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AIBU?

British Airways discrimination against cellists

181 replies

londonmummy1966 · 31/05/2016 18:16

Before I start I will admit that this is very much a first world problem but it is still really annoying.

My Dds are going on a music tour in Europe this summer and they are flying with British Airways. Dd1 needs to take her cello with her which is not an immensely valuable instrument but as is the way with cellos it is still worth more than the £1000 maximum compensation BA would pay if it went in the baggage hold and got damaged. There are so many horror stories about what happens to cellos on flights. So the only option is to book an extra seat for the cello.

I thought this would be fine as DH has loads of airmiles so we could add Mr Cello to our family account with the BA and use the airmiles to pay for the extra seat. Apparently not - you can't use airmiles to buy a seat for a cello. So then I thought that we could use the airmiles to buy the seat for Dd and pay for the cello. Apparently also not. IF Dd was travelling minus cello that would be fine but apparently BA have a rule that a cellist travelling with their cello cannot book a flight with airmiles . I asked why not and was told it was because it is a faff for the airline to allocate two seats together. However, if Dd was just really fat and needed an extra seat for that reason she could have used airmiles.

AIBU or is BA just taking the proverbial with this? Its not as if dd is a professional cellist or anything - just a school kid who was really excited about being able to play abroad. Also what jobsworth at BA has so little to do they have had time to dream up all these complex rules for the fairly small number of people wanting to travel on airmiles with a cello?

OP posts:

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londonmummy1966 · 03/06/2016 10:57

Thanks everyone - Bravada yes it did occur to me but I know that they will just take the cello off her at that point. It just really annoys me that we have to go through all this palaver when DH's airmiles would buy seats for a whole orchestra's worth of cellos. But obviously some bean counter at BA has worked out that they can save a few thousand a year by preventing cellos and their accompanying flunkies from using airmiles. Personally I would have thought they would welcome such well behaved passengers - its not as if the cello is going to try and board the plane in a drunk and disorderly fashion or suffer from air rage.....

OP posts:

Bravada · 03/06/2016 10:36

Well I know you've come to alternative solution, but couldn't you just say that she IS too fat? And then just shove cello down jumper? Only joking, but what would they actually do when she arrived? Chuck her off for not being fat enough? I can see why it is annoying for you. There are many annoying and stupid things about airmiles TBH. My DH accumulates a lot from work trips but it is bloody bloody difficult to use the things!

Lovewineandchocs · 03/06/2016 10:25

Thanks Mackerel for ending this on a high note!

MackerelOfFact · 03/06/2016 10:22

Pleased to hear you have come to a harmonious solution bassed on this thread. You have Handled the chorus of YABUs well - it definitely could have left you feeling a little flat.

ManonLescaut · 03/06/2016 09:38

Exactly, so have I and it's a big drop!

GreenMarkerPen · 03/06/2016 06:54

and even if you take it to the gate: I have seen airport crew drop luggage from the plane door down to the tarmac to put into hold...

ManonLescaut · 02/06/2016 22:16

I wouldn't trust an instrument to the hold, however well packed. Those hold cases are all very well but however well you pad/prepare it, if it gets thrown around by the crew - and they do sometimes just throw stufff - it will impact it. I'm a violinist (not professional) and did a lot of travelling with groups when I was younger, I honestly don't think it's worth the risk.

londonmummy1966 · 02/06/2016 22:01

Greenmarkerpen - no there isn't a full orchestra - all the rest are singers so she is alone in needing a big instrument on the plane so no help with packing etc. Not sure I would want anyone else to pack the cello anyway

Annie - what is is about cellists that gets such a reaction? Are they different in your mind to pianists or fiddle players and if so why?

OP posts:

nicolasixx · 02/06/2016 20:37

Good luck OP - can totally see why you are fed up with this.

Lovewineandchocs · 02/06/2016 20:15

Annie as far as I remember you referred to cellists as "rich tossers" albeit with strike through in place-perhaps that's why?

GreenMarkerPen · 02/06/2016 20:15

the container was one of those shaped plane containers.

GreenMarkerPen · 02/06/2016 20:14

are they travelling with the whole orchestra?
when my sister (teacher) travels with the orchestra they hire a container + extra insurance + one teacher and one pupil supervise packing and loading.

londonmummy1966 · 02/06/2016 20:10

Thanks NewLife - Allianz have been great with a very modest quote for a year's cover for flying and they also pointed out that she would need insurance for times when the cello is left in the unattended tour bus the other end which they also included. In the past we've been able to cover all the instruments (all 15 of them!) with a generous household contents insurer but this is bit beyond their remit. I'm going to get a second quote from Lark as they also have a specialist insurance that is well regarded and go with whichever is better.

For the various posters who are seeing cellos and aeroplanes on the horizon we have found one of the standard case manufacturers (BAM) makes a flight case to go over their normal cases and a number of the good music shops will hire them out to flying cellists. In fact the shop we bought dds cello from have offered to lend one to us for free...There are also a number of blogs on the internet about how to pack a cello for a flight - detuning the stings a little; padding around the bridge, tailpiece and fingerboard and marking the bridge position with an eyeliner pencil in case it shifts in transit. .... who knew it was that complicated!

OP posts:

NewLife4Me · 02/06/2016 19:40

Allianz are brilliant OP.

We have dds instruments insured through them and have had to claim twice, due to no fault of hers, I must add.
Dh also has his insured with them too, but has never had to claim. It is the one most pro musicians use, and the one I'd recommend.

londonmummy1966 · 01/06/2016 22:14

Thanks for all the advice - insurance with Allianz and a BAM travel system plus fingers crossed seems to be the way forward.... Next time will try to fly with Easy Jet as they seem a bit more clued up generally- I guess they are all most musicians can afford to travel with.

Annieonamapleleaf - I can't see why you were deleted either - not exactly a spiteful comment - although a bit lacking in the sense of humor department perhaps?

OP posts:

SandpitDreams · 01/06/2016 00:34

I have to agree with the fustration op. Now try arranging flights for a cello, a harp and 2 unaccompanied minors. Now that would be fun!

MissElizaBennettsBookmark · 01/06/2016 00:19

Very much enjoying the puns!!

Don't put the cello in the hold. It will get wrecked...

Come on BA, sort yourselves out. The No Airmiles for cellists rule is rubbish- especially given the amount of travelling professional players do. My OH travels a lot for work and BA are flinging Airmiles at him left right and centre.

Thankfully my instrument is small enough for the overhead lockers. Don't get me started on American Airlines though....

FullMoonTonight · 01/06/2016 00:15

DS flew with his cello on a school trip. We booked a seat for "Mr Cello", DS boarded early with his cello (& the spike!) The flight was with Easyjet, and there was no fuss. All very smooth. Perhaps you're not using the best carrier!

BadLad · 01/06/2016 00:12

Do this if it breaks

Mummyme1987 · 01/06/2016 00:00

This would suggest get your own insurance as they may not pay out anyway.

Mummyme1987 · 31/05/2016 23:56

BA also damaged a ladies wheelchair and refused to pay for it. Not the best behaviour from an airline.

BadLad · 31/05/2016 23:53

YANBU to be feeling a bit down. I too would B flat. Major problems like this are no joke.

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Mummyme1987 · 31/05/2016 23:52

🤔

MangosteenSoda · 31/05/2016 23:38

It's not just a BA thing. Cello discrimination is alive and well here in Hong Kong.

It was recently announced by the MTR (HK underground) that cellists wouldn't be able to travel with their instruments. They went as far as publishing a list of forbidden items. Cellos were on there along with pianos, helium balloons and durians.

Anyway, there was a bit of an outcry. The story made local news and radio and eventually the MTR backed down, allowing musicians (except pianists) to take their instruments on the train out of peak traveling hours. Maybe you need to escalate the story to Classical FM?

Hope your daughter does manage to get to her event with an in tact cello!

akkakk · 31/05/2016 23:26

Years ago I took a very large instrument worth c. 50k on a BA flight... Instrument was insured separately and was carried in the hold, we slapped a fragile sticker on it and it was taken by hand the whole way...

Could you insure its value in the hold through household or travel insurance?

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