It’s been nearly three years since the law was passed by Congress, but the Federal Aviation Administration has finally taken action to implement new rules to require airlines to allow musicians to carry their instruments on board commercial flights.

The new rules, which go into effect on March 6, allow you to stow a guitar, violin, trumpet, or other instrument in the overhead compartment if there’s room at the time you board. Before this rule, individual airlines may have had different policies, and enforcement could be subject to the whims of whatever gate agent happened to be working. Many musicians were forced to check their instruments, sometimes resulting in damage or mishandling. Now touring artists can make travel plans with a higher degree of certainty and security.