Musical instruments
Flamenco guitar, flugelhorn or full orchestra, there’s plenty of space for your beautiful instruments.
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
A musical instrument between 80 cm and 140 cm long is not allowed in the cabin as hand baggage.
You can carry it as checked baggage in the hold, or you can buy an additional seat in the cabin for it to travel in the cabin up to 48 hours before your flight. To protect your instrument from damage, it should be packed in a hard or rigid case for the flight.
If you haven’t booked a seat space for your musical instrument, it will be carried in the hold.
If seats are available, you can buy one to bring your 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). This seat must be booked at least 48 hours before you fly.
You can buy this additional seat at the same time as you book your own flights, or it can be added to your existing booking, This can’t be done online, so contact us directly to make your booking, or book through your travel agent.
These additional seats will be in a window position if you’re travelling in Economy or Premium Economy. This seat must be next to you and can’t be on a bulkhead or exit row. The seat must be in the upright position with the arm rests down for the duration of the flight.
For the flight, your instrument must be properly secured in the seat using the seatbelt, so it should be carried in a hard or rigid case to prevent damage. We take no responsibility if you carry it in a soft case. It is also counted as one of your pieces of checked baggage.
If you haven’t booked a seat for your larger instrument, it will be carried in the hold as part of your checked baggage allowance, if this is included in your ticket. It must be packed in a hard case to prevent it from damage, or it may not be accepted for carriage.
If you go over your free baggage allowance, or you have no checked baggage allowance included in your ticket, you’ll need to pay to check your instrument in as hold baggage.
Your guitar can’t be taken into the cabin as hand baggage.
It must be checked into the hold or carried as check baggage in the cabin on a seat next to you booked for that purpose. We recommend it is carried in a hard case for protection.
Booked a seat for your guitar? Let the gate team know that you have booked an extra seat for your instrument. You’ll be able to board before other passengers so there's extra time to secure it in the seat using the seatbelt.
To secure your guitar, place it upside down at an angle on the seat and fasten the seat belt around the body of the case to prevent it moving in flight. If you need an extension seat belt, or any further assistance, ask your crew.
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, this cannot be guaranteed.
Your cello can be checked into the hold or carried as check baggage in the cabin on a seat next to you booked for that purpose. It must be carried in a hard case for protection.
Booked a seat for your cello? Let the gate team know that you have booked an extra seat for your instrument. You’ll be able to board before other passengers so there's extra time to secure it in the seat using the seatbelt.
To secure your cello, rest the back of the instrument at an angle on the seat, peg-side down with the base against the headrest. Tighten the seat belt securely around the cello’s shoulder. If you need an extension seat belt, or any further assistance, ask your crew.
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.