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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1487
Location: Michigan | just when thought it was safe another airlines horror story pops up.
i do not understand how uncaring the airlines are and think that offering a few bucks will make the problem go away.GWB
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/vintage-gibson-guitar-delta-ba... |
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Joined:
April 2010
Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | With the multitude of flights, passengers and luggage all being moved in such a hectic rush, it's a wonder to me that this stuff doesn't happen even more often. Not sure if I'd ever want to bring my guitar with me on a commercial flight nowadays. At least not without excellent insurance. Let their attorneys fight it out with the airlines. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | That is some kind of odd accident. I fly for a Delta subcontractor and we see those elevators more and more in the jet bridges or in the terminal right next to the jet bridge. It is for the gate checked bags. There is a wheeled cart with several shelves for bags which rides a little elevator from tarmac level up to jet bridge level. The rampers load the bags onto the cart at the airplane then roll it over to the elevator and send it up for the passengers to retrieve their bags. The guitar looks like it fell off of the shelf during the ride up in the elevator.
My airline has a very good culture and I think we do a great job at caring for our customers. But I don't see it across the board in the industry, and we are moving to the low cost model more and more. Some people are just unpleasant by nature and get a thrill out of damaging other people's stuff whether it be vandalizing a parked car or dropping a box which has a FRAGILE sticker on it. Gate checking by far reduces the chances of an accident or outright vandalism.
Travelers should be aware that the flight crew has final say on what goes where in the airplane. Some gate agents can be ogres about checking a bag but if you have something valuable like a guitar you can insist on taking it to the airplane and asking the flight attendant if there is room. Gate agents are understaffed and pressured to get flights out on time. On time performance is #1 priority, you've seen all the news stories about delays so that is what gets the priority. Delaying a flight to deal with your special circumstance is not welcome, and most passengers think they are special! Be cheerful and polite with the flight attendants.
Print out the airline's instrument policy from their website so you can show it to the gate agent and/or supervisor.
Edited by FlySig 2013-01-05 10:03 AM
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Joined:
September 2002
Posts: 153
| On Christmas day I travelled from South America on a 767 with a high end Gibson in its OHSC. I was in Business class, and the guitar wouldn't fit in the overhead compartment, so I was informed that it would have to be checked. However, there was room the overhead in Tourist class and it fit perfectly.
In Miami I took an ER4, and on those small planes even carry-ons must be gatechecked. When I boarded the bus, the gate crew told me the guitar would have to be gate checked, and as I have been through this before, I took the gate check ticket so as not to argue with them. When I got to the plane, I told the gate crew that I would first like to ask the stewardess if there was room on the plane for the guitar, and if not I would return and gatecheck it. The stewardess was kind and put the guitar in her closet, which had plenty of room.
I do not travel with a guitar frequently, but on the occasions that I have, by being patient and polite, I have never had to check a guitar on domestic or international flights. On the smaller planes, if the flight is not full they have even allowed me to put the guitar in an adjoining seat, attached by the seatbelt.
However, regardless of airline policy, it is my understanding that the flight crew makes the decision as to whether they will allow closet space to be used for guitars, and they can refuse even if there is space available.
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | I didn't know you could travel by air guitar... |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1487
Location: Michigan | case closed , looks like gibson stepped up to the plate.to bad delta air had to be socially embarrased to react to a problem that should of been easily fixed. GWB
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/delta-gibson-guitar-schneider-... |
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Joined:
April 2010
Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | Kudos to Gibson.  "...ensure appropriate steps are taken to prevent future occurrences" - Delta Air Lines hmmm, wonder if that means guitars will be safer... OR that Delta will be invoking photo restrictions!  "The case even bent a steel beam." Impressive, that was one tuff case! |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 92
Location: San Francisco, CA | I'd focus on the millions of guitars that made their journey just fine.
Well done, Gibson!
Edited by 6L6 2013-01-11 6:48 PM
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1487
Location: Michigan | my point is the way a customer is treated after there is a situation like this one that has happened a few times before and it seems the customer is treated the same way, airlines ignoring them , not returning phone calls , ignoring e-mails and finally after they receive enough bad press they finally offer some petty $$$ to try and make you go away. that is my point . it's like getting a bad meal in a restaurant and when you mention it to the management you get ignored and treated like you are the problem until enough people hear about your experience with them and then they want to make amends and take care of the cost of your meal give you a free one the next time to save face . i say that's not customer service it's bulls#@!# GWB |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | So the lesson is that if you want to get attention, make a Video and put it on YouTube.
Otherwise the company will blow-you-off.
This incident and the "United Breaks Guitars" incident reminds you to be sure that your cell phone has video.
The airline's first response is to ignore you. They apparently get away with this most times.
Just cuz we know about a few good outcomes, the airlines usually just tell you that it is your problem.... And usually gets away with it.
On the other end... Way back in January of 2007 one of the airlines broke a friend of mine's brand-new Christmas Present Guitar on her return trip from Home, and she got NUTHIN'!
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another traveling by air guitar horror story
