Flying With a Saxophone: A Touring Musician's Guide

Flying with a saxophone can be stressful. My vintage Selmer Mark VI is irreplaceable, and bringing it into the cabin is non-negotiable for me. The instrument almost never fits the standard carry-on dimensions any airline allows, yet I always get it into the cabin as hand luggage.

So here are the top tips and tricks I've picked up after years of touring and traveling with my tenor, soprano and alto saxophones through Europe, the U.S. and beyond.

If you want to know more about what it's like to be on tour as a jazz musician, including traveling and flying with a saxophone, check out my vlog from our jazz tour in Arctic Norway.

1. Check the airline rules

Let's start with the most obvious: check the airline policy for bringing a musical instrument on board the aircraft. These will vary depending on what airline you're flying with, and what country or region you're in.

In the United States, there is a federal regulation requiring airlines to allow musical instruments as carry-on if they fit safely in the cabin. You can read the official DOT rule on musical instruments here.

When booking your tickets, pay attention to the aircraft type too. Smaller regional jets have smaller overhead bins, and if you can choose between two flights, choose the larger aircraft.

The aircraft type matters. Smaller regional jets are where saxophones get refused most often. Photo: Magnus Bakken

I have flown with my saxophones on SAS, KLM, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Widerøe, Icelandair, British Airways, Ryanair, and others. SAS is the one I prefer when I have the choice.

2. The best saxophone case for flying

An important thing to consider before trying to take your saxophone on board an aircraft is the case.

"Where's your horn?" is what my bandmates have asked me multiple times when wearing this case. Photo: Magnus Bakken

For my tenor, I use the BAM Cabine. I wear the case as a backpack, lowering the straps so it sits below my shoulders. Angled the right way as I walk past the gate desk, it disappears behind me. When entering the aircraft, I keep the case on the side of my body opposite to the flight attendant.

Sometimes I need to bring both my tenor and my soprano. Rather than trying to carry two cases on board, I use a Wiseman Double Case. It is custom-built, solid, and fits both horns in one relatively compact shell. The Wiseman case is also designed so that none of the keys are in contact with the case interior. If all else fails I would consider handing it to the flight attendant.

When I need to fly with both tenor and soprano, the Wiseman double case is perfect. Photo: Magnus Bakken

I used to fly with a Protec tenor case, and that was also always fine. The BAM Cabine is just much more compact, which is why I switched. Other cases like the Boston Sax Shop Ambassador or Hiscox have a good reputation too. The principle is the same: compact shape, hard shell, and definitely not a soft bag.

3. Check in a flight case

While I would never check my vintage saxophone, there are options I'd consider if I had a more replaceable horn. If you have a dedicated travel saxophone, or something that isn't as "one of a kind" as a Selmer Mark VI or a Conn 10M, then look into a flight case.

I would never check in my Mark VI tenor saxophone when flying. Photo: Sofie Øvrebø

You can get a custom-built flight case with foam suspension, ATA-style latches and a solid reinforced shell, built to survive the saxophone-hating ground handling personnel.

This introduces some other concerns that you should be aware of, like checking it as special baggage and potential overweight fees.

4. Buy an extra seat

If you have the budget, or the gig is covering your travel expenses, buying a dedicated seat for your saxophone is probably the safest option of all. The horn sits next to you the entire flight, and you don't have to worry about overhead bin space. Most airlines allow this and have a procedure for it.

I have never had to go to this length myself, but I think it's worth considering if you're flying with airlines known for being extra strict with the carry-on dimensions.

5. Board early

For a fraction of the price of a separate seat for your saxophone, you can upgrade your ticket to an early boarding group. With a lot of airlines this is actually a very cheap upgrade, and I think it's totally worth it.

If you're one of the first people to board the aircraft, there will be plenty of space in the overhead bins for your horn. Put any other personal items under the seat in front of you so you don't take up more space than you have to.

Even if you don't upgrade your ticket to an earlier boarding group, try to get in line early so you're at least one of the first people in your group.

6. Be nice to the crew

A smile can go a long way. If you seem like a nice person, the cabin crew is less likely to give you a hard time about the saxophone. If you do get stopped, stay calm and politely explain that you're a musician and the instrument is valuable. I like to add that I've flown with them many times before, and that I choose their airline because I know they'll let me bring my saxophone on board.

Usually we agree that I can check if my saxophone fits before we make any decisions, and that's the end of the conversation.

If the overhead space is full, keep in mind that there are other options too. Sometimes you can keep the sax in the cockpit if the pilot allows it, or in an onboard closet or wheelchair compartment.

7. "I'll take another flight"

I recently interviewed Bendik Hofseth for my YouTube channel. When the cameras were off, we started talking about saxophone cases, and how to bring one on a flight. That's when he told me he had heard about a different strategy when boarding.

Bendik Hofseth gave me a great tip for flying with a saxophone. Photo: Magnus Bakken

You wait until the very last minute to board the plane, just before they're closing the gate. If anyone starts arguing with you about the saxophone, and nothing else seems to work, you simply tell them: "Okay, that's fine, I'll take another flight. Please get my checked bag out of the cargo hold."

Pulling out a checked bag takes time, and a delayed flight is an extra cost for the airline. If this really works, it is the best trick I have heard. Be sure to let me know your experience if you ever try this.

Safe travels

I think there will always be some stress related to flying with a saxophone, but hopefully this guide can help you make the trip as smooth as possible.

If you are heading out on tour or to a gig abroad, safe travels. And if you have a tip of your own, send it my way.