Flying with Musical Instruments on Air Canada

Air Canada allows you to bring musical instruments on it's flights, either bringing your instrument into the cabin, or checking it in as a piece of checked luggage. When bringing an instrument on-board into the cabin, it will either qualify as a piece of carry-on baggage, or for larger instruments you must buy a separate seat.  Be sure to pack your instrument properly to keep it safe while travelling.

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Musical Instruments as Carry-On Baggage on Air Canada

You may bring your musical instrument on board as part of your carry-on baggage provided it meets the current Air Canada carry-on size requirements and it fis in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. 

A musical instrument you take on board will count as part of your carry-on baggage allowance, as either a personal or standard article (depending on the size and dimensions of the instrument).

Because of passenger loads, aircraft limitations and/or storage space available, we cannot guarantee that a musical instrument can be accommodated on board. It may need to be checked at the gate and transported as checked baggage if the airport agent or cabin crew determines that it cannot be safely stowed in the cabin. For this reason, musical instruments should always be properly packaged in a rigid and/or hard shell container specifically designed for shipping such items. Musical instruments checked at the gate must also be retrieved at the gate upon arrival at your destination.

Exception: String instruments (e.g. guitars, violins and violas) can be carried on board - even if their dimensions slightly exceed Air Canada’s carry-on size requirements - as long as they fit in the overhead bin and there is space available in the cabin at time of boarding, or you have purchased a seat to accommodate them.

Purchasing a Seat for a Musical Instrument on Air Canada

If you wish to purchase a seat for your musical instrument, you will receive a 50% discount on any published fare (including the lowest available fare) to accommodate the instrument in the same cabin you are travelling in.

Exception: If you are seated in Business Class on a flight offering Business Class pods, your musical instrument will, for safety reasons, be placed in Economy Class.
Also for safety reasons, extra seats may be purchased for musical instruments not exceeding 162.5 cm (64 in.) in height/length or 36 kg (80 lb.) in weight. The number of musical instruments that can be accommodated on each flight is limited.

Advance Boarding with Musical Instruments

At the airport, you will be invited to board the plane in advance of general boarding, between zones 2 and 3, so that you may have a little more time to store your musical instrument in an overhead bin close to your seat.  Or you may board with zones 1 or 2 if you qualify for Priority Boarding.

Musical Instruments as Checked Baggage on Air Canada

If checked in separately, a musical instrument counts as one piece of baggage towards the maximum number of checked bags allowed by your fare type. If your baggage count (musical instrument + number of other bags to be checked) exceeds the maximum number of items allowed by your fare type, additional checked baggage charges will apply.

Can I bring a Guitar on Air Canada Flights?

Yes, you may bring a guitar on-board your Air Canada flight.  String instruments (e.g. guitars, violins and violas) can be carried on board - even if their dimensions slightly exceed Air Canada’s carry-on size requirements - as long as they fit in the overhead bin and there is space available in the cabin at time of boarding, or you have purchased a seat to accommodate them.

 

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