US law says your instrument can fly in the cabin.
Here is how it works on your airline — carry-on, gate-check risk, a purchased extra seat, or checked — with the exact policy citation and the case that survives the answer.
An air carrier … shall permit a passenger to carry a violin, guitar, or other musical instrument in the aircraft cabin … if the instrument can be stowed safely in a suitable baggage compartment … or under a passenger seat.
49 U.S.C. §41724(a)(1) · accessed 2026-07-09 · full statute text
In plain language
US air carriers must let a passenger carry a small musical instrument (violin, guitar, or other) into the cabin as carry-on if it fits safely in an overhead bin or under the seat and space is available at boarding. A larger instrument may be carried in the cabin if the passenger buys it a seat and the instrument plus case weighs no more than 165 pounds. An instrument may be checked if its outside linear dimensions (length + width + height, including the case) are 150 inches or less, within the carrier's weight rules. The statute states the limit as '165 pounds' and does not itself state a kilogram figure.
Source: 49 U.S.C. §41724 and 14 CFR Part 251 — accessed 2026-07-09. There is no equivalent EU-wide statute; EU carriers publish their own policies.
Start with your instrument
Pick an instrument
Dreadnought acoustic guitar
44.3 × 18.5 × 7.4 in cased guitarParlor / travel acoustic guitar
43 × 17.75 × 7.75 in cased guitarElectric guitar (gig bag)
41.34 × 15.75 × 1.18 in cased stringsViolin (4/4)
32 × 11.375 × 6.25 in cased stringsViola
31.5 × 16.375 × 5.375 in cased stringsCello (4/4)
49 × 18.5 × 7.5 in cased brassTrumpet
22 × 8.5 × 10.5 in cased woodwindAlto saxophone
24.75 × 7.5 × 10.75 in casedOr start with your airline
Airline instrument policies
Delta Air Lines
Published policy + statutory rights USUnited Airlines
Published policy + statutory rights USAmerican Airlines
Published policy + statutory rights USSouthwest Airlines
Published policy + statutory rights USAlaska Airlines
Published policy + statutory rights USJetBlue
Published policy + statutory rights USFrontier Airlines
Published policy + statutory rights USHawaiian Airlines
Published policy + statutory rightsFeedback
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