Jetstar expands their musician-friendly baggage policy

Any touring musician knows that one of the very worst aspects (aside from the lukewarm, 2am truck-stop pies) is having to check your outrageously expensive musical instrument, then rattle nervously through a flight wondering if that twenty-thousand-dollar violin that is vital to your income is bouncing around the luggage compartment, on its way to a different city, or lost forever.

Jetstar have heeded recent feedback by musicians and enhanced their carry-on policy, allowing customers to bring larger musical instruments onboard with them.

The new policy allows musos to bring instruments "smaller than 85cm (height) x 36cm (width) x 23cm (depth), which weigh less than 10kg" onboard as part of their hand luggage, which basically means that most brass instruments, plus violin, violas and guitars (basically the more expensive instruments) are now able to be stored in the overhead lockers.

This is an expansion of the airline’s Musical Instrument Policy, which was introduced last month but quickly labelled inadequate by numerous commentators, many of whom bemoaned the 56cm height restriction for instruments, which cancelled out violins, guitars and other necked instruments.

The change was a response to such feedback, according to Head of Customer Strategy Cath Stone. “We know that small changes to our policies can have a really positive impact for our customers,” Stone said.

“It’s our mission to consistently offer hassle-free and enjoyable experiences from the time a customer books through to the moment they collect their bags. Having listened to our customers, we understand how important it is for musicians to be able to carry their instruments in the cabin and we’ve altered our policy.”

Larger instruments will still require the musician to either purchase a seat and strap in the instrument, or to check it.