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United Airlines is suicidal

although an exception is allowed for “small” musical instruments.
....
It was not clear Tuesday why Correia was told to check the violin
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Anyone who thinks a violin is small is an idiot. This is just a PR stunt in order to get a quick payout from United because they're vulnerable.
Airlines can’t safely transport it.”
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And yet she boarded an airline.
 
maquiscat said:
Musician: United wouldn’t let me bring valuable violin on board | New York Post

What the hell is wrong with this company? They can't help but harm their own business. At this point they might as well shut down.
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Pretty much everything they've done in 2017 should be included in a what not to do video on public relations and basic management. This company proves time after time that they are completely tone deaf to passenger needs, I know my new position may include a little air travel if I so choose, and United has zero shot at my dollars, I will plan around it if they are the only option.
 
reinoe said:
Anyone who thinks a violin is small is an idiot. This is just a PR stunt in order to get a quick payout from United because they're vulnerable.

And yet she boarded an airline.
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I am a drummer, so if I were flying for a paid gig it would be with the understanding that I would have to ship it ahead of time. Violins aren't small but should be boardable items. They aren't cheap, and if United messes that up her livelihood is at stake. I completely understand where she is coming from.
 
This is a shocker. Surely a violin falls within the dimensions of carry-on luggage. What is United thinking? I wouldn't trust my ripped jeans to airline baggage handlers.
 
washunut said:
Why did the passenger buy a ticket which did not allow her to stow anything in the overhead compartment.

United is now open to have every scam lawyer to sue over anything. Not a good thing plenty of low ethics lawyers.
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Correia had a discount fare that, according to rules posted on United’s website, doesn’t let passengers stow luggage in the overhead bin, although an exception is allowed for “small” musical instruments.
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That's probably why.
 
One thing she could have done is buy a ticket just for the violin. I know other musicians have done so for larger instruments.
 
bearpoker said:
This is a shocker. Surely a violin falls within the dimensions of carry-on luggage. What is United thinking? I wouldn't trust my ripped jeans to airline baggage handlers.
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Actually no it isn't. While a violin is small the case is not. My daughter plays the viola and it is smaller than a violin and it isn't carry on size.
 
reinoe said:
Anyone who thinks a violin is small is an idiot. This is just a PR stunt in order to get a quick payout from United because they're vulnerable.

And yet she boarded an airline.
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I'm looking at my wife's violin as we speak. It looks pretty damn small to me. In it's case it's certainly no bigger than other carry on luggage.

I play guitar and bass and have never had a problem bringing one or the other on board an airline flight, including on United. Though I'm guessing they'd probably object if I tried to bring my upright bass on board instead of one of the electrics. In any case they just put the case in a storage area up in first class.
 
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Hawkeye10 said:
Somebody was trying to get by on the cheap.

Everyone knows that in this situation the violin gets a seat.

That is the one traveling with said violin buys two seats, one for the human, one for the strings.
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Yeah, but what if it gets treated like the Asian doctor who didn't want to be "re-accommodated"?:lol:
 
Praxas said:
The case is not.
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Point taken. I pulled the case out and it goes about 27 inches, which surprised me, so it's bigger than allowable carry on. But as I said in my edit of my post I used to routinely travel with expensive classical guitars and basses. Never had a problem carrying them on, though the last time was a couple of years ago.

I'll also note that she was travelling on a new highly restricted economy ticket, I always traveled regular economy. That probably had a lot to do with it.
 
Actually no it isn't. While a violin is small the case is not. My daughter plays the viola and it is smaller than a violin and it isn't carry on size.
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Your daughter had excellent taste. I love the rich sound of a viola. I agree that buying a seat for the violin would be the best resolution. That shouldn't be the case, but it's true.
 
bearpoker said:
Your daughter had excellent taste. I love the rich sound of a viola. I agree that buying a seat for the violin would be the best resolution. That shouldn't be the case, but it's true.
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When I need to travel with a necessary and expensive piece of equipment, the last thing I would do is take it on the plane with me. United will only reimburse you $35 for damage to carry on. The best resolution is to ship it separately with the appropriate insurance.
 
natsb said:
When I need to travel with a necessary and expensive piece of equipment, the last thing I would do is take it on the plane with me. United will only reimburse you $35 for damage to carry on. The best resolution is to ship it separately with the appropriate insurance.
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You can't be a drama queen hoping for a big payout using common sense like that! Best to board the plane with your gear that's too large to be considered a carry-on and then make a fuss. That's the way you earn a real meal-ticket.
 
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Praxas said:
The case is not.
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The factor in that high end, professional concert grade violins may well come with both and outer case, and an inner case.
 
washunut said:
Would a reasonable person be willing to risk such a high value instrument on something that subjective?
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I guess the only thing she was risking was a missed flight because there is no way she would have checked a violin made in the 1700s.
 
maquiscat said:
Musician: United wouldn’t let me bring valuable violin on board | New York Post

What the hell is wrong with this company? They can't help but harm their own business. At this point they might as well shut down.
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After reading that I wanted more information about the scuffle. Dang, if this is what really happened, United is screwed in this case.

United Airlines staff brawl with violinist in 'wrestling match' after insistence she check her instrument | The Independent

Correia told the supervisor, "I can't not take my violin on board. I'll pay the money. I'll take another flight. Just tell me what I can do?"

As the altercation intensified, Correia told the agents that she would appeal to their bosses and asked the supervisor for her name, MacNaughton said. The supervisor said she wanted Correia's name and reached for the tag on her luggage.

"Without provocation, the supervisor for the Chicago-based carrier then lunged for Ms. Correia's case and, incredibly, tried to wrestle it away from the musician," said a statement written by MacNaughton.

"I start screaming, 'Help, help, help, can somebody record what's happening because this lady's trying to take my personal suitcase from me,'" Correia told Houston NBC-affiliate KPRC.

The supervisor said she was going to call security, and Correia apparently responded, "Please do." Then the supervisor dashed off. That was the last Correia saw of her.
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Lord Tammerlain said:
One thing she could have done is buy a ticket just for the violin. I know other musicians have done so for larger instruments.
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I did that for one of my guitars on a Greyhound bus from Chicago to Fairmount Indiana. There was no way I was going to stow my guitar Under a bus. Going there was no problem. Coming home I got an asshole bus driver that said "I don't care about your ****ing ticket for your guitar, that guitar isn't getting on my bus"
 
americanwoman said:
After reading that I wanted more information about the scuffle. Dang, if this is what really happened, United is screwed in this case.
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No, that is simply a claim made by a partisan individual. Tossing out a claim does not mean it happened. At the same time, a person can be partisan and still make an accurate claim.

Let me see....

- The woman could have just bought a ticket for the violin (but that costs money)
- Perhaps she could have bought a more expensive first class ticket for herself that allows larger carry ons (again, costs more money)
- Insisted on carrying it on after being told by several people that it was too large.
- Has already made a trip to a surgeon to examine her hands (redness after the "fight") for "damage". No doubt her stellar career as unknown super star violinist is at risk.
- Cash pay out is expected soon.

Yeah, right.
 
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