{"id":98888040,"date":"2017-01-20T17:25:21","date_gmt":"2017-01-20T22:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/?p=98888040"},"modified":"2021-01-20T11:17:40","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T16:17:40","slug":"flying-with-music-gear-and-instruments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/flying-with-music-gear-and-instruments\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Need to Know About Flying With Music Gear and Instruments"},"content":{"rendered":"

For any musicians, their gear is their baby. Taken carefully from show to show, and faithfully (almost religiously) cleaned, there\u2019s nothing more special. But there comes a time that every instrumentalist hates…lugging their precious gear on a flight!<\/p>\n

Sure, if you\u2019re in The Rolling Stones you\u2019d have hundreds of road managers who\u2019ll make sure all your gear gets to your show in one piece. But when you\u2019re just starting off as a band\u00a0or solo musician, there\u2019s nothing more terrifying than hearing the person at the airport check-in counter say \u201cSorry, but you\u2019re going to have to check that in.”<\/p>\n

What? Leave your precious baby in the hands of baggage handlers to be tossed around like a bale of hay?<\/p>\n

Heck no.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what every musician needs to know when flying with music gear and instruments!<\/p>\n

What the DOT Says About Flying with Music Gear & Instruments<\/h2>\n

To sum things up for you axe-men, ivory ticklers, and skin beaters: Most of the time, guitars, and compact wind instruments like saxophones and trumpets, or any other small instrument in a proper casing, can be taken on board as carry-on luggage AS LONG as they fit in the overhead bin or under a seat. If not, and according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Electronic Code of Federal Regulations<\/a>,\u00a0you\u2019ll be able to take it on board only if you have \u201cpurchased an additional seat to accommodate the instrument and the instrument is contained in a case or cover to avoid injury to other passengers, the weight of the instrument does not exceed 165 pounds or applicable weight restrictions for the aircraft, and the instrument can be stowed in accordance with the requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage or cargo established by the FAA.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"man-with-a-guitar-case-at-airport\"<\/p>\n

For those of you who are lugging around a harp or an upright bass, then it’s sometimes possible to secure them to a seat as \u201cseat baggage\u201d or \u201ccargo in passenger cabin.\u201d\u00a0It also could mean that you may have to purchase an extra seat (and some airlines may offer this minus fees, which should make it a bit cheaper).<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s very important for all traveling musicians to remember that \u201ccarriers are not required to give musical instruments priority over other carry-on baggage, therefore passengers traveling with musical instruments may want to buy the pre-boarding option offered by many carriers to ensure that space will be available for them to safely stow their instruments in the cabin.\u201d<\/p>\n

This means:<\/strong>\u00a0Don’t take things for granted! Check with your airline about their policy on instrument storage way before you get to the airport.\u00a0Some airlines may even want you to come in a bit earlier than your flight day to see if your instrument will fit in their cabin space.<\/p>\n

\"a-man-having-a-pleasant-conversation-with-staff-at-airport-check-in-counter\"<\/p>\n

Other things to remember:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Be nice:<\/strong> Being nice, friendly, and conversational at the check in counter could be the difference between allowing your gear on board or being forced to part with it and chucked in with checked-in luggage.<\/li>\n
  2. Pay attention to your case:<\/strong> A soft case with padding might be better for in-cabin storage, but you will need a sturdy hard travel case if you have to check in.<\/li>\n
  3. Talk to other musicians:<\/strong> Some fellow traveling musicians will have great advice on how to travel with your gear.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You may also like: Love Music? Check Out These Music-Themed Things to Do in Memphis!<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    What the TSA Suggests About Flying with Music Gear & Instruments<\/h2>\n

    The TSA has some of the following suggestions, some of which we have already talked about. Be sure to check them out before you book those cheap one way flights<\/a> if you intend to travel with your precious musical instrument!<\/p>\n