More gross stupidity from QANTAS

Reminiscent of the way Mrs Sendyk was treated. Under media pressure they eventually crawled out from underneath their rock and did something about the Sendyk case. Presumably the same will happen here

It was the first time Brisbane songstress Emma Dean had to surrender her violin on a plane and the forced act and subsequent damage has sparked a dispute with Qantas.

The Q Song finalist and rising star in Australia's music scene said she was boarding a plane to Canberra last week when Qantas staff ordered her to hand over her instrument. "Never in 10 years of performing have I been banned from carrying my violin on a plane," Ms Dean, 26, said.

"They didn't give me bubble-wrap or another case to put it in, but just said I had to put it down below with the other luggage or I wasn't getting aboard." Reluctantly, Ms Dean handed over "Eliott", the instrument she has used for 14 years.

By the time the plane touched down, three large cracks had pierced the violin's core and Ms Dean has demanded Qantas make amends. "They must have thrown it from a distance to crack it like that and now they need to pay for what's been done," she said.

Ms Dean, who has worked with Kate Miller-Heidke, said another passenger lent her a pillow which she tried to wrap around the violin case. She said she had heard similar stories from others.

Ms Dean said she had sent complaints to Qantas and had been told to wait at least 25 days for a response.

A Qantas spokeswoman said the airline was investigating the incident. "Customer care and service is of utmost importance to us and we look forward to resolving this situation," the spokeswoman said. [Doesn't that bullsh*t make you sick? Why can't they admit straight out that the incident should never have happened?]

SOURCE