Qantas are launching a dedicated Musicians Additional Baggage Allowance to help travelling musos and their crews get their precious gear from point A to point B, without having to dig into their savings.
According to a statement (Via the Australian Music Industry Network), Qantas are ready to give artists a free baggage allowance of three pieces at 23 kilograms a piece. The additional allowance will apply to flight leaving on or after 13th April 2015, and needs to be booked two or more business days before departure.
There is a slight catch, however. To be eligible for Qantas’ offer, musos must be travelling with an instrument or with touring equipment, and also must be a current member of one of the associations listed at the bottom of this article.
The Musicians Additional Baggage Allowance will also only be available on Qantas and QantasLink domestic services within Australia which have a QF flight number.
Qantas launched a similar luggage allowance program for musicians in 2012, which entitled touring artists to one extra piece of luggage weighing up to 23 kilograms. That meant musicians could double their weight allowance to 46 kilograms, at no charge. This week’s baggage announcement takes the free baggage allowance for eligible musicians up to 69 kilograms — a much healthier amount.
Watch: Qantas Travel Insider with Angus & Julia Stone
Eligible Qantas Musicians Additional Baggage Allowance Associations
Association of Artist Managers
Australian Independent Record Labels Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society
Live Performance Australia
Musicians Union of Australia
Country Music Association of Australia
Folk Alliance
Australian Chamber Orchestra
Opera Australia
Queensland Music Network
Contemporary Music Services Tasmania
Music NSW
Music NT
Music Victoria
The Western Australian Music Industry Association