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大约一两个月前曾有人问可不可以带吉他(还是古筝来着, 反正是个不小的乐器)上飞机. 记得有人答过可以. 我本人也曾经见过有人背吉他上飞机. 不过... ...看看今天的渥太华公民报头版新闻吧, 有个人的小提琴都不让带上飞机, 必须托运, 结果损坏严重不能修复, 价值$13,800 而且他的演出计划都受影响了.
Airline destroys $13,800 viola
Matthew Sekeres and Steve Mazey, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, September 01, 2006
Paul Casey returns to class at the University of Ottawa next week, minus his prized instrument and with a gigantic grudge against the country's largest airline.
The 20-year-old music student says he is contemplating legal action against Air Canada after his $13,800 viola was damaged beyond repair in the baggage compartment of a trans-atlantic flight this July.
Mr. Casey was one of a handful of Canadians selected for the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, a student-training orchestra, which performed across Europe and worked with opera legend Placido Domingo.
But what should have been the experience of a lifetime turned into immense disappointment when he arrived in Belgium and found his viola with a snapped neck, a broken back and sporting about 12 cracks on its front.
"I didn't start crying or anything because I expected that would be the outcome when they made me check it," Mr. Casey said yesterday, noting the instrument's case bore three "fragile" stickers.
Mr. Casey said he was told at the check-in counter that the airline had a strict policy about carry-on items but noted, "one month earlier, I travelled with my viola, so it obviously isn't that strict a policy."
Air Canada says carry-on baggage must be no more than 55 by 40 by 23 centimetres, and must weigh no more than 10 kilograms. It has no specific policy for valuable instruments, which is why Mr. Casey's case is strengthening calls by elite musicians for Air Canada to come up with a clear policy on transporting their precious equipment.
Musicians say if they are forced to check their instruments it will make travel "impossible," because they cannot risk damaging their livelihoods.
"We've been lobbying ceaselessly for years," said Mark Tetreault, symphonic director for the 17,000-member Canadian arm of the American Federation of Musicians.
"All we want is a clear policy and not ad hoc decisions at the gate."
The Montreal-based airline admits that its carry-on policy has not been consistent over the years, but says musicians and other travellers should get accustomed to a new reality.
Spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick, who would not comment specifically on Mr. Casey's complaint, said 28 months of record loads, higher fuel prices and less available space in overhead bins have forced the company into a tougher stance.
"It's possible in the past that our rules haven't been enforced uniformly," Mr. Fitzpatrick said. "Today, we are a lot more stringent with the rules. Our planes are a lot fuller."
But that comes as little solace to Mr. Casey, who is hoping that Air Canada learns a lesson from his hardship. The viola was insured, but the Glebe resident said he has not pursued a claim because he doesn't feel responsible for the damage.
Air Canada's policy is that it assumes no liability for many items, including "musical instruments," and that it will only reimburse a maximum of $1,500 for damaged items "unless a higher value is declared in advance."
Mr. Casey received a cheque for more than $1,600, but said that is not enough. He must report to class next week with a viola borrowed from his teacher, David Goldblatt of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and won't have a replacement ready until Christmas at the earliest.
"Ultimately, it is the responsibility of Air Canada because they made me check it," he said, adding that he has taken the viola into the cabin on more than 10 previous flights.
"We feel Air Canada should be responsible for it. They should use this as an example and make a new policy. If they can't cover the cost, then don't make someone with a $14,000 instrument check it."
Guy Harrison, a violin maker in Ottawa who crafted Mr. Casey's viola, said yesterday that it would be an enormous expense to repair the instrument and that it would never be as sturdy as it was before.
Mr. Harrison, an Australian with more than 20 years' experience, constructed the viola in 1999, his first creation in Canada after moving here from Finland.
It was built for NAC violist Nancy Sturdevant, then re-sold to Mr. Casey about two years ago.
"I'm actually sad that it was destroyed. It had some sentimental value for me," Mr. Harrison said.
"It must have had some massive impact because the bridge was snapped in half. It's one of the worst cases I've seen."
Mr. Harrison said other instruments aren't as easily replaced. He has handled instruments more than 400 years old, and some have values in the millions of dollars.
"You can't put these instruments in the hold. It's a recipe for disaster," he said. "They can last a long time, but they don't like to be dropped."
Ottawa cellist Julian Armour, director of the Ottawa Chamber Music Society, buys a ticket for his instrument when he travels. He said he has heard horror stories from many cellists who have had their instruments destroyed when they were forced to put them in storage.
"One guy was watching them unload baggage, and he saw his cello being tossed out of the plane onto the baggage cart," he said. "When he got his cello, it was in a million pieces."
Mr. Armour says if airlines continue to prevent musicians from carrying instruments on board, it could become a nightmare for concert presenters like him.
"Musicians just won't get around ... it would basically eliminate people's ability to play concerts."
Air Canada says options are available for these musicians and their tools.
Besides purchasing an additional seat, Mr. Fitzpatrick said the airline offers a secure cargo service for valuable goods and that couriers are also available if passengers don't want their items stored in the regular baggage compartment.
But musicians say that won't suffice.
"They should develop clear rules, at least by type of aircraft, so that if you know you're going to travel on a certain aircraft and that your instrument may not fit, you could choose another airline or route. But we need a consistent policy and an understanding from the airlines about the value and fragility of instruments," Mr. Goldblatt said.
"How often are people bringing things onto a plane worth more than $10,000?"
Paul Casey holds what is left of his viola after Air Canada forced him to take it to Belgium in the hold.
Photograph by : COURTESY PAUL CASEY
Airline destroys $13,800 viola
Matthew Sekeres and Steve Mazey, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, September 01, 2006
Paul Casey returns to class at the University of Ottawa next week, minus his prized instrument and with a gigantic grudge against the country's largest airline.
The 20-year-old music student says he is contemplating legal action against Air Canada after his $13,800 viola was damaged beyond repair in the baggage compartment of a trans-atlantic flight this July.
Mr. Casey was one of a handful of Canadians selected for the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, a student-training orchestra, which performed across Europe and worked with opera legend Placido Domingo.
But what should have been the experience of a lifetime turned into immense disappointment when he arrived in Belgium and found his viola with a snapped neck, a broken back and sporting about 12 cracks on its front.
"I didn't start crying or anything because I expected that would be the outcome when they made me check it," Mr. Casey said yesterday, noting the instrument's case bore three "fragile" stickers.
Mr. Casey said he was told at the check-in counter that the airline had a strict policy about carry-on items but noted, "one month earlier, I travelled with my viola, so it obviously isn't that strict a policy."
Air Canada says carry-on baggage must be no more than 55 by 40 by 23 centimetres, and must weigh no more than 10 kilograms. It has no specific policy for valuable instruments, which is why Mr. Casey's case is strengthening calls by elite musicians for Air Canada to come up with a clear policy on transporting their precious equipment.
Musicians say if they are forced to check their instruments it will make travel "impossible," because they cannot risk damaging their livelihoods.
"We've been lobbying ceaselessly for years," said Mark Tetreault, symphonic director for the 17,000-member Canadian arm of the American Federation of Musicians.
"All we want is a clear policy and not ad hoc decisions at the gate."
The Montreal-based airline admits that its carry-on policy has not been consistent over the years, but says musicians and other travellers should get accustomed to a new reality.
Spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick, who would not comment specifically on Mr. Casey's complaint, said 28 months of record loads, higher fuel prices and less available space in overhead bins have forced the company into a tougher stance.
"It's possible in the past that our rules haven't been enforced uniformly," Mr. Fitzpatrick said. "Today, we are a lot more stringent with the rules. Our planes are a lot fuller."
But that comes as little solace to Mr. Casey, who is hoping that Air Canada learns a lesson from his hardship. The viola was insured, but the Glebe resident said he has not pursued a claim because he doesn't feel responsible for the damage.
Air Canada's policy is that it assumes no liability for many items, including "musical instruments," and that it will only reimburse a maximum of $1,500 for damaged items "unless a higher value is declared in advance."
Mr. Casey received a cheque for more than $1,600, but said that is not enough. He must report to class next week with a viola borrowed from his teacher, David Goldblatt of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and won't have a replacement ready until Christmas at the earliest.
"Ultimately, it is the responsibility of Air Canada because they made me check it," he said, adding that he has taken the viola into the cabin on more than 10 previous flights.
"We feel Air Canada should be responsible for it. They should use this as an example and make a new policy. If they can't cover the cost, then don't make someone with a $14,000 instrument check it."
Guy Harrison, a violin maker in Ottawa who crafted Mr. Casey's viola, said yesterday that it would be an enormous expense to repair the instrument and that it would never be as sturdy as it was before.
Mr. Harrison, an Australian with more than 20 years' experience, constructed the viola in 1999, his first creation in Canada after moving here from Finland.
It was built for NAC violist Nancy Sturdevant, then re-sold to Mr. Casey about two years ago.
"I'm actually sad that it was destroyed. It had some sentimental value for me," Mr. Harrison said.
"It must have had some massive impact because the bridge was snapped in half. It's one of the worst cases I've seen."
Mr. Harrison said other instruments aren't as easily replaced. He has handled instruments more than 400 years old, and some have values in the millions of dollars.
"You can't put these instruments in the hold. It's a recipe for disaster," he said. "They can last a long time, but they don't like to be dropped."
Ottawa cellist Julian Armour, director of the Ottawa Chamber Music Society, buys a ticket for his instrument when he travels. He said he has heard horror stories from many cellists who have had their instruments destroyed when they were forced to put them in storage.
"One guy was watching them unload baggage, and he saw his cello being tossed out of the plane onto the baggage cart," he said. "When he got his cello, it was in a million pieces."
Mr. Armour says if airlines continue to prevent musicians from carrying instruments on board, it could become a nightmare for concert presenters like him.
"Musicians just won't get around ... it would basically eliminate people's ability to play concerts."
Air Canada says options are available for these musicians and their tools.
Besides purchasing an additional seat, Mr. Fitzpatrick said the airline offers a secure cargo service for valuable goods and that couriers are also available if passengers don't want their items stored in the regular baggage compartment.
But musicians say that won't suffice.
"They should develop clear rules, at least by type of aircraft, so that if you know you're going to travel on a certain aircraft and that your instrument may not fit, you could choose another airline or route. But we need a consistent policy and an understanding from the airlines about the value and fragility of instruments," Mr. Goldblatt said.
"How often are people bringing things onto a plane worth more than $10,000?"
Paul Casey holds what is left of his viola after Air Canada forced him to take it to Belgium in the hold.
Photograph by : COURTESY PAUL CASEY
