Have violin, will travel after change of policy Caroline Trengove took to social media after being told she couldn't take her instrument into the cabin on a Jetstar flight Picture: John Feder Source: TheAustralian SOON travelling musicians will be able to take instruments longer than 56cm into the cabin when flying on Jetstar following a review of the discount carrier's carry-on baggage policy. The policy change, set to be effective within a month, more closely aligns Jetstar with its corporate stablemate Qantas and with Virgin Australia. Both airlines introduced musician-friendly policies two years ago. Jetstar's about-face was revealed after a customer, Caroline Trengove, complained on social media about the airline's recent treatment of her. The professional folk violinist was barred from boarding a flight from Hamilton Island to Sydney two weeks ago because she refused to stow her violin in the hold at the request of gate staff. Despite paying an additional $150 for excess luggage to transport her leads, Trengove was told at the gate she would not be allowed to take her violin on board despite having flown with it on Jetstar between Sydney and Brisbane return in February. "If Qantas and Virgin have no problem putting a delicate instrument in the overhead luggage, why not Jetstar?" she says. Trengove, who travels frequently for work, usually flies Virgin or Qantas on account of the additional luggage and booking flexibility given to musicians two years ago. She booked on Jetstar after arriving at Hamilton Island airport because it had the next flight to Sydney and her father was gravely ill. As a result of being barred from the flight she arrived in Sydney a day later. Her father died the day after that. I lost a day with my dad. And sick father or not, the hold is simply not an appropriate place for any delicate instrument that fits easily into an overhead locker on every plane I've ever been on in 20 years of travelling with my violin," Trengove posted on her open Facebook page. Jetstar apologised to Trengove last week and offered her a refund, which she accepted. Jetstar's present cabin baggage policy allows passengers to carry personal items sized 56cm x 36cm x 23cm with a weight allowance of 10kg. Once the airline is able to satisfy the appropriate safety and regulatory requirements to implement the new policy, customers will be able to carry musical instruments sized 81cm x 36cm x 23cm with the same weight allowance of 10kg. Patrick Donovan led the successful push for improvements for travelling musicians in 2011. The chief executive of Music Victoria says: "Three years ago Virgin Australia, and then Qantas, offered excess baggage discounts and supportive policies for travelling musicians. The policy has been career-changing for many bands, and, as many musicians can only afford to fly on the budget carriers, we encourage Jetstar and Tiger to come to the party as well.