Airline policies, hold damage risks, and the only solution that lets you carry a full-size classical guitar in the overhead locker — without buying an extra seat.
Every commercial airline sets carry-on size limits — typically between 55 × 40 × 20 cm and 56 × 36 × 23 cm. A classical guitar in its case measures approximately 105 × 40 × 15 cm. That is nearly twice the permitted length.
This leaves guitarists with three bad options:
None of these options is acceptable for a professional musician, a serious amateur, or anyone who has invested in a quality instrument they care about.
Aircraft holds reach −40 °C at cruising altitude. Wood contracts sharply; glue joints fail. Cracks appear on re-warming.
Hold air has near-zero relative humidity. Solid-wood guitars dehydrate rapidly, causing top cracks and binding separation.
Baggage handlers move hundreds of bags per flight. Cases are thrown, dropped, and stacked. Even a hard case does not guarantee survival.
Airlines limit compensation for musical instruments under the Montreal Convention. A €2,000+ guitar may be compensated at a fraction of its value.
Policies vary by carrier and change frequently. The figures below reflect common allowances as of early 2026 — always verify directly with your airline before travelling.
| Airline | Carry-On Max Size | Instrument Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 × 20 × 25 cm (small bag free) / 55 × 40 × 20 cm (Priority) | Instruments allowed if within size limits; extra seat option available |
| easyJet | 56 × 45 × 25 cm | Musical instruments allowed if they fit in the overhead bin |
| British Airways | 56 × 45 × 25 cm | Small instruments in cabin if they fit; larger instruments as hold baggage or extra seat |
| Lufthansa | 55 × 40 × 23 cm | Instruments permitted as carry-on within size and weight limits |
| Air France | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | Musical instruments can be carried on board if within limits |
| Iberia | 56 × 45 × 25 cm | Instruments allowed in cabin within size limits |
| United (USA) | 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 35 × 23 cm) | FAA law requires accommodation of small instruments in cabin if space permits |
Note: The Pullaway guitar body (without neck) measures approximately 48 × 40 × 15 cm — within the overhead bin limits of every airline listed above.
Luthier Nicolás Rodríguez Guerra spent years searching for a solution that professional guitarists could actually use — not a travel-size guitar with compromised tone, and not an expensive extra seat, but a full-size concert guitar that genuinely fits in the overhead locker.
The answer was the Pullaway system, patented in 2015: a precision wood dovetail joint that allows the neck to detach from the body in under 30 seconds, with no tools and no metal. Once separated:
The Pullaway guitar body (without neck) fits within standard carry-on dimensions on every major commercial airline. No extra seat, no hold check-in, no hiring on location.
Explore the Travel GuitarNo. The all-wood dovetail joint achieves complete structural and acoustic continuity — identical to a traditionally jointed guitar. The vibration path from strings through neck into soundboard is uninterrupted. Multiple professional soloists and conservatory professors have confirmed no audible difference in tone, sustain, or intonation.
This is the critical difference between the Pullaway system and cheaper travel guitar alternatives that use smaller bodies or synthetic materials: the Pullaway works on full-size, full-quality classical and flamenco guitars.
Already have a guitar you love? Nicolás evaluates it remotely. If it qualifies, he installs the Pullaway system and returns it in a 55 × 40 × 20 cm box — ready for its first flight. The guitar's original tone is preserved and a lifetime guarantee covers the joint.
Request EvaluationOrder a classical or flamenco guitar built from scratch with the Pullaway system integrated. Fully personalised tonewoods, scale, and finish. Built over 1–2 months in Les Arques, France. Ships worldwide in a cabin-compatible case.
See Built Guitars →Only if it fits within carry-on dimensions (typically 55 × 40 × 20 cm). A standard guitar does not. With the Pullaway detachable neck, the body fits within these limits and can travel in the overhead bin on any commercial airline.
No. The hold exposes instruments to −40 °C temperatures, near-zero humidity, pressure changes, and rough handling. Glue joints fail, wood cracks, and finishes are damaged. Airlines also have limited liability for musical instruments under international conventions.
Not with a Pullaway guitar. The body fits in a standard overhead bin bag. No extra seat needed — and no gate-agent negotiation required, since the bag is within the standard carry-on allowance.
Most major airlines permit musical instruments as carry-on if they fit within the overhead bin size limits. In the US, federal law (FAA Modernization Act 2012) requires this. In Europe, policies vary by carrier. A guitar that fits within 55 × 40 × 20 cm is within the carry-on allowance of virtually every commercial airline.
A full-size classical or flamenco guitar with the Pullaway detachable neck system — it fits in the overhead bin without sacrificing sound quality, playability, or structural integrity.
No. The self-aligning dovetail joint reproduces the same string length and neck angle every time. A brief fine-tune of the strings is typical after reassembly, but the intonation and neck position are consistent across thousands of assembly cycles.
Transform your existing guitar from €220 or commission a new one. Fly with confidence — guitar in the overhead bin, every time.
Contact Nicolás