Easyjet go that extra inch

Good news for travelling musicians. Easyjet has raised the maximum permissible dimensions for instruments carried as cabin baggage. After pressure from the Incorporated Society of Musicians, Easyjet became in 2011 - and remains - the only major airline to permit musical instruments larger than the general allowance. Other airlines stick to the standard 56cm rule, with no discretion to exceed this in many cases. Back in 2011 Easyjet decided to allow a more generous 117cm - which they now raise an inch, to 120cm.

Here's their latest policy:

Musical instruments are permitted onboard as cabin baggage as long as the instrument, including its case, doesn’t exceed 30cm x 120cm x 38cm. Violins, violas, piccolos, flutes, clarinets, bugles and trumpets all fall within these dimensions. Carriage as cabin baggage is subject to available space in the overhead lockers and strictly at the Captain's discretion. Please note the instrument will be classed as your one allowed piece of cabin baggage. When it’s not practical to combine the instrument with another item into a single piece of cabin baggage, you can carry one small, essential, additional piece of baggage (e.g. ladies handbag or laptop).

What this means is that a passenger travelling with an instrument can use up two times the standard locker allowance. Unless there's an orchestra-worth of musicians on board, that's surely no big deal. So it's hard to see why, after two years, other airlines haven't followed suit.

Mr Cello still needs his own seat, by the way.