Carrying your guitar into the airport and checking it can be a scary thing. You see all of these videos online of them breaking guitars. It is also very annoying to get stopped every 25 feet to be asked if you are carrying a firearm in the guitar case. Then the part where they go through your case and move everything, like socks you used to keep the guitar from banging around in the case.
A nice new ruling will allow you to ALWAYS carry your guitar on the plane!
As of March 6, 2015, it’s official and no longer at the discretion of the various airlines. The U.S. Department of Transportation says that musicians who board planes must be allowed to carry on their instruments provided they fit in the overhead bin.
What if it doesn’t fit? We know people bring large bags and force fit them and take up YOUR space as it is.
Well, if the space isn’t large enough, you are also permitted to purchase a second seat in which to stow their musical companion.
Unfortunately,airlines don’t prioritize musical instruments ahead of any other carry-on luggage, so if the bins are full, you’ll still have to check your instrument at the gate. They say you may want to pay the airline’s fee for priority boarding to ensure that there will be room for their gear but we all know must musicians can’t afford that.
While this may still upset you enough to cause you to “Unleash The foookin fury” Like Yngwie during his infamous plane incident with another passenger throwing water on him for being a dick, at least it is progress, right?
Here is the final ruling about it in legal terms:
https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/Musical%20instruments_FR_final%20rule.pdf