This was just published a couple of days ago, and brought to my attention by a musician friend back home in Canada. Might be of interest for pipers and others travelling with our instruments.
Final Rule - Musical Instruments
The Department of Transportation is issuing a final rule to implement section 403 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-95, 49 U.S.C. §41724) regarding the carriage of musical instruments as carry-on baggage or checked baggage on commercial passenger flights operated by air carriers.
Section 403 of the Act requires U.S. air carriers to accept musical instruments 2
on their passenger flights either as carry-on baggage or checked baggage, provided that certain
conditions are met.
During the past year, the Department has been engaged in dialogue with musicians as
well as representatives of airlines and industry associations to address the difficulties musicians
face when traveling by air with musical instruments.
This rule requires that carriers must allow a passenger to carry into the cabin and stow a
small musical instrument, such a violin or a guitar, in a suitable baggage compartment, such as
the overhead bin or under the seats in accordance with FAA safety regulations.
This rule also states that carriers are prohibited from charging passengers with a musical
instrument as carry-on baggage an additional fee other than any standard fee carriers impose for
carry-on baggage.
OK, I fail to see how the new rules are all that beneficial to musicians. Still counts as an additional carry-on, and fees can be assessed if one exceeds the allowed # of bags (or weight) as the airline allows. I suppose in those instances in which there is definitely room in the passenger compartment to stow musical instruments (safely), then they may be carried aboard. If NO room, then they will STILL be required to be checked as baggage, and undergo the usual risks to the instrument. So, there is no certainty of making it into the passenger area, and I’d recommend a sturdy flight case and hope that the instrument makes it through unscathed by personnel, loading equipment or environmental conditions. I guess the benefit is that you won’t be FORCED by untrained or hostile personnel to place it as checked baggage in the hold UNTIL & IF it’s determined whether there is or is not room in the passenger compartment. And apparently if you buy a seat for the instrument, it can be taken aboard that way (unless it’s unsafe or an obstruction). So, mostly, it’s the same restrictions and opportunities that one currently runs into, perhaps with some greater consistency of application of the policies by personnel.
I wish there was a very simple form/tick box/registry/comment space when buying a ticket/SOMETHING a passenger could use to alert a carrier that he or she will need accommodation for a musical instrument.
Seems the airline could then reserve closet space or a number of overhead bins accordingly.
Of course, I’m one of those morons who checks my suitcase and actually pays for it, too, in the misguided hope it will give me a better shot at a bin.
I find that it meets most airlines carry-on baggage guidelines, but it has a built-in “insurance policy” in that if you do find yourself in the worst-case scenario and they decide to stow your pipes in the belly of the mechanical bird it’s sturdy enough to protect them.
I believe that the intent was to permit an instrument in addition to a carryon with no extra cost to the musician, but that seems to have disappeared in this “final” writing of the guidelines. Why am I not surprised…
