Mar 25, 2015, 1:43 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
The final DOT ruling on traveling with musical instruments can be found here:
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...nal%20rule.pdf
The language refers to small musical instruments as "carry-on baggage," and you'll find most US airlines have adopted that language in their baggage policies, including AA and US. One thing to note in the regs is that space must be available for the instrument and airlines are not required to move other carry-on luggage to make room for an instrument. But more importantly, the regs also state that airlines cannot move a stored musical instrument to make room for other passengers' baggage.
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...nal%20rule.pdf
The language refers to small musical instruments as "carry-on baggage," and you'll find most US airlines have adopted that language in their baggage policies, including AA and US. One thing to note in the regs is that space must be available for the instrument and airlines are not required to move other carry-on luggage to make room for an instrument. But more importantly, the regs also state that airlines cannot move a stored musical instrument to make room for other passengers' baggage.
does musical instrument (e.g. violin) count as a carry-on on AA?
Mar 24, 2015, 8:54 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 355
You are setting yourself up for an expensive failure.
Electronics in a checked bag are not covered, irreplaceable documents obviously should not be checked either.
A $450,000 violin deserves its own seat and then there would be no debate about the carry-on.
Anything else would seem like utter folly in the circumstances you describe.
Electronics in a checked bag are not covered, irreplaceable documents obviously should not be checked either.
A $450,000 violin deserves its own seat and then there would be no debate about the carry-on.
Anything else would seem like utter folly in the circumstances you describe.
Mar 24, 2015, 9:02 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Sure, but can that $450,000 check then be turned in for a violin equivalent to the one you have? Seems like the market could be rather rarefied and fickle at that level (but I don't know, so am honestly curious).
Mar 24, 2015, 9:24 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 93
As a fellow violin player, I echo the suggestion from others to buy a suit for your instrument if traveling in Y due to its incredible value. My violin is only worth a couple thousand dollars so I'm prepared to take the risk that it might be checked if I am extremely unlucky. The only time this ever happened was in August 2006 when I was flying out of the UK over to the US and everything had to be checked due to the liquid explosives plot.
Mar 25, 2015, 8:07 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC-BNA
Programs: Lifetime Plat/4mm miles, Starwood, HiltonHonors
Posts: 657
Worth noting that the FAA also recently issued new guidelines RE flying with musical instruments.
http://flyingwithguitars.com/2013/08...c-instruments/
http://flyingwithguitars.com/2013/08...c-instruments/
Mar 25, 2015, 8:14 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 329
The final DOT ruling on traveling with musical instruments can be found here:
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...nal%20rule.pdf
The language refers to small musical instruments as "carry-on baggage," and you'll find most US airlines have adopted that language in their baggage policies, including AA and US. One thing to note in the regs is that space must be available for the instrument and airlines are not required to move other carry-on luggage to make room for an instrument. But more importantly, the regs also state that airlines cannot move a stored musical instrument to make room for other passengers' baggage.
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...nal%20rule.pdf
The language refers to small musical instruments as "carry-on baggage," and you'll find most US airlines have adopted that language in their baggage policies, including AA and US. One thing to note in the regs is that space must be available for the instrument and airlines are not required to move other carry-on luggage to make room for an instrument. But more importantly, the regs also state that airlines cannot move a stored musical instrument to make room for other passengers' baggage.
Mar 25, 2015, 1:17 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 355
The final DOT ruling on traveling with musical instruments can be found here:
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...nal%20rule.pdf
The language refers to small musical instruments as "carry-on baggage," and you'll find most US airlines have adopted that language in their baggage policies, including AA and US. One thing to note in the regs is that space must be available for the instrument and airlines are not required to move other carry-on luggage to make room for an instrument. But more importantly, the regs also state that airlines cannot move a stored musical instrument to make room for other passengers' baggage.
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...nal%20rule.pdf
The language refers to small musical instruments as "carry-on baggage," and you'll find most US airlines have adopted that language in their baggage policies, including AA and US. One thing to note in the regs is that space must be available for the instrument and airlines are not required to move other carry-on luggage to make room for an instrument. But more importantly, the regs also state that airlines cannot move a stored musical instrument to make room for other passengers' baggage.
I found the FAQ section, located here:
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...ts_FAQ_2_0.pdf.
Mar 25, 2015, 1:42 pm
#23
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
The final DOT ruling on traveling with musical instruments can be found here:
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...nal%20rule.pdf
The language refers to small musical instruments as "carry-on baggage," and you'll find most US airlines have adopted that language in their baggage policies, including AA and US. One thing to note in the regs is that space must be available for the instrument and airlines are not required to move other carry-on luggage to make room for an instrument. But more importantly, the regs also state that airlines cannot move a stored musical instrument to make room for other passengers' baggage.
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...nal%20rule.pdf
The language refers to small musical instruments as "carry-on baggage," and you'll find most US airlines have adopted that language in their baggage policies, including AA and US. One thing to note in the regs is that space must be available for the instrument and airlines are not required to move other carry-on luggage to make room for an instrument. But more importantly, the regs also state that airlines cannot move a stored musical instrument to make room for other passengers' baggage.
Mar 25, 2015, 5:18 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: WAS, LAX
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,330
A $450,000 violin is not uncommon in the professional violin world. Many concertmasters, chamber musicians and solo artists play instruments that are valued anywhere from $100,000 to $4 million. A lot of players don't own these instruments outright; rather, they're loaned out by wealthy benefactors, foundations or societies (i.e. The Stradivari Society). The owners are usually pretty savvy investors, as the value of exceptional wooden stringed instruments is basically guaranteed to increase over time.
Mar 25, 2015, 5:21 pm
#27
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: WAS, LAX
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,330
Thanks! As I'm not a lawyer, that page just made my head hurt.
I found the FAQ section, located here:
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...ts_FAQ_2_0.pdf.
I found the FAQ section, located here:
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/fil...ts_FAQ_2_0.pdf.
1. Your instrument fits in the overhead bin
and
2. There's enough space remaining to fit your instrument upon boarding
then
the airline can't legally disallow you from putting your instrument in the overhead bin.
(and, p.s., hello from another traveling classical musician!)
Mar 25, 2015, 5:40 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 691
it might actually count as the carry-on, not the "personal item". a personal item belongs with the person, as in under the seat. the carry-on goes in the overhead space. not sure.
Mar 25, 2015, 6:02 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA PLT AA 1MM
Posts: 727
That space is not predictable or necessarily usable. Between the peculiar spacing of seat support hardware and the intrusion of IFE boxes, one cannot count on space under the seat in front AT ALL. Just another example of the airlines' lack of consideration of passengers--what a surprise.
Mar 25, 2015, 10:51 pm
#30
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot Am, MU Pt
Posts: 3,092
If your violin is indeed very valuable to you, I would buy a seat for it.
Heck, I've bought seats to hold desktop computers before since I didn't trust FedEx/UPS to ship my important stuff.
Heck, I've bought seats to hold desktop computers before since I didn't trust FedEx/UPS to ship my important stuff.