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oversize baggage fee

c-ba55

c-ba55

Feb 6, 2001
1,207
328
53
Foster City, CA
#1
Flying to a gig next weekend. Seems checking a bass is $200 each way, since it is "oversize". Not to mention the $200 flight case one would need to own. We can rent one from the backline company for $150, thankfully. Is there any airline, or level of preferred status at which you can check a bass without that fee? The case is 49 x 17 x 5 more or less. United and Southwest both seem like hard no's.
 
#3
the only checked case (that was OVERSIZED) ive flown with was my DB flight case. Flew to Cuba and around SE US with my electric in a SKB Rotocase as my 1 checked bag (no charge).

Has there been an update in 2026 for the checked bags sizes?
Last update Ive seen was about 3yrs ago when international check bag sizes were 'updated' (shrunk by 1.5") making everyone having to get new luggage to conform.
 
#5
thats for a piece of luggage, not a "musical instrument". check your airline under "special items"


Delta for 2026:

Musical instruments or equipment can be checked if the total linear dimension (length + width + height) does not exceed 150 inches (381 cm), and provided the weight, including the case, does not exceed 165lbs (75 kg).​
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#6
Yeah, can be checked, for a $200 fee. That clause just clarifies that although non-instruments over 80 combined inches they won't check at all, instruments can be larger and still be checked - but you still need to pay. According to the person I talked to at Southwest.
 
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#7
A little more internet research suggests JetBlue and American would not charge an oversize baggage fee. United actually a bit ambiguous. Their "Contract of Carriage" suggests they would not although their main webpage suggests they would.
 
#8
Your bass is allowed in the overhead bin if there is space available when you board, and if it fits.

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A bass and/or flight case likely wouldn't fit in a smaller aircraft. But the aircraft type is generally published on the airline website/app as part of the flight information, and search engines or AI can help figure out the specific overhead bin length for that combination of plane and airline.

The key is you would probably need to be in an early boarding group. For United that means boarding group 1, with group 2 being a long shot. Boarding group 1 with United is actually the 6th group of people that gets to board, but the 5 "preboarding" groups are generally not large (unless you're flying out of a United hub city and then there are probably a lot of Global Services and 1K passengers. but I digress...)

The other key is to have a flight case that would fit into the overhead bin of the specific aircraft you are flying, because you might not get the bin space or the flight attendants and pilots might not know the rules, even if you print them out in advance. So even the best laid plans might wind up with a checked bass...

But ... most airline people are really cool about things if you are too. So, if you bring the bass on board and they won't let you put it in the overhead bins, then it's very likely they will gate check the bass at no charge. At least for me. Cause I'm nice and friendly.
 
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#11
My son just flew from Austin to Pittsburgh and checked a P bass in a fender molded hard case. They only charged him normal bag fee ($35). This was on Delta. In the past, the most I've ever been charged is around $70. $200 seems outrageous - I assume this is the answer you are getting on the phone? Might consider just playing dumb and showing up with it. You could even just buy a regular bag tag for it (i.e. without talking to an agent) and see what happens. Of course, you may end up paying $200 anyway....
 
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#12
I've never had to pay anywhere near that much. I think the most I've paid is about $70. Loaded, my case weighs 65 lbs. At $200, it makes sense for US domestic flights to fly business or first class; they'll check the bass at no charge with an upper class ticket.
 
#13
c-ba55 said:
Yeah, can be checked, for a $200 fee. That clause just clarifies that although non-instruments over 80 combined inches they won't check at all, instruments can be larger and still be checked - but you still need to pay. According to the person I talked to at Southwest.
Click to expand...
ONLY IF ITS OVERSIZED by the "instrument category"- otherwise a musical instrument is considered a "checked bag" (either included in your ticket or the standard 'checked bag fee')

Again, unless there was a new update to this category(??), which we would have heard about it on the news and TB.
Not sure how much you fly with gear, but those of use who do it regularly are trying to help you understand the lingo.

Musical instrument under 150"/165lbs = a "checked bag" (at least by Delta's metric)


If you call your airline, don't go into alot of details, don't say "bass" (they will immediately think you're talking about a doublebass/upright. Just say "guitar" and if needed give them the case size... they will scroll down their 'list of specs' (or be trained) to tell you the "Special Items" category for checked bags.

good luck on your trip
 
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#14
c-ba55 said:
Yeah, can be checked, for a $200 fee. That clause just clarifies that although non-instruments over 80 combined inches they won't check at all, instruments can be larger and still be checked - but you still need to pay. According to the person I talked to at Southwest.
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The person you spoke to at Southwest was wrong.

Just flew LAX to Dallas via Southwest for some video shoots: bass went in the overhead bin both ways at no charge.

I’ve flown with an instrument likely over 100 times in my career, and the only time I was ever charged an “oversized” fee I was flying American: the agent at the check-in counter on the way back home was just being dumb (I even explained I hadn’t been charged on the outbound flight) and I was also using an ENKI case (which is exponentially larger than a normal hardshell case).

That charge was later refunded.
 
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#15
Keep in mind that flight crew can overrule basically any rule. And deal with a lot of stressed and/or rude people. Being all smiles and friendliness can go a long way.

One of the unexpected benefits of having switched to short scale headless is greater likelihood of storing it in the bins.
 
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#16
TeaTime said:
Keep in mind that flight crew can overrule basically any rule. And deal with a lot of stressed and/or rude people. Being all smiles and friendliness can go a long way.

One of the unexpected benefits of having switched to short scale headless is greater likelihood of storing it in the bins.
Click to expand...
This is just good all around life advice.

Being kind costs us nothing and can dramatically change the outcome of so many situations for the better.
 
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#17
Southwest is really clear about it. It'd be $200 each way. Oversized is usually capped at 80", but for instruments goes to 150". BUT STILL STARTS AT 62, just like any baggage.


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#20
mcfrankson said:
This is the solution, I’ve done it many times.

Put it in a hard travel case. Get it through security and gate check it. They don’t charge you, it always arrives. This is 100% the best way.
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Yep.

Hard cases fit in the overheads just fine, flight crews will generally put them in their coat closet as well if you smile and ask politely, and absolute worst case scenario you can gate check for free.
 
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