united_plane_credit_Tomás_Del_Cor

Musician kicked off United flight because of her violin

[Photo by: Tomás Del Cor]

Violinist Yennifer Correia was attempting to travel from Houston to St. Louis where she said a supervisor at the United Airlines ticket counter at Bush Airport in Houston told her she wasn’t able to board with it. (via Click 2 Houston)

“They told me that I had to pay $50 to check in the instrument. I told them, that's not what I'm looking for,” Correia told the news source.

Read more: Musicians are finally allowed to carry on instruments when flying

According to Airlines For America, “in general, small musical instruments can be transported as your one carry-on baggage item if there is room in the overhead compartment or under the seat when you board and the instrument can be stowed safely.”

As we reported, this was finally approved in 2015, saying that beginning on March 1 of that year, all musicians would be able to legally carry on and store their instruments on all major airlines. The United States Department of Transportation announced, “Carriers must allow passengers to stow their small musical instruments [guitars and all!] in an approved stowage area in the cabin.”

She tells the Houston news source that the supervisor “proceeded to throw herself on top of my suitcase” so she could take the rest of the sticker from it. 

Correia explains that the situation is all the more difficult because her instrument is her job. “What I want the airlines to understand is musicians, we need the instruments to make a living. We depend on our instruments to make a living.”

United released a statement to KPRC 2, saying: “We’re disappointed anytime a customer has an experience that does not live up to his or her expectation. We are reaching out to Ms. Correia to gain a better understanding of what occurred and to offer assistance.”

Watch the video from Click 2 Houston below:

What are your thoughts on the situation? Sound off in the comments below.

Categories: