Article: Guide to Flying with your Instrument
Summer fun (or maybe your first out-of-town gig) is at the other end of your flight. You're snaking through the check-in line at the airport. You've even phoned ahead to make sure your beloved guitar can ride along with you. But what's this? The agent says it has to go as checked baggage? What now? Raising you voice won't help; threats will get you arrested. So you watch your treasured musical friend trundle off on the baggage conveyor, and you sit on pins and needles in the plane until you can watch it slamming down the luggage chute at your destination airport.
Our suggestion, after many years of repairing damage done by airlines, is to prepare for the worst before you leave home. Go to your local music store and beg a shipping box. Loosen strings and put extra padding in the case (around peghead especially). Get some bubble wrap so the case is easy to pack and unpack should the airport screeners require it. Cut a hand-hold in the bulky box, or make a handle with strapping tape. Take an extra little roll of strapping tape, just in case. (Of course you can't take anything to CUT the strapping tape...do you suppose the little serrated edge on the tape dispensers is considered a weapon these days?)
You may be able to carry on a smaller instrument. The problem is the lack of consistency between airlines over what can go on board with you. Things have changed of late; not all for the worse. Much of the following information is culled from an article that appeared in The Wall Street Journal August 12, 2003. Airlines figure "linear inches" by adding the length, width, and depth of the case. Alaska Air, for example, will accept up to 50 linear inches as carry-on. American Airlines will accept up to 45 inches. Our Baby Taylor in its hard case is too big for either airline, my mandolin in a Calton case would be OK on Alaska, but not on American. This rule, however, is is likely to be applied in a haphazard manner.
In December of 2002, the Transportation Security Administration decided to allow musicians an exemption so that carry-on instruments are allowed in addition to the usual carry-ons. Click here for a copy of the letter the TSA sent to the American Federation of Musicians. Print it and bring it with you to the airport.
Here are some additional policies for 4 major carriers:
- American
- An additional seat may be purchased for a large instrument, but it must travel in a window, bulkhead seat.
- Bass fiddles aren't accepted in coach class. (Look on the bright side- at least it'll get free champagne up in 1st class.)
- Expect to sign a waiver of liability.
- Northwest
- An instrument weighing up to 50 pounds can go on board for free; they charge for heavier items.
- On domestic flights, the airline has no liability; on international flights, liability is limited to $640.
- Expect to sign a release<./li>
- Delta
- For domestic flights, they will accept liability up to $2,500. Wow.
- An instrument can be carried on as long as it fits in the overhead bin or under the seat. If in doubt, call and get the linear inch maximum.
- United
- A seat can be purchased for an instrument too large to carry on, but it must not stick up above the seat back.
- Musicians are advised to allow 30 minutes extra for check-in (Not a bad idea for any airline).
- Expect that ol' liability waiver.
We hope this information is of help to you in planning your travel. You should call your airline before you go to the airport, and try to talk to a supervisor- write down his name. Pros we know always dress well when they fly; Mark Hanson wears a tie until he and his guitar are on board.
Thanks to The American Federation of Musicians for permission to reprint the letter from the Transportation Security Administration.