In 2008, Canadian musician Dave Carroll and his band, Sons of Maxwell, put out a peppy, country song titled: "United Breaks Guitars." The song alleged that the musician’s $3,500 Taylor guitar was severely damaged while it was with the airline. 

While the song became an instant hit on YouTube, garnering around 14-million hits, it proved to be a public relations nightmare for United Airlines. But since then, things have looked up for other musicians. 

In an attempt to quell the repeated complaints and protests by musicians on the handling of their instruments, early this year, the US government finalised the federal rules pertaining to musical instruments being carried as cabin luggage on commercial flights. 

According to the rules, passengers are allowed to carry small instruments such as violins, violas and guitars as carry-on luggage, provided the instruments can be stowed in the overhead compartments or under the seats. The law also makes such an allowance for larger instruments such as cellos or tubas, to be allowed in airplane cabins if a separate ticket is purchased for them. 

In India

Closer home, in 2014, acclaimed musician Amjad Ali Khan took to social media to vent his anguish over the loss of his “beloved” 45-year-old sarod named Ganga. He claimed it was misplaced in transit on a British Airways flight between London and New Delhi.  

And this isn't the first time that Khan’s instrument had been mishandled. According to news reports, back in 2010, Air India had tendered an apology to Khan after his sarod had been damaged on a flight.

Soon after Khan's tweet reporting the loss, British Airways issued a statement saying that they were doing their best to retrieve the instrument. 

Two days later, in an “epic reunion”, as the musician had dubbed the occasion, Khan tweeted that the sarod had been found and had been safely returned.  After the incident, Khan said that he would suggest to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the government should bear the cost of an extra airline seat for musical instruments belonging to artistes who had contributed significantly to the country's culture. 

Indian commercial carriers have also laid out rules for carrying musical instruments. 

For instance, those flying IndiGo will have to shell out $16/₹1,000 for checking-in per piece of equipment of large musical instruments or odd-sized checked bags. Items weighing more than 12 kg must be checked-in as excess baggage.

 According to Jet Airways’ rules, guests can carry fragile or delicate items such as musical instruments, by blocking an extra seat beside themselves. The musical instrument's weight on the extra seat should not exceed 75 kg and it must be of a size and shape such that it can be secured with the seat belt or extension belt. However, tele check-in, web, kiosk and mobile check-in will not be permitted in such cases. 

On Air India, though, musical instruments are permitted as part of checked-in baggage only and will be liable for charges if it is in excess of the free baggage allowance. And no musical instruments are permitted to be carried as cabin baggage.

Clearly these rules vary, but if you're a musician and your heart skips a beat when you don't see your prized instrument on the conveyer belt on its first round, you can now take solace that airlines have made a note of your concern. 

As santoor maestro Abhay Rustum Sopori says: "There's a constant fear of loss while travelling. Instrument are like a musician's soul, better care must be taken."

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