Overview
- Effective March 1, cases for violins, ukuleles, trumpets and similar instruments may be carried in the cabin if their height, width and depth total no more than 125 centimeters.
- The policy applies across Lufthansa, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines and Swiss, and an instrument counts as one piece of hand luggage.
- Standard cabin baggage limits otherwise remain unchanged, including the 55-centimeter length cap for regular carry-ons.
- Very large instruments must have a separately booked seat to travel in the cabin or go as freight in the hold, and passengers are responsible for adequate protective packaging.
- Widmann’s case involved a 244-year-old Guadagnini violin on loan with a reported €2 million market value, highlighting why musicians seek consistent rules as the EU still lacks a unified standard.