Tips for TSA and Air Travel with Instruments

January 1, 2025

Ben Kessler  -  Ben Kessler, AFM Director of Government Affairs

As travel is top-of-mind during the holidays, and a key issue for professional musicians, I’d like to shed some light on how we’re tackling common issues musicians face with air travel.

The handling of instruments at airport security checkpoints has long been a challenge for musicians. And it’s a problem that has become more challenging in recent years with the rollout of smaller, albeit more technologically advanced, computer tomography (CT) checkpoint scanners. (Entry size is now 24.5 inches wide and 16.5 inches tall.) Compounding the problem is the need for luggage to fit into special bins prior to screening. If they don’t fit, they are subject to hand inspection.

Since I started working with the Federation in September, we have had ongoing meetings with staff from across the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). While I don’t have the exact timeline, TSA has told us to expect to see this technology in every airport across the country. And the luggage bins? For now, at least, that’s not going away either.

The three-dimensional, rotating image the TSA officer uses for screening relies on the bin. While this technology allows us to remove fewer things from our bags, TSA acknowledges that it creates other problems by necessitating more hand inspections. This is not a problem anyone will fix in the short-term, but it is an issue TSA is aware of.

The TSA’s mission is to keep us safe. If luggage can’t fit in the bin and move through the CT scanner, it must be hand inspected. There is just no way around that. So, what can musicians do to make travel better and less problematic?

If you are traveling with your instrument, we encourage you to use the TSA Cares system to let airport security know about your instrument and what is required for handling. By providing your information more than 72 hours in advance, either online (www.tsa.gov/travel/tsa-cares/passenger-support) or over the phone (855) 787-2227, TSA hopes you can avoid potentially unpleasant experiences while moving through TSA checkpoints. “It’s not ideal, but it’s worth a try.

Afterward, let us know about your experience so we can give TSA direct feedback about what is and isn’t working. This is the most important part. We are building relationships with key points of contact at TSA who are involved in public engagement and overseeing protocol at the screening checkpoints. Your input will directly help improve the system.

We will continue to work with TSA as we update our guidance for traveling with an instrument and make recommendations for officer training. And if something goes wrong, be sure to file a claim with both the airline and TSA. But also stay in touch via the AFM Contact form at www.afm.org/about/contact, select “Air Travel Issues” or by email: bkessler@afm.org.

We are trying to improve the experience for all musicians. Air travel is never easy, but we hope our work together will make traveling with an instrument a little bit better.

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