It was bound to happen. busted up viola courtesy of Air Canada.



Anyone else have any photos of their destroyed instrument to post here? Doesn't just have to be from the airlines.

Well, I'm sure he has insurance. Secondly, he shouldn't have let it go into the hold.

"Secondly, he shouldn't have let it go into the hold."

He may not have had a choice. I remember flying from Denver to Orlando and having to check my viola. And even though I put up a fuss they would not let me take it on. So I packed some extra towels around it and hoped for the best. Thankfully it survived the trip although it was cold when I opened it and I made sure to carry it with me on board on the way home. But I think many of us have been in this poor boy's situation.

quote:

Originally posted by Morassi:
Well, I'm sure he has insurance. Secondly, he shouldn't have let it go into the hold.

The story was on myauditions yesterday. He had no choice, the airline forced him.

I hope the " I hope he had insurance" mantra doesnt catch on. It doesnt really matter, his axe is destroyed. I dont want insurance money, I want my axe.

His point about there being no clear policy is also a big deal in this story (they let him bring the viola onboard before).

Airlines suck!

I'm going to NYC in 12 days. If my violin can't come with me onboard, I don't go. Simple as that.

It's a matter of priorities. What did he really think would happen? I'm sorry, but if you put something valuable in the hold, expect that to be the outcome. I cannot imagine being naive enough to think that it will come out fine. I don't play a strad or anything, but I'd absolutely never leave my violin to those idiots.

I've got a lesson in manhattan on the 15th, and if they don't let me take it, I'm not going to the lesson.

quote:

Originally posted by Cygnus:

quote:

Originally posted by Morassi:
Well, I'm sure he has insurance. Secondly, he shouldn't have let it go into the hold.

I hope the " I hope he had insurance" mantra doesnt catch on.

I agree. Depending on the instrument, these can be one of a kind works of art. Nobody would put the Mona Lisa in peril with the excuse that "it's insured."

I also wonder if insurance would cover something that is so likely to cause damage.

Morassi,

It's one thing to cancel a lesson based on a strict interpretation of carry-on rules, but I think it would be quite another to skip out on a contract gig (or, as in Paul's case, a European tour). Having played with him right after he got off of the flight in question, I can assure you that Paul was not "naive enough to think that it will come out fine." As is probably the case with most of us who have been forced to check an instrument, he was worried about the instrument for the majority of the flight.

Sometimes we just get put in a situation where we have to pick the lesser of two evils: cancel your trip, or gamble with checking your instrument.

This is very unfortunate. My only advise is that next time, beg and plead more than you did. The one time I had trouble, I was able to persuade the flight attendant to keep it in her personal locker. If you have to, stress the value of the instrument.

It's all very good and well to think you could never end up in this poor unfortunate violist's position and that you could be more persuasive and make a better choice - but the worst could happen to any of us. Check out this thread http://myauditions.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2256096313/m/7541072731 if you think it couldn't happen to you. Sometimes there is no one else to talk to and no other way to stress the importance of the situation - and sometimes you have to get on the plane.

I'm not denying that it couldn't happen to me, but I will certainly forfeit a plane ticket for my violin and bows. I bought a very good case, which was custom made by a company in Cremona. It is apparently the strongest case in existence, with all sorts of tolerances... but even a super expensive case probably won't be enough for the gauntlet my violin would have to go through.

In the UK are they allowing you to buy a ticket for your instrument or prohibiting carrying it on all together? I heard of one person who took the train to Paris and flew out from their to avoid the UK policies.

Gate checking used to be another option because it avoids sending instruments through the conveyor belt. However, it doesn't prevent them from tossing it off the plane on the other end.

I wonder if the airlines would change policies if they had to sign that they will replace said instrument that is worth $XX,000. Clearly some instruments cannot even be replaced and it doesn't help if you miss a gig or an audition in the process. However, they might want to avoid the liability.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2349459_1,00.html

London Times article - musicians are really upset and concerned these polices may harm the UK reputation for music.

Its true, the 1st violin in my quartet is getting the train to Paris next wekend so he can fly into the US with his violin on board

I'm worried becuase I'm going this friday and I'll be flying with a valuable tortoise shell bow, and I'm worried about customs issues.

I hope the UK musicians are successful in lobbying parliament to have the carry-on rules changed in the UK.

Flew air canada twice today, return trip to NYC... no problems to report. No one even looked at it.

I think that's the biggest problem with musicians and airlines: inconsistency.

I've flown many times without incident, but there have been a few times when a stubborn airline employee insists that they have to follow the rules to the letter (one time, citing "a shortage of storage space on a commuter aircraft," I was forced to Gate-check a drum, only to board the plane and discover it was only filled to 20% of capacity).

If airlines always banned instruments from the cabin, we musicians would likely adapt out of necessity and convert to other modes of transportation. However, MOST of the time, we are alright and when problem arise, they often catch us off guard.

Also, I'd be curious to know if a memo went out to Air Canada staff after the bad publicity, and potential lawsuit, resulting from Paul's incident.

Well unless someone with an expensive instrument gets their stuff damaged, a real lawsuit will never happen, unfortunately. It will take someone with a pricey axe suing them for a real amount... that's how these big companies work.

I've flown with a guitar that I carry through security & gave to them to store with strollers & such. One time there was extra space & they let me bring it on board. I've had good luck with it, but I know it's nowhere near a violin! However, the airlines sure have been checking out my instruments a lot more in the past month than they have before! I've only gotten my flute checked at one flight before, so this is noticeable. Luckily they haven't mishandled it, but I also have to watch them like a hawk, babysit them, & tell them how to open the case!