A DOT rule for musicians to sing about

The U.S. Transportation Department issued a rule requiring U.S. airlines to accept musical instruments as carry-on or checked baggage on commercial passenger flights.    The U.S. Transportation Department on Tuesday issued a final rule that requires U.S. airlines to accept musical instruments as carry-on or checked baggage on commercial passenger flights, provided that certain conditions are met.    
   “At DOT, we know how important instruments are to musicians and are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that they are not damaged while being transported on airlines,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a statement. “This final rule implements the statute, and it will go a long way towards keeping instruments safe when they fly – from allowing them in the cabin if there’s space for safe stowage, to letting passengers buy a seat for certain large instruments.”
   The rule requires U.S. carriers to allow a passenger to carry into the cabin and stow a small musical instrument, such as a violin or guitar, in a suitable baggage compartment, such as the overhead bin or a closet, or under the seats.
   “Carriers are not required to give musical instruments priority over other carry-on baggage, therefore passengers traveling with musical instruments may want to buy the pre-boarding option offered by many carriers to ensure that space will be available for them to safely stow their instruments in the cabin,” DOT said.
   The department explained for instruments that are too big to fit in the cabin stowage areas, it may be possible to secure them to a seat as “seat baggage” or “cargo in passenger cabin.” Carriers are required to accept musical instruments in the cargo compartment as checked baggage if those instruments comply with the size and weight limits outlined in the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety regulations, DOT said. 
   The final rule, which takes effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, applies to scheduled and charter flights in domestic or international transportation operated by U.S. carriers, regardless of the size of planes they operate.