British Airways: flying with a musical instrument
BA allows up to an 80 cm case in the cabin, an extra seat for 80-140 cm instruments booked 48 h ahead, and hard-cased hold carriage up to 45 kg.
Cabin / carry-on
Instruments up to 80 cm in case length carried as hand baggage (case max 80 x 45 x 25 cm), in place of the free hand-baggage allowance.
Extra seat
Instruments 80-140 cm travel on a purchased extra seat (case max 140 x 46 x 46 cm), booked ≥48 hours before departure by contacting BA; window seat, not bulkhead/exit row.
Checked
Hold instruments must be in a hard/rigid case; max weight 45 kg (99 lb); over 32 kg needs ≥24 h notice.
Source
British Airways — Musical instruments
Instruments up to 80 cm in case length can be carried as hand baggage (case max 80 x 45 x 25 cm) in place of the free hand-baggage allowance. Instruments 80-140 cm can travel on a purchased extra seat (case max 140 x 46 x 46 cm), booked at least 48 hours before departure by contacting BA. Hold instruments must be in a hard case; max weight 45 kg (99 lb).
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/musical-instruments — British Airways, accessed 2026-07-09 · last reviewed 2026-07-09
Per instrument
How each instrument fares on British Airways
| Instrument | Verdict | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 61-key portable keyboard | Gate-check risk | A 61-key portable keyboard in its case often fits a mainline overhead bin but is a real gate-check risk on full flights and regional jets. Board early; if the bin is full it may be gate-checked. |
| Alto saxophone | Cabin likely | A alto saxophone in its case fits British Airways's published cabin allowance in most cases; confirm against the exact cabin-bag limit on the airline page. |
| Banjo | Gate-check risk | A banjo in its case often fits a mainline overhead bin but is a real gate-check risk on full flights and regional jets. Board early; if the bin is full it may be gate-checked. |
| Cello (4/4) | Extra seat | A cello (4/4) is too large for an overhead bin. On British Airways the standard path is a purchased extra seat (the statute's cabin-carriage right, up to 165 lb, where the airline sells one) — see the airline's seat-position and weight rules. It may also be checked within the 150-linear-inch limit. |
| Dreadnought acoustic guitar | Gate-check risk | A dreadnought acoustic guitar in its case often fits a mainline overhead bin but is a real gate-check risk on full flights and regional jets. Board early; if the bin is full it may be gate-checked. |
| Electric guitar (gig bag) | Gate-check risk | A electric guitar (gig bag) in its case often fits a mainline overhead bin but is a real gate-check risk on full flights and regional jets. Board early; if the bin is full it may be gate-checked. |
| Parlor / travel acoustic guitar | Gate-check risk | A parlor / travel acoustic guitar in its case often fits a mainline overhead bin but is a real gate-check risk on full flights and regional jets. Board early; if the bin is full it may be gate-checked. |
| Trumpet | Cabin likely | A trumpet in its case fits British Airways's published cabin allowance in most cases; confirm against the exact cabin-bag limit on the airline page. |
| Ukulele (concert) | Cabin likely | A ukulele (concert) in its case fits British Airways's published cabin allowance in most cases; confirm against the exact cabin-bag limit on the airline page. |
| Viola | Gate-check risk | A viola in its case often fits a mainline overhead bin but is a real gate-check risk on full flights and regional jets. Board early; if the bin is full it may be gate-checked. |
| Violin (4/4) | Cabin likely | A violin (4/4) in its case fits British Airways's published cabin allowance in most cases; confirm against the exact cabin-bag limit on the airline page. |
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