This Looks Like Another Viola Joke, but it’s Not a Joke! Air Canada’s Outrageous New Policy

Reposted from The Violin Channel

Air Canada has today published a detailed explanation of its musical instrument transportation policy—declaring violins and cellos are permitted to be taken within the cabin, but violas must be transported within the hold.

“Violins may be accepted as carry-on or checked baggage,” the online Air Canada policy statement has outlined—however “Violas can only be accepted as checked baggage.”

“A cello may be accepted as checked baggage, or may be transported in the cabin if a seat is purchased for it,” the statement reads.

The new policy differs from most international airline carriers—who make no distinction in the rules between violins and violas.

The policy announcement comes just months after virtuoso Itzhak Perlman filed a formal complaint against the airline—after he was abandoned by an Air Canada disability assistant at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

Below are excerpts from Air Canada’s official policy  for musical instruments:

Musical instruments

Packing instructions:

• When a stringed instrument is transported by air, it may be exposed to dramatic changes in temperature and pressure, which can cause the instrument’s headstocks to crack or snap off. To prevent possible damage, it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the strings are loosened so that the tension is reduced.
• Musical instruments must always be properly packaged in a rigid and/or hard shell container specifically designed for shipping such items.
• Air Canada will not be liable if and to the extent that any damage results from the inherent defect, quality or vice of the baggage.

Musical instruments as carry-on baggage:

• Guitars and other irregular sized musical instruments may be accepted as part of your carry-on baggage allowance provided:
  • there is space available in the cabin at time of boarding
  • they fit easily in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you
• Due to 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.
  • For this reason, musical instruments must always be properly packaged in a rigid and/or hard shell container specifically designed for shipping such items.  Please refer to the ‘Packing instructions’ section above.
  • Musical instruments checked at the gate must also be retrieved at the gate upon arrival at your destination.

Musical instruments as checked baggage:

• 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.
• Please refer to the ‘Packing instructions’ section above for the preparation of your musical instrument.
• For oversized instruments measuring more than 115in/292cm (e.g. guitars, tubas, double basses), please contact your Air Canada Cargo local sales office for handling.
  • Exception: Air Canada Cargo cannot handle shipments from or via the US as passengers are considered as unknown shippers for cargo purposes. Please contact another shipping company for this service.

In some cases, a seat may also be purchased for these instruments. Contact Air Canada Reservations for more information.

Types of musical instruments

• Unless specified in the table below, all musical instruments (including those not listed) may be accepted provided they do not exceed the weight and size restrictions that apply to carry-on or checked baggage.
• Please refer to the ‘Packing instructions’ section above for the preparation of your musical instrument.
• All of the rules and restrictions outlined above with regard to carry-on and checked baggage will apply.

Cello: A cello may be accepted as checked baggage, or may be transported in the cabin if a seat is purchased for it.

Viola: Violas can only be accepted as checked baggage.

Violin: Violins may be accepted as carry-on or checked baggage.

Codeshare flights/flights with other airlines:
When an itinerary includes travel with one of our codeshare partners or with another airline, the baggage policies and rules of the other carrier may apply.

For the specific terms and conditions of any Air Canada codeshare partner or other airline sold on aircanada.com, visit the operating carrier’s website directly.