Qantas tunes up luggage allowance for musicians

Qantas is boosting the checked luggage allowance for musicians travelling on domestic flights to a maximum of three free bags, even if they're flying on the cheapest economy ticket.

The new Musicians Additional Baggage Allowance scheme kicks in from April 13, 2015 and is intended "to assist artists when travelling with a musical instrument or touring equipment and allow them to tour more easily and cost effectively," the airline says.

Solo songsmiths and travelling troupes will be able to check three bags of up to 23kg each, compared to the standard solitary bag in economy class and two in business class.

It's an exceptionally generous allowance when you consider that the only other travellers allowed three checked bags (albeit at 32kg per bag) are Platinum-grade frequent flyers booked in business class.

Additional charges apply to kit that tips the scales past 23kg, with a maximum per-piece weight of 32kg.

The policy applies to all domestic Qantas and QantasLink flights with a QF flight number and operated by Qantas, as long as tickets are booked two or more business days prior to departure.

Qantas has a few other rules in place: musos "must be travelling with a musical instrument or touring equipment" and also be member of one of the following eligible musical associations

• Association of Artist Managers
• Australian Chamber Orchestra
• Australian Independent Record Labels Association
• Australasian Performing Right Association
• Australian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society
• Country Music Association of Australia
• Folk Alliance
• Live Performance Australia
• Musicians Union of Australia
• Opera Australia
• AMIN member organisations the Queensland Music Network, Contemporary Music Services Tasmania, Music NSW, Music NT, Music Victoria and The Western Australian Music Industry Association

Customers may be asked to show their association membership during check in.

However, requests submitted on behalf of touring acts booked via an Australian promoter (that are members of the eligible musical associations) will be accepted without the need to supply a membership number for each individual musician.

For bookings of less than 10 customers, agents should request the Musicians Additional Baggage Allowance via email to [email protected] and detail the booking reference, musical association, association membership number and type of musical instrument or equipment.

For group bookings of 10 or more customers, agents should contact Qantas Group Sales on 13 2624.

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David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.