Angeles and missing Guy Fawkes Day - an annual event on November 5 when people attend firework displays - in Britain yesterday (05.11.14).
She tweeted: "I must admit I'm proper p***ed off that I'm missing #GuyFawkesDay! I'm home sick! #RememberRememberTheFifthOfNovember (sic)"
As well as missing out on standing outside watching a bonfire on a chilly Guy Fawkes Day - named after a man who was guarding explosives intended to be used to kill King James I in 1605 - the 30-year-old star isn't even reaping the benefits of living in the Sunshine State.
She wrote on Instagram: "Still don't understand how I have a vitamin D deficiency and have to go through this..... I live in LA the [sun] is always shining but somehow not on me? (sic)"
Kelly - who was left devastated when her 'Fashion Police' co-host Joan Rivers died in September aged 81 - also recently vented further frustrations about Hollywood in another message on social media.
She wrote: "Sad to see that people in Hollywood would rather point fingers & kick others when they are down rather than help them! (sic)"
Despite her LA aggravations, living in Californian enables Kelly to spend time with her parents, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, but that can also have its downside as she joked about an awkward moment on Sunday (02.11.14) when she had to watch an erectile dysfunction advert with her father.
She wrote: "#ThatAkwardMomentWhen you're sat watching TV with your dad & a sexy erectile dysfunction commercial comes on! #Silence (sic)"