Contributed by Noelle Beaudin
Lots of people choose to bring their hurdy gurdy with them when traveling. I have traveled with my Gamarra Tenor within the US domestically and Internationally many times. I have not had an issue with any airline when bringing my hurdy gurdy on board, however there have been times when the instrument simply would not fit in the overhead – this was on the smaller planes going from Dublin to Leeds as an example.
When this happened, I simply asked the flight attendant if my instrument could go up front in their storage closet, and they agreed and placed it there where it remained safely for the duration of the flight. They were even nice enough to let me know that they “kept an eye” on it. For reference, I’ve flown with Aer Lingus, Delta, and American Airlines in this way.
However, there have been some travelers that I have heard from that have not had the good experiences I have. It may be the airline you choose, it may be how you interact with the flight staff, or it may be a combination of both.
As a traveler, you do have rights, and knowing what those rights are is important. It’s also important to be prepared.
Here are some links and information that may help you understand what rights you do have and how you should prepare yourself for traveling with your instrument.
Quick Tips
- When booking your tickets, musicians should inform your air carrier representative that you will be transporting a musical instrument.
- By law, air carriers are required to adequately inform passengers about the limitations and restrictions imposed, review those ahead of time to insure you know your rights.
- If you can, book priority seating. This will allow you early access to overhead bins so you can get the most storage space for your gurdy.
- Special fees may not be charged for carrying an instrument, but fees that apply to all carry-on or checked items will apply to instruments.
- Have a slim, well padded case in case it gets bumped around.
Useful Information
- A Guide to Flying with Musical Instruments
- International Travel with Musical Instruments
- CabinZero’s Guide To Flying With Musical Instruments: Complete Instructions
- 10 European Airlines and their Instrument Policies
Read Your Carrier’s FAQs
Most air carriers have an FAQ on their website that states their exact policies on transporting musical instruments. I recommend that you go online and read what they have to say about it. Knowing which airline caters to musicians and their instruments can help you decide which carrier to fly with.
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