If I am flying to Israel in the summer with a violin, does anyone know El Al, British Airways, Israir or any other company's policy on booking an extra seat/paying extra to keep in as hand luggage?

We flew with BA to India over Christmas with my daughter's full-size violin. We were very concerned about it and speaking to their customer service advisor over the phone, we were told that it wouldn't be allowed as hand-baggage. But we took a chance and the airport personnel and flight crew were exceptionally supportive. We took it as hand baggage and it was handled very carefully by everyone- in fact the violin travelled business class, while we travelled economy

I only flew european with BA and they let me take my violin as hand baggage, but as I was only allowed only ONE hand baggage, this meant I could not take anything else, no bag nothing, so I wore a coat with lots of pockets!
But it is always best to call them and ask as they might have different rules out of europe

As with my comments on the cello on the 'plane thread, look it up on the airline's website. I looked up several when I wanted to take my viola to Germany last summer, (gave it up as a bad job as it would be too much trouble). Most airlines have detailed info about baggage and include sections on musical instruments. It's much better to go by that than the various experiences and speculations that we proffer her, although they are interesting!!

I've been on easyjet with my violin as hand luggage, that was on tour to italy and there were all the orchestral instruments cept basses, cellos, percussion.

I cant see that it would be that much of a problem

x

I've had a different experience to others on here...going to France in February I was allowed to take my violin as well as a piece of hand baggage at no extra cost on BA. I think they say each person is allowed a piece of hand baggage and an "additional item" - usually a laptop. Low-cost airlines tend to be a lot less lenient, I wasn't allowed it as hand baggage on Flybe and would have had to pay £17 extra for it to go in the hold!

Oh no! I didn't realise that taking instruments as hand luggage would be a problem! I was hoping to get a violin before I go on my summer holiday, and start properly learning there (as I will be deprived of my piano for just over TWO WHOLE WEEKS!! ).

I'd better look into this too then - as well as getting a violin in the first place!

As others have said ask the airlines. Most have information on their websites in their FAQ. If they don't just ask them. I e-mailed last summer about my daughter's trombone as it wasn't specifically mentioned as an instrument and was told I could if it was less than given dimensions but she would not be allowed any other hand luggage. This wasn't really a problem as we just split what she would have had in her hand luggage between the rest of us. I did take the precaution of printing out the e-mail and taking it with me just in case check-in staff proved unhelpful but I didn't need it.

For anyone who is a member of the MU, you should be in possession of a card issued jointly by the CAA and the MU, stating that musical instruments such as violins, flutes, oboes etc. are allowed into the cabin as hand luggage, but have to be subject to the usual security searches/X-ray machines as required.

BA have now reverted to their policy of allowing a piece of hand baggage, plus one other item, normally a laptop computer, but if you speak to the check-in desk staff nicely (and are also in possession of the above mentioned card) there shouldn't be a problem.

General warning, which might seem OTT to some, but you never know: If you travel to a middle-eastern country, for heavens sake do not let the instrument out of your sight if you have to show it at customs. You may never see it again. I know of a violinist who lost a very valuable instrument at a middle-eastern airport, when customs wanted to inspect the instrument inside the case. The instrument was taken out of sight into a room and they didn't get it back. The customs officer declared that they suspected the violin was stolen and that it was being confiscated by the authorities. It wasn't stolen and the owner said they could prove it, but unfortunately the instrument simply vanished. The British police said they could not get involved and nobody from the British Commission in that country did anything to help either - they said musical instruments were not within their jurisdiction.

Mmm, yes, esp if you can't take your teacher with you!!!