The Department of Transportation is focusing on the truly important issues of the day.
On Monday they published a final rule that will require airlines to permit small instruments as carry on items.
The rule will also require airlines to allow customers to purchase seats for larger instruments.
The American Federation of Musicians is pleased.
“For many years, [American Federation of Musicians] members have been subject to very arbitrary and contradictory size and weight requirements imposed by each airline for musical instruments that are carried on board the airplane or checked as baggage,” AFM President Ray Hair wrote in a letter to the organization’s members. “Airlines will now follow a consistent policy for all musicians traveling with instruments.”
Note that this new rule will do nothing to:
- Prevent United from breaking guitars that are indeed checked as luggage.
- Require airlines to permit instruments to earn miles in their own frequent flyer accounts.
(HT: Elizabeth K.)
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Hooray! It’s about time. But those cellos SHOULD be getting their miles when they have to have a seat.
How about permits for “service animals?” There’s a epidemic of rude cheats bringing them on board.
actually, with several airlines you can request additional miles for the seat you bought for the instrument. I know people who do this with Delta and also American. They let the agents know while booking the ticket (on the phone), and then have to remind them again after the flight.
What you can’t do, is have a separate account for the cello…