Airline travel with violin/viola
Update: Message from the President of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada:
FWIW (probably a lot), I talked to my distributor at Bobolock, and he said the following: Airlines normally request that a case be no more than 45", that is height, width and length altogether.
We sell their double violin/viola case which is 34"x16"x6" -- which is 56". This case is usually accepted for carryon, but you should phone your airlines to make sure. Certainly if a double case is accepted, anything smaller would be fine. I've never had a problem, and often also carry a big briefcase of music, as well.
Ref: http://www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=319829
The TSA has written two letters to the president of the AFM concerning musicians with instruments. I recommend to people that travel with their instruments that they print these out and have them in their case if needed to get through security with their instrument. These address the policy of the TSA, but makes it clear that individual airlines have the final call about charging for instruments or allowing them as a carry-on. These probably won't be much use internationally, but if you are flying with a US based airline, it wouldn't hurt to have copies with you.
The best advice is to call the airlines ahead of time.
Letter to AFM President Thomas Lee from TSA (Transportation Security Administration), Dept. Homeland Security [Nov. 3, 2005]
Letter to AFM President Thomas Lee from TSA (Transportation Security Administration), Dept. Homeland Security [Jan. 17, 2003]
See also: Travel Tips for Musicians
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