What You Need To Check When Flying With Musical Instruments?

In general, airlines allow carriage of two types of baggage. One is the cabin bag which can be carried on person and taken along in the cabin. The other is the check-in baggage which needs to be handed over to the airline staff at the airport for putting in the aircraft luggage hold. A luggage hold is a specially designated area where baggage of all passengers on plane is kept. Airlines have clear policies on size, weight and number of baggage which can be carried on its planes. The baggage policies are defined by airlines on the basis of per passenger. Apart from these two types of luggage, the airlines also have policies for special baggage. This special baggage is something which is not like a normal luggage but is a special article. Some examples of this type of baggage are the sporting equipments, musical instruments, medical instruments, arms and ammunition and likewise. So, if you are taking any of these special articles, then you do need to check the airline policies. Here is what you shall be doing when you are bringing with you, say, a musical instrument-

1.       Note down the weight and dimensions of the instrument you would be carrying. This has to be told to the airline executive.

2.       Speak to the airline customer service executive about your plan to carry the instrument, preferably at the time of booking air tickets. Else, you can check the airline policy online on its website.

3.       Checkwhether this would be allowed to be carried in the plane in the first place. If yes, find out whether this can be carried in cabin or in check-in. You would certainly like to carry it along with you in the cabin, so need to check with the airline if this could be carried in cabin. However, most of the airline would allow carriage of only those musical instruments in cabin which meet the dimensions criteria of the cabin baggage. However, if these do not meet these criteria, then the airlines might ask you to buy a separate seat for your instruments by paying the full fare. Even in this case, there are restrictions on weight and maximum size of the musical instrument to be carried. So, these policies need to be checked.

4.       Some of the musical instruments might be allowed only in check-in baggage. You shall find whether these would be allowed as a part of the allowance or will be charged for separately. Please note that most of the US airlines charge for bringing check-in baggage. Therefore, these instruments, if a part of the check-in baggage, will have to be paid for.

Some other airlines might not consider these as a part of regular check-in baggage and might require you to pay for these.

5.       In case of connecting flights, you also need to check whether the baggage will be through checked-in to final destination or not.

6.       Lastly, do check for the fee you might have to pay for carrying the instrument with you.