British Airways have a new policy for instruments. It’s no, thanks

The world’s least favourite airline* has changed course overnight. After months of assuring us that violins and other small instruments are welcome aboard, here’s the latest message from Customer Service (sic).

Hi Norman. It’s true that we’ve changed our policy and we’re unable to allow musical instruments to be carried in cabin as hand baggage without charge. We ask all passengers travelling with musical instruments to contact us for assistance prior to their journey. ^Oliver

Until they change course again our advice is: take another plane.

UPDATE: Alison Balsom has received a similar message.

That’s it, I’m done @British_Airways – we’ve all been so patient with the lowering standards but not to let professional musicians bring on their (small) instruments as hand baggage? We take hundreds of thousands of flights -it’s our living. A greedy disgrace.

— Alison Balsom (@alisonbalsom) December 19, 2017

* See https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/5149642/british-airways-slumps-to-third-from-bottom-in-annual-passenger-survey-by-which/

See also: String quartet pays homage to British Airways

UPDATE: BA crisis official contradicts instruments ban