How to Fly With an iPad as a Musician

Are you tired of dedicating half of your luggage to sheet music? Consider how to fly with an iPad so that you can take back your space.

There are a lot of things to think about, such as keeping track of your device. Read on to learn more about how and why you should fly with your tablet.

But first, this post contains affiliate links. Check out my full disclosure policy to learn more.

Why Fly With an iPad as a Musician

Being able to fly with an iPad can make your life much easier as a musician. Whether you’re visiting your hometown or heading out on tour, consider the reasons to bring a tablet on your travels.

Carry All Your Sheet Music

If you use an iPad to read sheet music, you can carry all of your pieces easily. Gone are the days of paring down your music to what fits in your carry-on.

And you don’t have to sacrifice space in your luggage for sheet music. An iPad is super thin, and so it takes up the space of one music book, but it can hold dozens of files.

So if you think you may want to practice or study scores on your trip, the iPad is perfect. Just make sure you bring it on the plane with you.

Lighten Your Load

When you fly with an iPad instead of paper sheet music, you can have a lighter load. Maybe you don’t change how you pack in any other way.

But rather than having to bring a carry-on, a personal item, and a checked bag, you can just do the first two. That can save you a lot of time before and after your flight.

I know I don’t like to check bags if I can avoid it. But it can be hard to decide what to pack, so taking a device with digital files is great!

Bring Other Necessities

You might not be able to lighten your overall load with an iPad. But you could make space for other things you have to bring and can’t leave behind.

When it comes to carrying stuff on a plane, there are some things I will NEVER check. For example, I won’t check my instruments since you never know how they might be treated.

But I also won’t check my medications. And even if I were to check a bag of clothing, I’d always have at least one outfit change in my carry-on bags.

Stay Entertained

One of the nice things about an iPad is that it’s super versatile. Sure, you may purchase one with the primary intent to read sheet music on it.

But you can also use an iPad as an eReader, which is great if you like reading books. The tablet also works for streaming your favorite shows and movies.

And of course, you can browse the internet and check your email or do other tasks. So if you’re looking for something to do on the plane, your iPad is a great tool.

Easy to Track

For better or worse, I’ve had to take my iPad out of my bag when going through airport security. And one time, I left it behind.

Thankfully, I also use an Apple Watch, and it alerted me that my iPad was not with me. So I was able to run back to the security checkpoint and identify and collect my device.

If for whatever reason you leave paper sheet music behind, you won’t be alerted. You could get all the way to your gig or back home none the wiser.

How to Fly With an iPad

I’ve had to fly with an iPad multiple times. It’s not as stressful as you may think, but there are a few tips you should keep in mind.

Carry It on the Plane

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: never check anything of value. Always do whatever you can to get your items on the plane with you, especially something like an iPad.

Of course, this means you should put it in your personal item or carry-on. But even then, there’s always the risk of having to gate-check your bag if you’re one of the last to board.

So for that reason, I always like to pay for early boarding. On Southwest, this takes the form of Early-Bird Check-in, so I don’t have to manually do so, and I’m checked in 12 hours before open check-in.

Bring the Charger

It may sound obvious, but don’t forget to also bring your charger with your iPad. This is particularly important for longer trips where you may need to use your iPad a lot.

But even for a quick trip, you never know when you may run out of battery. Always have a charger with you in case you need it.

Sure, you can purchase one, but I’ve heard too many horror stories of knock-off chargers having issues. It’s better to bring your genuine Apple charger if you can.

Pack Any iPad Accessories

If you’re just using your iPad casually on your trip, you may not need much. But if you’re traveling for a concert or something, bring your top accessories.

I’d recommend bringing an Apple Pencil so that you can annotate on your music. And if you’ll be rehearsing or performing, it doesn’t hurt to have a Bluetooth foot pedal on hand.

These are accessories that you can’t easily replace, so it’s essential to bring them. I’d also recommend packing an iPad stand so that you don’t have to bring a larger music stand.

Double Check After Security

If you have to take your iPad out at security, do a double-check of everything before leaving the checkpoint. Take note of everything you had to take out of your bag, not just your tablet.

After you get your belongings back, make sure you have everything. An iPad can be easy to forget, especially if it’s smaller and therefore lighter.

This is particularly important if your iPad is your only Apple device. But even if you have a watch or iPhone, you don’t want to have to waste time running back to security to collect something you lost.

Use a Distinctive Case or Lock Screen

When traveling, you may come across many other people with iPads. Whether you do lose yours at security and have to go back or you have a rehearsal with other digital musicians, you need to be careful.

Having a distinctive iPad case will make it easier to identify against other iPads. And if you want a black case for performances, at least have a unique lock screen photo.

When I did leave my iPad behind, I was able to describe the case and lock screen. The security personnel handed it over with no questions.

Turn on Airplane Mode

Before I get on the plane, I like to turn my iPad on Airplane Mode. This is because I usually keep it in my bigger bag, which goes in the overhead compartment.

By the time the flight attendants announce to put your devices on Airplane Mode, I can’t get to my iPad. So I like to be proactive and switch the settings ahead of time.

Of course, if you keep your iPad in your personal item at your feet, you won’t have to worry about doing it until you’re on the plane.

Back Up Your iPad

Another thing you should do not just before the flight but before heading to the airport is to back up your iPad. I use iCloud for backups, but any cloud storage will work.

Having a recent backup is essential in case you lose your iPad or something else happens. That way, you can log into your cloud storage account on a new iPad and restore your files.

You don’t even have that option if you fly with paper sheet music. Instead, you’d have to re-purchase all of your titles, and you’d lose all of your markings.

What’s the Best iPad for Musicians?

The best iPad for musicians will vary from person to person. As someone who uses an iPad to read and write sheet music, I like having the iPad Pro 12.9.

It has a large screen that’s easy to read and use. While I used to use a regular iPad, the upgrade was super worth it, at least for me.

Will You Fly With an iPad?

Whether you’re a touring flutist or headed home for vacation, you may want to fly with an iPad as a musician. I’ve done so multiple times, and it’s easy if you prepare for it.

Be sure to consider why you should bring an iPad (especially over paper sheet music). Then, follow my top tips to help your travels go smoothly.

And if you want more information about how to use an iPad for music in general, download forScore and More.