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Flying with Musical Instruments on Virgin America
Musical Instruments as Carry-On on Virgin America
If your instrument can fit in an overhead bin and there is space available in the bin at the time you board, you are welcome to bring it onboard. In compliance with the FAA Carry-On Baggage Rules, musical instruments will be counted as one of your carry-on items. Smaller musical instruments must be stowed securely in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. At no time will Virgin America remove carry-on baggage to accommodate a musical instrument, and no musical instrument shall be removed to accommodate carry-on baggage after the instrument has been stowed. We also recommend purchasing Priority Security and Boarding, which allows you to be among the first to board to get overhead bin space for your items .
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Buying an Additional Seat for Larger Musical Instruments on Virgin America
For larger instruments, such as guitars, to ensure your instrument travels in the cabin with you we recommend the purchase of an additional seat, otherwise at the time of boarding if there is no room in the overhead bin it may be secured in a window seat and the following rules apply:
· Virgin America will not require any guest to change seats to accommodate a large musical instrument
· Instruments may not be stowed in the Emergency Exit Row
· Instruments must be packaged or covered in a manner to avoid possible injury to guests and guest compartment occupants.
· Instruments must be properly secured by a seat belt (or seat belt extension) to keep them from shifting under normal circumstances or under emergency load conditions.
· Instruments must not restrict access to any exits nor shall obscure a guest view of lighted information signs
· Instruments must fit in the seat or on the floor extending against the seat. If needed, a seat belt extension will be used.
· Maximum weight for cabin seat baggage is 165 pounds
If it is determined by the InFlight teammate the musical instrument cannot be transported in the cabin in a safe manner, the item may be checked and handled with limited liability or the guest may chose to ship the item by some other means. Large or small, it is important to properly pack a musical instrument for travel. If your instrument cannot be carried onboard, it will be checked in and transported in the belly of the aircraft. Per our Contract of Carriage, Virgin America will not be liable for damage to a musical instrument not properly packed in a hard sided case.
Guests traveling with an even larger musical instrument, such a cello or bass are required to buy a seat for the item at the normal cost of the seat. Guests will also need to package the item(s) appropriately. Such items must fit inside and be securely strapped into a seat. Arrangements must be made in advance, or your instrument may not be accepted, by calling Virgin America Reservations at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN (1.877-359-8474).
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