DOT Changes its Carry On Baggage Rules for Musical Instruments

January 18, 2015

(No Comments) Airlines General

It was a well publicized news story of a musician losing his guitar by the United Airlines that took the Department of Transportation to make amends to their rules on carry on baggage. The American airlines are having different rules and regulations with respect to the carriage of musical instruments especially the ones like guitar or violin which can be carried on in the cabin or can also be checked in (listed below).

The change of rule to permit carriage of small musical instruments like guitar and violin as hand baggage on American carriers is a welcome step which will be hailed by musician around America.

Currently, following are the rules of various carriers with respect to carriage of musical instruments in USA:

Airline	Carry-On Baggage	Cabin Seat Baggage	Checked Baggage
Alaska Airlines	Standard carry-on policy applicable.	Need to buy full adult fare and pay 6.25% cargo tax for large instruments.	Standard checked luggage policy applicable.
American Airlines	Restrictions on Case dimensions up to 45 inches. Guitars may be brought only if they can be safely put in overhead bin or designated stowage.	If an instrument is too large, an additional seat need to be bought. In this case, an instrument must travel in a window, bulkhead seat, with the customer in the adjoining seat. Bass fiddles are not accepted except on certain aircraft types.	Allowed as checked baggage but there are no liabilities for damages.
Delta Air Lines	Small musical instruments such as violins accepted as free hand baggage item but must easily fit into the overhead bin or designated location in the cabin.	Fragile instruments that cannot be checked in can be checked as seat baggage. The item must meet certain requirements.	Allowed, but with certain requirements to be met.
Hawaiian Airlines	Standard carry-on policy applies.	Might have to buy seat for heavy/fragile instruments.	Allowed, but with certain requirements to be met.
jetBlue Airways	A musical instrument is allowed provided it can be stowed under the seat or in an overhead bin. Also, total linear dimensions do not exceed 45 linear inches.	Subject to certain requirements.	Can be checked as baggage. There are no additional fees provided they meet certain requirements.
Southwest Airlines	Only condition is to meet the sizing requirements for carry-on items (10 x 16 x 24 inches).	For heavy/fragile instruments you may have to purchase a seat for the instrument. Certain conditions apply.	Oversize and overweight charges apply. If over 100lbs, must be shipped as Air Cargo.
United Airlines	A small musical instrument can be carried on board as a personal item.	Fragile/bulky instruments to be handled as checked baggage. Upright basses and guitars not accepted as cabin-seat baggage.	Must meet certain requirements.
US Airways	Allowed, as long as they can be safely stowed and meet dimensional restrictions of 75 in/190 cm.	If it exceeds the size restrictions for carry-on baggage and/or is too fragile. Certain additional requirements shall be met.	Fragile musical instruments are accepted as checked baggage if they are appropriately packaged. If without appropriate packaging, these are accepted only when a release furnished by US Airways is executed.

There have been a number of complaints in the past against the airlines that refuse their carriage in the cabin. The ruling sets the records straight. It goes to provide uniformity of rules across different carriers.

DOT Changes its Carry On Baggage Rules for Musical Instruments

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