Musical instruments

An instrument in its bag measuring up to 80cm long can be carried in the cabin.

Instruments such as a violin, viola or small wind instrument can be carried as hand baggage as long as it’s in a case no bigger than 80 x 45 x 25cm (31 x 18 x 10in) and is carried in place of your larger cabin bag. In addition, you can also take a small handbag/laptop size bag.

If you want to take an instrument over 80cm long with you in the cabin, you can buy an extra seat by contacting us at least 24 hours before your flight. These instruments cannot be taken as part of your hand baggage allowance.

Instruments such as a guitar, a larger wind instrument or a cello can be taken in the cabin in a case up to 140 x 50 x 40cm [55 x 20 x 16in] as long as you buy an extra seat for them. These seats are subject to availability and cannot be booked online so contact us at least 24 hours before you fly.

If you don’t book a seat for your instrument, it will be placed in the hold as part of your free checked baggage allowance. Your instrument should be in a rigid case to protect it from damage. If you go over your free baggage allowance, you’ll need to pay to check in extra bags.

Guitars

Your guitar can’t be taken into the cabin as hand baggage but you may be able to buy an extra seat so it travels next to you. This can't be done online so contact us or your travel agent at least 24 hours before you fly.

Each guitar checked into the hold counts as one item of your checked baggage allowance. It must be packed in a hard or rigid guitar case or it won't be accepted as checked baggage, either in the hold or on a seat you have bought for it in the cabin.

Flying Business or First? We may be able to accept your guitar on some direct long-haul journeys with no connections to short-haul flights in place of your larger cabin bag. As there needs to be appropriate cabin space available on the day, we can’t guarantee this.

Reserved a seat for your guitar? You’ll be able to board before other passengers so you 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 guitar. 

How to secure your guitar on board

 

Cellos

Your cello can travel with you in the cabin so long as you have booked a seat for it at least 24 hours before you fly by contacting us or your travel agent.

You can buy an extra seat at the airport but seats are subject to availability so it's best to book one as early as possible, otherwise your cello will travel in the hold.

Reserved a seat for your cello? You’ll be able to board before other passengers so you’ll 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 cello. 

How to secure your cello on board

 

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. 

Double basses

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.