Department of Transportation Finalizes Rules Allowing Guitars and Similar Instruments as Carry-On Baggage

Are you a musician taking a long trip but aren't too keen on the idea of baggage handlers at the airport taking care of your guitar? Good news: Instruments such as guitars and others of manageable size (sorry to your drummer) are now able to bring their pride and joy onto the plane as carry-on baggage. The rule was made official by the U.S. Department of Transportation as it confirmed the statutes of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, according to USA Today.

"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," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement, according to Billboard. "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 uncomfortable relationship between musicians and airlines came to a head during 2008 when Canadian singer-songwriter Dave Carroll had one of his instruments seriously damaged by baggage handlers from United Airlines.

He and his band, Sons of Maxwell, were stopped at an airport in Chicago and was fortunate enough/unlucky enough to see the handlers tossing his band's instruments, as well as the rest of the passenger luggage rather roughly. He brought a claim for $1,200 in repairs to United, who eventually denied his claim. He went on to write the song "United Breaks Guitars," which gathered millions of YouTube views and pressured the airline into paying for repairs.

The DOT probably doesn't care much for United's issues but it's nice to know we won't have to bring a claim against an airline the next time we travel.