Musical instruments
Flamenco guitar, flugelhorn or full orchestra, there’s plenty of space for your beautiful instruments.
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If your instrument fits in your baggage allowance, it’s free. If you’ve already used your free checked baggage allowance, you may have to pay to put it in the hold.
We know how precious your musical instrument is to you. We recommend that you pack it in a rigid protective case whether it is travelling in the cabin or the hold. We can’t accept instruments in soft cases, such as guitars, for carriage in the hold as we don’t want them to get damaged.
It is important that you have adequate insurance for your musical instrument.
Smaller instruments up to 80cm
Smaller musical instruments in their case up to 80cm in length can be carried as hand baggage. Items such as violins, violas and small wind instruments can be carried in the cabin as part of, but not in addition to, your free hand baggage allowance, so long as the case is within the dimensions of 80 x 45 x 25cm [31 x 18 x 10in].
This means you can have a small handbag/laptop size bag as well as your smaller musical instrument case, up to 80cm in length, that will be in place of your second piece of hand baggage. We'll make every effort to find space in the cabin for musical instruments within the above dimensions, as we know extreme temperatures and extra handling may cause damage in the hold.
Medium-sized instruments up to 140cm
You can bring a musical instrument in its case over 80cm long with you as checked baggage in the hold, or you can buy an additional seat in the cabin for it to travel next to you. The additional seat must be added to your booking at least 48 hours before you fly.
These instruments can’t be taken as part of your hand baggage allowance. If you don’t book a seat for your larger instrument, it will be carried in the hold.
To protect your instrument from damage, please keep it in a rigid case for your journey.
Booking a seat for your instrument in the cabin
You can take musical instruments such as guitars, larger wind instruments or cellos packed in their case into the cabin, so long as they’re no larger than 140 x 50 x 46cm (55 x 20 x 18in). Your instrument must be secured in a seat that you have specifically bought for it as part of your booking. Additional seats are subject to availability.
You can book an additional seat at the same time as you book your own flights. This can’t be done online, so contact us directly to make your booking, or book through your travel agent.
If you've already booked your flight and would like to add a musical instrument, contact us directly or ask your travel agent to add it to your booking as soon as you can. You must add it to your booking at least 48 hours before you fly for your instrument to travel with you.
Checking your instrument into the hold
If you don’t book a seat for your larger instrument, it will be carried in the hold as part of your free checked baggage allowance if this is included in your ticket. If you go over your free baggage allowance, you’ll need to pay to check in any extra bags, either in the hold or on a seat in the cabin.
Your guitar can’t be taken into the cabin as hand baggage, but if there’s availability, you may be able to buy an additional seat on the flight so that it travels next to you in the cabin.
Your guitar counts as one item of your free checked baggage allowance, if this is included in your ticket, whether in the hold or on a seat you’ve bought for it. It must be packed in a rigid guitar case, or it won't be accepted as checked baggage, either in the hold or on its seat.
Reserved a seat for your guitar? You’ll be able to board before other passengers so there's extra time to secure it in place. Please go to your boarding gate as soon as it's announced and tell the gate team you have an extra seat for your guitar.
Flying in Club World or First? We may be able to accept your guitar in place of your larger cabin bag on some direct long-haul journeys that don’t include connections to short-haul flights. As there needs to be appropriate cabin space available on the day, we can’t guarantee this.
To secure your guitar, place it in its seat and fasten the seat belt around the body of the case. If the seat belt isn’t long enough and you need a longer one, or you need any additional assistance, please ask a cabin crew member.
Please note, guitars can only be secured in a window seat that’s not an exit row or a seat in the front row – known as the bulkhead – of a cabin. The seat must be in the upright position with the arm rests down for the duration of the flight.
Your cello can travel next to you in the cabin in an additional seat. You’ll need to buy this seat specifically for your cello when you book your flight, or at least 48 hours before you travel, subject to availability.
Your cello counts as one item of your free checked baggage allowance, whether it’s carried in the hold or secured on a seat you’ve bought for it. It must be packed in a rigid cello case, or it won't be accepted in the hold or on its seat.
Reserved a seat for your cello? You’ll be able to board before other passengers to have extra time to secure it in place. Please go to your boarding gate as soon as it's announced and tell the gate team you have a seat for your instrument.
To secure your cello, rest the back of the instrument in front of the seat, peg-side down with the base against the headrest. Secure the extended seat belt securely around the cello’s shoulder. A single extension seat belt will be supplied by a member of the cabin crew, who’ll be happy to assist you.
Please note, cellos can only be secured in a window seat if you’re travelling in Economy or Premium Economy. The seat must be in the upright position with the armrests down for the duration of the flight.
Large and heavy instruments in the hold
We’ll make every effort to accommodate larger musical instruments in the hold. You’ll need to contact us at least 24 hours before you fly to let us know.
Exceeding the weight limit but not the size limit? If your instrument is over 23kg (50lb), you may have to pay a heavy baggage charge. The maximum weight of an instrument we can carry is 45kg (99lb). Please contact us at least 24 hours before you fly so we know of any instrument over 32kg (70lb) and we can be ready to handle it at the airport.
Anything larger than the maximum checked baggage weight or dimensions must be shipped as cargo.
Your double bass can travel as part of your checked baggage allowance. Let us know that you are bringing it at least 24 hours before you fly so we can be ready to handle it at the airport.
If you exceed your free baggage allowance, you’ll need to pay to check in extra bags.