British Airways discrimination against cellists

[londonmummy1966]

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?

[OooLookShoes]

Bit brassed off about that

[ToxicBits]

I think she's stringing us along here now

[Ionacat]

There are a limited number of seats on the plane that your cello can actually go in - has to be a window seat and non emergency exit and then your DD has to sit next to it. You also will need to take out extra insurance (or make sure the current insurance covers it) as according to BA's website you have to check in the cello, and then it is delivered to you at the cabin door to take on board. It is usually cheaper to hire a cello in the country you are playing in when you go on a music tour flying rather than via coach rather than pay for the extra seats.

[OooLookShoes]

Anyhow OP your plight is just a cymbal of first world middle class oppression

[ToxicBits]

Look I reckon she thinks we are taking the pizz now

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

Ooh some of you are a bit harsh, don't be harpies!

[ToxicBits]

What's vivaldi bad puns anyway?

[ManonLescaut]

It does seem bizarre that you can't pay for a cello seat with airmiles.
I certainly wouldn't put it in the hold.

You can't perform on some random rented cello - it could be crap.

Would it be at all practical to go by train? Or another airline? Otherwise at least you've got air miles to cover her own ticket.

[mamamea]

"Queenbean she'd be sitting between me and my 6ft4 very able bodied husband who is more than capable of opening the emergency exit. He'd be sitting next to it."

No he wouldn't, because it's against the law to do what you are asking, on numerous accounts.

"The following passengers are among those who should not be allocated, or directed to, seats by emergency exits:

Passengers with physical or mental impairment or disability to the extent that they would have difficulty in moving quickly if asked to do so.
Passengers who have significant sight or hearing impairment to the extent that it might be difficult for them to respond to instructions quickly.
Passengers who, because of age or sickness, have difficulty in moving quickly.
Passengers who, because of physical size, have difficulty in moving quickly.
Children (whether accompanied or not) and infants.
Passengers travelling with animals, for example assistance dogs."

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

On a serious note, come back OP.

[SwearyInn]

What ever action you take - just be aware of the repercussions.

[SisterMoonshine]

You be as crochetty with them as you like.
Someones got to make a music stand.

[MerryMarigold]

Dealing with musicians is clearly not BA's forte.

[sharknad0]

Some posters here seem to suffer from a dramatic sense of humour failure.

YABU, these rules sound ridiculous! I normally quite like BA, not my favourite airline, but they tend to be most helpful.

[runningincircles12]

Errr, just buy insurance, wrap it up properly and stick it in the hold? Is this for real?

[ToxicBits]

Look all she was trying to do was chorale some support so she could orchestrate a movement with a hope to modulate away from current policy

[Lurkedforever1]

original I think for the emergency exits it's because it has to be people who can, and will operate them in an emergency. They won't let me, and my tall able bodied dd sit in them either, even if the third person is perfectly capable. But I'm guessing their explanation was crap or you wouldn't have got the impression you have. Ask for bulkhead next time, it's across the aisle from the emergency exits.

[Puffinity]

Hopefully OP has more strings to her bow!

[AliceInUnderpants]

Why not pay for a seat for your daughter, and a seat for her fucking cello, then pay your other daughter's seat separately with your airmiles?

[BoneyBackJefferson]

Here you go OP

[ToxicBits]

I hope we're all taking notes here

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

ok, some of the music puns are funny, but there are also some very bitchy responses here. I have no idea why people have to be so nasty.

[Alicekeach]

OP, I don't get why people are being so vile to you over this. Ignore them.

So far as the BA problem goes, I know Julian Lloyd Webber has written about this very issue in the past (his cello is a Strad so would be worth £££££££). It might be worth Tweeting him to see if he has any ideas or can put any pressure on BA. He is very active on Twitter.

[Hydroshield]

YABU.
Utterly ridiculous how silly AIBU is becoming lately.

[ToxicBits]

Can I be Franck here? I want to make more puns but I'm too Bizet